Connecticut western news., 1884-08-27
A STORY OF THE WAR.
PUNISHED AFTER TWENTY YEARS.
story of Deserter or the Rebellion whs
 Is Now in Prison.

Colonel Black, tke new commaudin g officer at Fort Wayne, gave the particu- lars of the incarceration of a deserter of the war in the guard house,
 "The mans name is Piny H. Barnes" said the Colonel, 'and he lives here in Detroit. His story and his voluntary surrender are rather unusual. But will send for him, and have you talk with him; then you will get better idea of the case. have had his statement written up and forwarded to Washing ton, and pending action on it he is in the guard house."
 Soon afterward Barnes was brought up from the guard house by one of the soldiers, who paced up and down before the door. keeping his eye closely on his charge while he talked with the re- porter. Barnes is a well-built fellow, with full, flowing mustache, and what would be a frank and rather handsome face were it not for hideous scar that crosses the lower portion of his forehead and the spot where his left eye should be-the orb having been destroyed and the cruel wound succeeding it ;n one of the last engagements of the campaign about Richmond. He appeared to be about forty years old and looked in very bad health. His dress was plain and his position seemed to worry him very much. In reply to request he told his story
 "I served through the entire war, with sligbt intermission, until I was wounded in April, 1865. I enlisted, a young boy at the time, at Hudson, in New York State, in 1861. My company was commanded by Captain Ira Beach and was part of the Second Michigan Infantry. served in the infantry eighteen months and saw a great deal of very hard service. At the end of that time I got transferred to the third Uni ted States artillery of the regular service. Upon the expiration of my three years service re'enlisted in the Third artil- lery, serving in all eighteen months in the artillery. At the end of that time I got furlough and came home to Hud- son. was detained a couple of days longer than my furIough ran and was afraid to go back to the army. Very shortly afterward-although by not go- ing back I became deserter-I re-en- listed at Syracuse in the Tooth New York volunteers. I was at that time about twenty-one. I served until the assault on Fort Gregg in the Peninsular Campaign in April, 1865, in which I was shot through the head and shoulder, and when I got out of the hospital, of course, was in no shape to re-enter the service. Since the war have been liv- ing at Hudson and Ionia, coming toDe- troit about year ago."
 "Have you family?'
 "Yes. A wife and two young chil- dren; my wife is a pastry cook at the Standish House"
 "What was your idea in giving your self up to the military authorities ?"
 "I wanted to get my name clear on the records. You see, was honorably discharged from my second service, and didn't like to have the charge of deser- ton hanging over me"
 ''But why didn't you take other means than stfrrendering ?"
 "Had no other means. consulted Col. O. NJ. Poe, my old commander, about what to do and he told me to give myself up, and said that he did not be- lieye could be punished in any way, but said my record could be cleared no other way. I afterward wrote to Sec refary Lincoln and he said nothing could be done for me while was a deserter at large, but didn't expect to be thrown in the guard house and treated this way. Why, it's horrible place to live, and it will ruin my health if I have to stay there very great while. never was in the guard house but once before in my life, and that was for spilling soup on an officer, and it goes pretty hard with me. "
 "Do you draw a pension ?"
 "Yes, for my injuries in my second service"
 CT expect to hear from the War Office in few days in relation to Barnes" said Colonel Black, after the prisoner had been taken back to the guard house. "Of course all the departments are bur dened with business and action in the matter cannot be had very speedily. or course have no means of knowing what | tba aufboritias will do in tha matter Il hardly think he will be punished, how ever, as his physical condition is such that he can't well go into the service again; and while it does not make him any less deserter the fact that he re- entered the service and fought the war out may have it's effect. Barnes evi. dently thought that all he had to do was to place himself in my charge and prob ably didn't anticipate confinement in the guard house. But that is all can do with him. am simply the custodian of A deserter until such time as the depart ment acts on the matter"
 "Is the authority of the army over de- serters the same after twenty years have elapsed ?"
 ''Desertion is considered, like murder, continuous offence. The statute of limitations does not Ply."-Detroit Free Press.
 DIsAPPEARINe.-An exchange says There are few New York editors still 1 left in the New York newspaper offices,