Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1898-07-28
DESERTED THE ARMY.
A Member of Company L Takes French
Leave" and Probably Has Not
Yet Returned.

MAUGA PARK, GA, July ia. w. o.
L. has been written after his name for
eight days now; two more days and
these letters, meaning absent without
leave, will be changed to deserted.
That is the record of one of the mem
bers of Company L, who left Mexico
with US. On July II the absent with
out leave record was placed against his
name in the morning report book, and
on the next day one of the company
sergeants, in citizens clothes, was sent
to Chattanooga in search of the absent
one, but nothing could be seen of him;
in two more days he will have q fine
upon his head, and will be subject to
be shot or such other punishment as
court martial may direct. Poor fell
low, what could he have been think
ing of when he took the step which
ostracised him from home and So
ciety, which, were the law followed
ont, would doom him to the fate of a
spy or murderer. The deserter- elect
is young man Of good family, living
in an adjoining county to Audrain;
he is not over twenty-six years old
and is said to be an excellent business
man. Iwen remember his visit to the
recruiting office in Mexico few days
before we left for Jefferson Barracks.
He came In all smiles and when asked
why he wished to join he said his
country called him; that he wished to
uphold the honor of the flag and that
he was ready to bleed and die for it.
He made good soldier until he left.
He must have had q motive stronger
than the mere desire to 60 back to the
world and become citizen. In order
that I may not add to his already
heavy burden of shame willnot men
tion his name or place of residence.
That he may return within the next
two days I sincerely hope. In doing
this he will suffer for the charge of
absent without leave only.
| was greatly surprised to see Locke
Macfariane and Paul Shouse walk into
the Fifth Regiment camp. Is 1t a
coincidence or is there good reason
why so many quill showers are joining
the army? Possibly it Is the aptitude
of this unfavored class to appreciate
the suffering of downtrodden peo-
pie. The press gang, I suppose,
know the horror of being subjugated
to do as others would have you. 1t
must have been this which prompted
the other four members of the craft
from Mexico to join the army. As for
myself, subjugation amounts to moth
ing. knew that as long as the wagon
train kept up / would get my knees
under tin plate three times day,
and, of course, after wrestling with
delinquent subscribers as long as /
have, Maussr bullets have no terrors
for me, unless they should find my
brain cell, and I understand that these
bullets do not carry search warrants
with them.
We are drilling six hours day now,
two extra hours, from 8 to s, having
been added to the daily routine last
week. The regiment ia becoming
quite proficient and believe that we
put up as good review or parade as
is given in the park. The skirmish
drills, too, are reaching a high state
of efficiency. Saturday the Third
Battalion, to which Company L is
attached, was out In battle formation
near Bloody pond and made a mag
nificent charge up q steep hill; this
rally to await the support was perfect
and brought long and continuous
cheering from another regiment, I
believe from Mississippi. The evoiu-
tions were perfectly arranged and
executed.
1t must be remembered that the 9th
Regiment was virtually q "green
horn" regiment; that there were but
1.-TWO companies which had even drill
ed from Mexico and from Column
bia. There is nothing unusual going
on, except the rumor that we will be
moved to Porto Rico. Madam Ru-
mor's henchmen are never without
work here. The health OF the COM
!pany remains excellent and only one
man is on the sick report.
l Canon VIZ n HrrrraNr