The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1893-07-28
APHOFESSlONAL SKIPPER
The Trials of a Deserter as Tole
by Himself


the American army. Like all other
sils, it has its causes. In the old days
hen the frontier was the frontier,
arsh treatment, bad food, hard service
the field, the monotony of garrison
life and the lack of amusements and
recreations in the isolated and shabby
little posts were among the causes that
fmpelled men to desert their colors
Among the enlisted men descrtion
was regarded as very venial offense;
and it was held that men who were III
treated had right to desert; men who
were discontented ought TO desert; and
men who were found to be rogues were
encouraged to desert by public senti-
ment and certain rude but significant
hints.
This constant depletion of the ranks
by desertion, and the great expense in
transporting recruits TO distant sta
tions, rs well as the difficulty of OBJ
tanning recruits for the hard and unro-
mantle service of the plains, made the
evil very serious problem for the war
department TO solve.
Fort Wingate, situated on the slopes
of the Zuni mountains in Campbells
pass, New Mexico, being without tele-
graphic communication with the inner
world, suffered great deal from deser-
ton.
After ench visit Of the paymaster
there was a decrease in the ranks and
stables of the garrison. The officers
were used to it; the men expected it;
and the fight of these military birds of
passage became one OF the pleasing ex-
elements Of the post. They furnished
weeks holiday for pursuing party,
which chased the fugitives as far as
San Mateo, where they remained to
have good time with the daughters of
the town as long as their cash lasted,
and then returned leisurely to the post,
to report that the deserters had e.
capped. =.
In the ease and safety Of "skipping,-
as it was termed in army slang, the
cavalryman had the advantage over the
mere infantryman. While the poor
''douy yhboy" deserter was hiding in the
hills by day and tramping over dusty
trails by night, with heavy "long
Tom" on his shoulder, the cavalry
skipper" was riding gayly to freedom.
careless of pursuit. able and willing to
stand off any too-oficious civil officer,
confident that his comrades would not
bother him unless he ran into their
arms and certain that his good troop
horse was worth hundred dollars in
the settlement, when he had cunningly
burned out the U. s. brand with a red
hot currycomb.
Yhe experience of Fort Wingate was
duplicated in every western post, and
soldiers deserted in parts of the country
an! reached civilization when it was
deained hazardous for armed trains to
travel. Strange as it may appear, men
never deserted in the field during an In
dian campaign; it was garrison dull
ness that made deserters, not the fight
ing and hard riding of plains and sier-
ras
In 1878 Gen. Grant issued a procla-
nation pardoning all deserters who
surrendered TO the military authorities
and returned to their colors The
president wisely concluded that this
would bring back number of men in
to the army and stop the outflow for
awhile; but he hardly realized :the
story it would tell in the army itself.
At Wingate the proclamation was the
universal subject of talk in the COM
pany Quarters, and conjectures were
made as to the number of men who
would avail themselves of it's clemency.
Out OF a total strength Of eighty men
IN my own company, some twenty re-
fted themselves as '-skippeps.
Then we began to heas from posts in |
Arizona, Utah, Kansas, Texas, Dakota,
ip fact from all parts OF the American |
military world, from men who were |
getting in out OF the rain, and, per
contra, there was . constant demand |
Tor the records Of elusive soldiers who
in times past had slipped away unos-
and were now willing TO |
return to their first love
The most interesting Of all this host
Of prodigals, 10 me, was q quiet, susrt,
clean, well set-up fellow In nv own |
named Dick Brandon, who |
nodestiy admitted twsnty-thrse do
ssrtiona Dick had evidently been on |
the move for years and hsd q nervous
Objection to remaining long sanywhsre.
What troubaed Dick, now that his de-
sertions wese-w wiped out, was tho haunt
ing dread OF the big charges that went
With his 'skipping.";'
The captain Of . company In tho
army q responsible to The government
Tor every piece Of property In his care, |
and he must account for It all or pay for
+ Now, the most psinstals,ng ofiicer IN
The world loses things, and unless they
are covered, some way, the unlucky
officer would never draw Q cent on his
pay certificate Hence the military
sarcasm hurled at soldier when he
oses cartridge or anything else:
Lost it, did you? Well, you'll find 1t
On your muster rolli"
Now a smart quartermaster sergeant
Iound convenient outlet ( all losses
n desertion. When q MAJ. oped he
was charged with not only III he &C
,unlly took, but with all that the frugal
luartermaster sergeant had lost. This
was simple and effective. The extent
ind variety of property alleged to be
stolen nv lesprtprs yvould Sta ercrar nv