Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1871-01-20
moRE ARoUr pEsERTERs.

Concerning deserters we have a private
letter, elected by our observations Of
last week. from General Knapp. Adju-
tant General of Ohio. from which we
take the liberty to quote:
$50 many muster-out rolls are missing
from the records that it is impossible to
give more than an approximate estimate
of the number of men who, at the mus
ter-out of their respective commands
were regarded as deserters. The rolls
on file here report in round numbers
about 3. 500 deserters. Taking this as
basis for estimating the number re-
ported on muster-out rolls not received
at this office we should have total of
about 1000. But a large number of
men have been charged with desertion
on intermediate rolls whose names do
not appear on muster-out rolls, or who
have been informally restored to duty
without trial and are not borne as aeSe1-
As1y on muster-out rolls, although the
charge appears against them on the re-
cords of the War Office. How many of
these there are have no means of
knowing, as the bi-monthly muster rolls
were not transmitted to this Office. Any
estimate would therefore be mere guess
work, but I do not think the number
would exceed 10000, making the
total 27, 600 which I think is the estimate
made by Gen. B. R. Cowen at the time
the question of submitting the amend
ment to the State Constitution was IN
der advisement in the General Assem-
bly,
We place these statements in General
Knapp's own language because of their
importance to the public and especially
to the soldiers. During the canvass on
the suffrage amendment it was currently
stated on information alleged to have
been officially communicated from
Washington that the number of Ohio
Soldiers registered as deserters on the
rolls of the War Department was not
less than 10000. This estimate appears
from the reliable statements of General
Knapp to have been largely in excess Of
the actual number which, as we are now
informed. was probably never larger
than $1,000. At the present time it is
considerably less-so the Adjutant Gen
eraI states-as many soldiers have taken
the trouble to have themselves cleared
of the charges against them.
ut is highly probable, says Gen.
Knapp, chat the only classes of men
now charged with desertion of which
there is any considerable number are, l,
Bona fas deserters who deserve no
sympathy, and 2. Soldiers who
served faithfully until the close of
the war and left their commands through
no intention to evade duty. but simply
because they desired to see their homes.
Many of these men honestly believed
that as the war was over they were en-
titled to immediate release from farther
service. This view, whether erroneous
or not. was very natural one for them
to take and should mitigate the penal ty.'
This latter class, as indeed all others
have been, are now left to their own re-
sources to secure relief from the charges
made against them, while at the same
time, under the present regulations of
the War Department. relief is next to
impossible. The soldier is required to
produce evidence which shall entirely
clear him of the charge of unlawful alb
sence which in cases of wilful though
venial absence is impossible. An act of
Congress authorizing and requiring the
officers of the War Department to dis
criminate between cases of wilful and
technical desertion would facilitate the
adjustment of such cases and enable
very many deserving soldiers to obtain
the back pay and bounty now Withheld
from them.