Arizona citizen., 1871-06-03
Desertions and Their Cause.

TIOu GlIHc CO lliue, we puI pOSe Hldh ing remarks under this heading. The penalty for desertion is justly severe, and it is great pity that certain prov ocations to desert, were not made with penalties of equal severity. An enlist ed man is not less man and human man, than one having a commission and tyrant's authority. It has been truly said of cur army during the re- bellion, that its great glory, prowess and success were largely due to the high order of intelligence prevailing the ranks. It was remarked by many correct observers, that every one of the thousand regiments of that army, embraced within its ranks men wise, skilled and experienced enough to manage the affairs of a great nation :; that men we'll fitted for the humblest and most exalted stations were in each and all; that as mass, they pro foundly and truly comprehended the near and remote grandeur and right eousness of the great war; that for these and other reasons, they stood in the ranks, obeyed orders, braved dan gers, submitted to cruelty and hard ships, and fought and won the good fight. More or less of this kind of human material is now in the ranks They still have the faculties of seeing, hearing, comprehending and speech. They are quick to distinguish between right and wrong; between efforts we'll or ill-directed; between reasonable being and a petty, contemptible and malicious tyrant; between the just officer and true gentleman, and the brutal officer and official blackguard and drunken domineering Yahoo in uniform; between just and unjust usage. Thus feeling, and having an honorable interest in the country they are serving, they will not forever re- ceive insults and abuse from their nominal superiors, and maintain reg ulation respect and closed mouths too, even though they apprehend truth full report or statement may subject them to all sorts of cruelties. Such was the case of "John Thompson" of M Troop, at Camp Apache. After the murder of Perry Redmond, early in March, he wrote Us true and harm less account of that affair, for which we are informed by "Thompson" and others, that the great Stoneman order ed him to be court-martialed. That our readers may know the full extent of the offense that 50 promptly got the immense Stoneman's attention, we give the offensive part in full. Here 1t is
 The store is about half mile from where the Post is at present situated, and the l Hunt, when informed vf the affair, instead of acting on the matter, made the remark that Jamaica ginger was the cause of it. But It. Brode, A. A. Q. M., and Dr. SOule, believing there was some truth in the re- port, had their horses saddled, and repair ed to the scene, and found the deceased apparently in fit, as nc blood was visible I Che having bled inwardly), but on farther examination, found that he was lanced, as previously stated.
 The elegant and chivelrous com manding officer could not endure this it was subversive of gool discipline, and limiting at the character of thing with a commission and unfortunately some power. "John Thompson" " knowing the barbarous sentences pass ed upon privates by courts-martial, deserted; so did private Charles Mel vile, who had written us few harm jess bits of news, but was officially warned to cease, with olninous admo- nitions.
 This will be continued, and some of the savages' sentences of privates, approved in this Department by Col. Stoneman, will be given, and other recorded facts shown.
 WE tearfully commiserate the royal It. Whitman at Camp Grant Tn his sufferings and contamination by asso-