The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1879-06-24
A Soldier Who Didn't Intend
to Desert.

Pennsylvania Volunteers, was danger
ously wounded through both thighs, and
undoubtedly would have perished on the
field had 1t not been for Corporal C,
of his company, who in the retreat
stumbled upon him and carried him off.
That was the last duty Lieutenant
P did and in March, 1854, we find
him at the Lafayette square garrison, in
Baltimore.
Corporal C subsequently took
part in an engagement in which his
regiment was concerned, and stood high
in the estimation of his superiors for
valor and faithfulness up to the battle of
Gettysburg.
After the battle of Gettysburg in July,
1868, the regiment to which Corporal
c. belonged ,encamped one evening
within sight of the home of his family,
which he had not seen for nearly three
years. From where they lay he could
see the glinting of the light in the win
dow beyond which were his wife and
little ones. With throbbing heart he
acknowledged to himself that the
temptation was too great. What" he
said, " if slip down there for an hour
or two, surprise them, and return before
the break of day ready in my place to
move with the command, who will be
the wiser for it ?" He then followed the
promptings of his heart. Who shall
measure the rapidity with which the
the hours went by during that gladstone
surprise to all which, next to his coun-
try, was dear to him ?"
Returning in the early morn, Corporal
C, to his horror, found that the
column had moved forward during his
absence. He hurried on to overtake it,
with full consciousness of the terrible
consequences that came to all deserters
and of the fact that the truth even plain
ly stated, would avail him little, under
the then strict regime, as an excuse for
his absence if he did not succeed in re-
joining his company. He never slack
ened his double quick" until the ford
at Williamsport was reached. At that
point his hope gave way to despair. The
column had crossed into Maryland two
hours before. A strong provost guard
was posted with strict orders to arrest all
stragglers or deserters.
A prisoner then, and with the in
stances of dreadful punishment that had
been inflicted upon deserters fresh in
mind, he decided to desert in fact from
the provost guard and take his chances
of finally reaching his company rather
than to run the risk of trial by Court
Martial.
He failed to reach his command, and,
taking to the woods by long journeyings
at night and hiding by day, he finally
reached the city of Frederick, Md
There he lost no time in re-enlisting un-
der an assumed name as recruit, hop
ing by keeping constantly in the service
to escape detection and arrest.
Proceeding again to the front in the
Tenth Maryland Regiment, Corporal
c. served faithfully, was twice
wounded, and received an honorable dis
charge in March, 1864.
Upon being discharged from the Tenth
Maryland, still hoping to conceal his
identity, he Immediately re- enlisted as
recruit with Captain Cole, the Provost
Marshal at Frederick, and was sent on
with squad of men to the draft rem
devious at Layfayette square Balti-
more.
Lieutenant P was officer of the
day when the squad reached the rendez-
vous. 1t was part of his duty as such
to remain at the main entrance to the
camp for the purpose of scanning the
recruits as they arrived and were drawn
up in line in front of the guard quar-
ters.
1t was late in the evening. Lieuten-
ant P came to the Adjutant's
office, his face wearing almost deathly
pallor. " Adjutant," he said, 81 have
just discovered deserter from my old
company. He saved my life by carrying
me off the field at Fredericksburg. L
wish 1 had not seen him."
A short time after the Lieutenants
statement the recruits were marched to
the Adjutant's office to have their names
and pedigree recorded. The name of
Cyrus T was called. The man
rose up calmly and passed his discharge
papers from former service to the Adult
ant. They were certified by a captain
of the Tenth Maryland and Endorsed by
the mastering officer-''characte excel