The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1883-06-05
AFTER TWENTY YEARS
Singular Experience Of a Regular
United States Army
DeSerter.

recently established In this city was
the scene of an incident a few days ago
which does not often occur, and one
which carries the mind back to the
time of the rebellion, more than TWEEN
ty years ago. On the 2lst of Decem.
Der, in the year 1S63-the darkest
year in the history of that great
struggle-John Patterson. soldier of
Co. III. Tenth u. S. In, stationed at
Ft. Hamilton, n. Y, forgetful of his
oath of enlistment and his own honor,
and careless of the fate of his country
deserted the service. A fugitive from
Justice and a prescribed man, guilty
of a crime the penalty for which was
an ignomineus death, he fled to Cana
da, where he was when victory crown
ell the victorious arms of his comrades
on the field of AppOmatox. At this
time Patterson fully realized what he
had forfeited by his shameful act.
When the regiment returned home
the hearts of the whole land went out
in gratitude to them, they were feted
and caressed on every hand, but he
deserter could not share in the feel
ing of glad triumph which took pos
session of every heart. After several
years spent in Canada. separated
from an aged mother, relatives and
friends, he returned to his home in
Rochester where he remained until a
few days ago. Since his return from
Canada he has been i'm constant fesr
of being apprehended for crime
committed so long ago that genera
ton has passed away and another
taken its place since it occurred. At
last he decided to give himself up
and appeal to the mercy of the gov
eminent he had abandoned in the
hour of its greatest need. And so we
find John Patterson, a man nearly
50 years old. with a constitution COM
pIetely broken down by dis
ease. walking into Capt. Boyd's
office and voluntarily sur
rendering himself to be dealt with &C
cording to military law for the crime
occasioned by one false step taken
nearly twenty years ago. Surely in
this mans case the mills of the gods
grind slowly, but they grind exceed
iugly fine" Capt. Boyd sent him
under guard to Buffalo. where he was
placed in the fort. The unfortunate
man has but short time, probably
to live, as consumption has claimed
him for its own. 1t is believed that he
will be let off with a few weeks i'm
prisonment and a dishonorable dis
charge from the service, ewing TO the
length of time since he deserted and
the very low state of his health.
After rejecting on this mans case
it would seem superfuous to say to
any young man joining the army.
Whatever you do never desert. 1t is
understood that the applications at the
rendezvous here are numerous, but a
large pr ,por:ion is rejected for various
causes, and Capt. Boyd is very well
satisfied with the number and materi-
al thus far accepted. Enlistments
are made for both cavalry and infan-
try, the recruit being allowed to Sc
lect the branch he prefers. The cav
airy recruits are sent to Jefferson bar
racks. Missouri, where they are taught
to handle their horses and arms, after
which they are drafted as may be re-
CURED to regiments serving on tie
frontier, where the willy Apache and
and other Indians make their home.
recruits for the infantry are sent to
Buffalo and from thence to Columbus
barracks, Ohio, where they are drilled
for some time, and then distributed to
regiments. A small detachment of
infantry left here for Buffalo aud the
west few days ago. It's expected a
detachment of cavalry will follow