The National tribune., 1911-04-27
UNDER FOUR NAMES.
Dcscrter Who Deserted Twice, act
Did Not Desert at All.

| Did Not Desert at All.
Editor National Tribune: l was a
member of CO. ii. 9Sth Ohio, which
belonged TO the Second brigade. Sec
ond Division OF the Fourteenth Corps
during the Atlanta campaign. | was
| with my command in the battle OF
Joncsboro. \ few days after the cap
| ture and our return to Atlanta | was
| stricken down with typhoid fever and
tscnt to the hospital in the city.
was in a convalescent condition when
Sherman started on his march to the
sea. and was at that time sent back
| to the hospital at Nashville. Tenn.
In November of that year I, with
many other Ohio soldiers, was granted
a 15-days furlough to go homc to
vote in tho Presidential election.
Before the expiration of my. fur
Tough | was examined by a Surgeon.
who recommended an extension OF 80
days. The recommendation was for
warded, and 81 days after expiration
of 1urlough it was returned diSap-
proved. | returned TO the hospital
and was transferred TO the barracks
in the old Iollicoffcr Building. l re-
mained there until l deserted. 1t
came about in this way:
There were daily detachments of
zoo made up and sent to their var
ious commands in Shcrman's army at
savannah, Ga. Some three or four
Of such had been sent out. l was very
anxious TO be included in some of
these detachments. but was not con-
Sidcred able for the journey. Detsch-
mcnts were made up i'll the evening
with instructions to be ready to re-
pert at roll call early the following
morning to take the train North. At
one roil-call Il man failed to respond
to his name for the first and second
call; at the third call | answered to
the name and stepped into ranks and
soon VAS on the cars and on my way
North bound for my regiment. While
l was still rejoicing in the fact, and
just before reaching Elizabethtown,
KY, our train was der3iied by squad
Of rebel cavalry which had run in
and torn up the track. The conse-
quenCc was VIC were all captured; but
because of the fact that they were so
closely pursued by our cavalry, and
were unable to take us along, we We're
all parolled the same night
A short time after my enlistment
my name got transposed in making
out the pay roll. William Henry
Wright was correct, but it appeared
Henry W. Wright, and in order to
draw my pay | had to sign the pay
roll. As a consequence my new name
had to follow me and my discharge
was given in that way. which after
wards caused me much trouble and
considerable expense to have it cor
rected
! had already been sailing under
two names up to the time of my leav-
ing the barracks and the name ! stole
at that time. And now when it came
to making out the parole (Which was
only given by Captain. consequently
not lawful) I did not wish to jmpli-
cate any name | already had. so /
gave my name as William Henry; con-
sequently | now had the responsibility
of keeping up four names.
After being paroled at night we
continued our journey on foot the next
morning to EIizabethtown. about 3
miles. where we again took the train
to Louisville, KY. and from thence
to New York City. where we met
many others bound for Savannah. All
were put aboard a large steam and
sail vessel called the Arago and start |
ed for our destination, where we ar
rived in due time.
On arriving at Savannah We found |
our various commands and once |
more felt at home with the boys |
Shortly after leaving Savannah on our
northern march through the Caro- |
inas | was detailed on forage soiIad |
Some weeks afterward the Captain of
my company approached me one |
with the astounding informa-
ion that ! was a deserter from the |
hospital at Nashville, Tenn.
Some weeks later he informed me |
hat he had just received word from
headquarters that Henry w. Wright
la1 deserted the barracks in the Zolli-
offer Building on such date. which |
,orrCaponded exactly with the time
hat | had assumed a new name and
;tood in some other comrades shoes
Thus you see | was twice a deserter
md not a deserter, for | happened |
o be on hand to refute the charges
when faced with them; consequently,
lid not suffer any inconvenience.-W
1. Wright, CO. II, 9Sth Ohio, Findlay,
Ohio.