The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1912-02-08
Could Neither Read Nor Write at
Time He Was Captured While
Out Corn Hunting
NEVER KNEW HE WAS WRONGED
Bill introduced by Congressman
Stevenson Asking for His Hon
orable Discharge

An echo Of the Civil war was made
public this morning when it was an
nounced by Attorney p. J. Russell Of
this city that a bill has been intro
duced in Congress, by Congressman
lIalvor Stevenson, at the request Of
Mr.. Russell, whereby Peter Trossell,
who for forty years has been listed
as desertcr from the military SER
vice, will be given an honorable dis
charge.
The ease Of Mr.. Trossell is pathe-
tic one. He was known as being one
of the truest and brayast soldiers of
the civil war, and took part in all of
the following battles. Ringold, Ton
Hill. Dalton. Reseca, Rome. Lost
Mountain, Marietta, Battle ROUGH,
Mountain and Atlanta.
The Adjutant General Of the State
of Ohio. has issued a certificate show
ing that Peter Trossell enlisted Dec
emher list. 1868. in Company k
18TH Infantry This certificate laso
shows that he deserted August 3 st.
1864, at Atlanta.
It was on the day that his deser-
1ion is charged that he claims he with
six others were ordered to enter a
corn field, provisions beina SCARCE and
gather corn for his company. 1t was
while on this mission that he and his
companions were surpriZai1 by Robin
sons Scouts and captured, with the
exception of Alphonse Despardine,
who was shot and instantly killed.
TrOssel could at that time neither
read nor write, and at the present
time is very hard to be understood.
After his capture, he was in prison at
MelIen. Ga, for what he estimates at
about seven months, and it was when
that place was evacuated by the Con-
federates, that he escaped.
After. being aided in one way and
another he was at last taken to New
York, where he was informed that
Lee had surrendered and the war was
over. Not knowing that it was nee
essary for him to report to anyone
and he went to Canada, where he Wis
tied his brother at Ottawa He final
ly drifted back to the States, working
in the woods in Michigan, Wisconsin
and Minnesota and at other odd jobs.
until he came to Bemidji five years
ago.
It was not until three years ago
that he discovered that he had been
wronged and at that time went back
to Ohio where he hoped to have the
matter Strengthened out, but on his
arrival there he could only find that
a charge Of desertion had been placed
against him and that all his officers,
including Captains Shepherd and De-
nell were dead. Because of the fact
that he could not speak English he
never knew the names of the men
who were with him on the corn hunt
ing expedition. And he was utterly
helpless to secure his honorable dis
charge or a pension.
MIR. Russell was appealed to by Mr.
Tr1ssell and he at once took up the
matter with congressman Stevenson
Miller, Hammond and Champ Clark,
who have successfully had the follow
inb bill introduced before Congress-
BE it enacted by the Senate
and House of Representative of
he United States of America in
Congress assembled, That in the
administration Of the penson
laws and the laws governing the
National Home for Disabled Vol
unteer Soldiers, or any branch
thereof, Peter Trossell, now
resident of Bemidji. Minnesota,
shall hereafter be held and con-
sidered to have been honOrably
discharged from , the military r
service of the United States as
private of Company TX, One
hundred and thirteenth Regi-
ment Ohio Volunteer Infantry;
Provided, that no penson shall
accrue because OF this act prior
to the passage thereof.
The fact that he took part in such
battles as he did and as he could not
talk seems to put truth in what