The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1879-05-09
THE INVOLUNTARY DRSERTER.
AN INCIDENT OF THE LATE REBELLION
"A SOLDIER WHO DIDN'T IN
TEND TO DESERT

In the terrible slaughter of the battle
of Fredericksburg, Va, December II.
1862, Lieutenant P of the q5th
Pennsylvania Volunteers, was danger
ouSly wounded through both thighs and
undoubtedly would have perished on the
field had it not been for Corporal c..
of his company, who in the retreat STUN
bled upon him and carried him off. That
was the last duty Lieutenant P did,
and in March, 1864, we find him at the
Lafayette square garrison. in Baltimore
Corporal c. subsequently, took part
in all engagements in which his regi-
ment was concerned, and stood high in
the estimation of his superiors for valor
and faithfulness up to the battle of Get
tysburg.
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 temp
tation was too great. What. - he said,
If 1 slip down there for an hour OF 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 rapiditv with which the
hours went by during that gladstone sur
prise to all which. next to his country
was dear to him
Returning in the early morn, Corporal
C, to his horror, found that the col
umn had moved forward during his alb
sence. He hurried on to oyertake il,
with full consciousness Of the terrible
consequences that came to all descrters
and of the fact that the truth even
plainly stated, would avail him little,
under the then strict regime, as an ex-
cuSe for his absence il he did not succeed
III reJOlning his company. He never
slackened his double qnick'' until the
ford at WilliamspOTt was reached. At
that point his hope gave way to despair.
The column had crossed into MARYLAND
two hours before. A strong provost
guard had been stationed at the ford
with strict orders To arrest all stragglers
or deserters.
A prisoner then. and with the instances
Of dreadful punishment that had been
inflicted upon deserter5 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 q trial by a Court
Martial.
He failed to reach his command. and,
taking to the woods 10y long jOurneyings
at night and hiding by day, he finally
reached the city Of Frederick, Md
/ There he lost no time in re-enlisting IN
/ der an assumed name as recruit hoping
/ by keeping constantly in the service tO
/ escape detection and arrest
-,
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 a
recruit with Captain Cole. the Provost
Marshal at Frederick. and was sent on
with squad of men to the draft rem
devious at Lafayette square, Baltimore.
! Lieutenant P was officer OF the
day when the squad reached the render
vOuS. 1t was a part of his duty as such
! to remain at the main entrance TO the
camp for the purpose of scanning the re-
cruits as they arrived and were draw II
up in line in front of the guard quarters.
1t was late in the evening. Lieuten-
ant p came to the Adjutant's 5 Office,
his face wearing almost a deathly pallOr.
'Adjutant." " he said 4 nave Just dis
covered a deserter from my old company.
He saved my life by carrying me of the
field at Fredericksburg. I wish 1 had
not seen him. -
4 short time after the Lieutenant s
statement the recruits were marched to
the Adjutant'S 5 Office 10 have their names
and pedigree recorded. The name of
CYRUS t was called. The man rose
y
pers from former service to the Adjutant
They were certified by captain of the
Tenth Maryland and indOTsed by the
mastering character excellent.
Lieutenant p, extending his hand
to the recruit said, Corporal c.. how
are you -
The unwilling deserter did not sc-
knowledge that he was recognized by
the movement OF a muscle. Staring
coldly at the Lieutenant he replied, Sir,
YOU have the advantage. l do not re-
member ever having seen YOU before"
'-Oh Yes you have" answered the
Lieutenant. Charley, don't try to de-
ceive me. You brought me from the
field at Fredericksburg, saved my life
when you were member of my company
and you deserted from the company"
you have made mistake, sir, you
have" He stopped moment and then
continued: 1T is no use. l am Cor
poral C, but | am no deserter al
heart Ihave been in constant service, y
and he sank into chair.
Tears choked the utterancs OF the
Lieutenant as waYering between duty
and gratitude. he said Corporal,
: would gladly change places with you
now, but YOU are a prisoner.
The shock unneTYed the war-worn ana
: weather-beaten Corporal, and for severa
weeks he was prostrated with a raging
fever. A prisoner, in fact, but allowed
, to accept the hospitality of the Iieuten
ants more comfortable quarters, where
his story becoming known, he received
. every kindness that could be command
: ed Meantime strenuous efforts were
: made to remove the charge OF desertiOT
against him, which had been carried OF
the company's rolls until ne was finall,
reported tothe Provost Marshal Genera
and dropped from them.
The red tape of the War Depart
ment prevented his reinstatement il
time. and Corporal c. was sent to tn
front as "a deSerteT.H Strong paper
relating the circumstances more minute
" than can be done in this narrative &C
cOmpanied him. He was tried and sen
fenced 20 be shot, but through the neve
ceasing efforts of the officer whose lif
. he had saved seconded by the efforts o
| General Ingraham. then Provost Man
! / shall of the defences north of the POtC
mac, he was reprieved by President Lin
coin. lie was subsequently killed in
4 CHARGE 1IOon tbp euPmy'S works at l1s