Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-08-13
OUT OF THE SERVICE.
sIxTY-EIGHT vIRGINIAN SOLDIERS
DISCHARGED.
4 VARIETY OF CAUSES GIVEN.
Proper Influence mt the Department
Often Effective without Any
Still Excites Popular Interest.

Sixty-eight discharges have been grant
ment at Camp Lee, according to reports
made TO the Adjtant-General The Sc
cond Regiment has lost the smallest num-
Der. Is; the Fourth lost 16 and the Third,
81
The causes for discharge are chiefly
| physical, men who had been passed by
| the surgeons here afterwards contract
ing diseases which rendered them unfit
| for service. In some cases. troubles
which were latent, and practically impos-
sible of discovery by the examining sur
geon, have become active, and caused
| the discharge Of the men. In other cases
such troubles were known to the appli-
cants, who said nothing of them, being
few weeks of the arduous duties Of the
soldier they wanted to get out. and be-
thinking themselves of their old trouble,
applied for REORGANIZATION, and by call
ing the surgeons attention to the ailment
succeeded in getting an order for dis
charge.
In still other cases young fellows under
Is years of age enlisted, and not
finding army life agreeable, applied for,
and obtained, discharges on this ground.
In several instances parents got their
sons out of the service by pleading this
fact
THE WORK OF CONGRESSMAN.
In a great many cases congressman.
upon application of parents. exercised
such potent influence upon the Secretary
of War that discharges were granted
without any cause being assigned. Num-
bers of company commanders in the Vir-
ginia regiments have had occasion TO say
some very pointed things about the mem
Der of Congress from their district for
taking away good man. In many in
stances the first intimation the soldiers
had that efforts were making to get them
out OF the service was when the notice |
or their discharge was read them by |
their captain. In one instance the !
parents of a young man in Company III, |
Second Regiment. procured his discharge, |
and the boy was so grieved when he |
was notified that he must leave his COM |
pany that he shed tears.
ALL DISCHARGES HONORABLE.
So far as known, all the discharges
granted Virginians have been honorable.
In two instances cOurts-martial have
sentenced members of the Fourth Vir-
ginia to dishonorabe discharge, but the
sentences were disapproved by the re-
viewing court.
All discharges have TO be ordered by
the Secretary of War, but are made
out by the regimental adjutant and
signed by the colonel Of the regiment
hnx ttrYftt ton |
are of great value TO the soldier, since
he may upon almost any occasion in
future life be asked to show that he
lid not desert. Pensions are never
given to men dishonorably discharged
rom the army. If the holder of such
discharge wishes TO apply for a pension
)ne of the first things he must do is to
nave his war record cleared up by
having the entry "dishonorably dis
charged" removed from the rolls in the
War Office. This can be done only after
iue cause is given.
THE TROUBLE IN THE THIRD.
The trouble in which the Third Vir-
'inia is involved still continues to cause |
'reat discussion here. The opinion uni
'ersally entertained is that General But
er has made great blunder, the effects
# which are very CALLING to the Vir- 9
,inians now, but which may render the g.,
south Carolinian's lot anything but
'leasant when the decision Of the court
$ rendered. There is no doubt but that '
he officers and men Of the regiment q
ave correctly stated the case so there y
no expectation of any other verdict
han one of complete exoneration of the
7irginans. +
CAPTAIN BOSSIEUX TO RETURN. G
Captain Bosseux. of the Second Regi- T
lent, who has been doing recruiting f
uty here for some time will probably | ,
eturn to Jacksonville Tuesday. The
len under him are expected to start |
ack Sunday Lieutenant w. p. Klein. '
Company II, of the Fourth, returned &
thursday -