GENERAL ORDERS-DESERTERS DISCHARGE PAPERS. 559 ་་ HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY, "Brig. Gen. Aug. Gaylord, Adjutant General State of Wisconsin: GENERAL :-I have the honor to forward to you the following names of deserters from the Second regiment Wisconsin cavalry, now in my command, and to request that their names may be published as deserters in the public journals nearest their several places of residence. I respectfully invite your attention to the twenty-first section of the act of Congress, approved March 3d, 1865, and contained in General Orders No. 35, W. D., A. G. O., March 11, 1865. NAMES OF DESERTERS. 1. Private Stewart Craig, Co F. Wingville, Wis. 2. Private N. H. Wilson, Co. F, Burke, Wis.1 3. Frivate Elijah Warren, Co. F, Burke, Wis. 4. Private Frederick Hill, Co. F, Madison, Wis. 5. Private Alden W. Gordon, Co. B, Mauston, Wis. 6. Private Jonathan W. Lowe, Co. B, La Crosse, Wis. 762] 7. Private M. V. Rand, Co. B, Stevenstown, Wis. 8. Private James A. Mosher, Co. B, Stevenstown, Wis.2 9. Private Jason B. Rich, Co. B, Trempealeau, Wis. 10. Private Nelson Mercier, Co. B, Springfield, Wis. 11. Private John M. Snow, Co. B. Stevenstown, Wis. 12. Private Edwin S. Snow, Co. B, Stevenstown, Wis. I am, very respectfully, GENERAL HEADQUARTERS STATE OF WISCONSIN, General Orders, Madison, August 25, 1865. No. 13. To discharged Wisconsin soldiers: It having become evident that there are persons in this state seeking to take advantage of ignorant or thoughtless soldiers in the purchase of discharge papers, this is to caution all soldiers against parting with their discharge papers under any consideration whatever. It is not at all improbable that Congress will at an early day recognize the services, at least of those who, enlisting in the first years of the rebellion, did not receive, the large bounties of the latter years,—and perhaps all other by a grant of Government lands. 1 Roster p. 71, M. O. Nov. 15, 1865. • Roster p. 57, M. Q. July 11, 1865. ! Such grants, or any subsequent bounties, can be claimed only upon proper proof, in which your discharge paper will be required and the soldier who sells his, puts his title to any such benefits entirely beyond recovery, excepting in the purchase back again of the discharge at such an extravagant rate as the speculator may impose. Aside from the money value which may be attached to an honorable discharge from the service, in the future, it will have to those who shall come after you, if not now to yourself, a value beyond that of money. It will be treasured among the sacred mementos of the past, and your name therein recognized as among the patriot heroes who left home and the pleasant paths of peace, to risk all for 763] the laws and liberties of the Commonwealth, and whose valor has stricken down forever the envenomed foes of the Republic. In any view of the matter, your discharge paper is worth more to you than to any one else. The person who seeks to purchase it of you has no good object in view. Do not part with it. By order of the Governor : AUG. GAYLORD, Adjutant General. GENERAL HEADQUARTERS, STATE OF WISCONSIN, The Governor is in frequent receipt of letters from members of regiments remaining in the service, complaining of their detention, charging the delay in muster-out to the desire of their commanding officer to remain in the service, and asking the Governor to make application to the War Department for their discharge. While it is believed that these statements and requests are dictated by a laudable desire to return to their homes and civil life, it is also believed that they are often based upon a misunderstanding of the real facts in the case. The General Government is not dependent upon the regimental officers for its information as to the needs of the service, much 1 less does it consult their wishes for detention or discharge. Their anxiety to leave the service is in many cases likely to be quite as great as is your own. They, like yourselves, are retained in the service because those in authority, whose advantages are best for judging of the necessities of the case, deem your presence in the service still desirable; and while it might be agreeable to know the exact reason of your detention, the good soldier is not likely to seriously question the fact. Of the fifty Wisconsin regiments in the field on the first day of June last, but ten remain at this date, which are not under orders for muster-out and return home, and the number is constantly decreasing. If the regiments of other states have been reduced correspondingly, there should readily be found a reason for your detention in the service in the inability of the government to perform the necessary labor of disbanding the whole Union army in four months, even were it deemed desirable. No authority other than that of the War Department can direct your discharge. The Governor has made, and will continue 764] to make every proper effort with the War Department to secure the earliest discharge of all Wisconsin organizations. This has been done by request in person at the department, in June last, and subsequently by letters setting forth the agricultural needs of the state, with other reasons. The reply has uniformly been that our regiments will be discharged just as fast as the needs of the service will permit, and there is evidence that this is being done. All cannot be first, and if you chance to be among the later ones, it is hoped, in view of the prospect of your speedy return, that somewhat of that patience which has characterized your service under greater discomforts and trials, may be manifested in this detention; that no insubordination, much less that any mutinous spirit shall be displayed beclouding, or in any degree causing the fair fame of Wisconsin. to suffer through any mistaken action on your part. You are earnestly advised to wait patiently the orders of the commanding general of the army, whose valor and fidelity you have so often applauded, and whose judgment of the necessities in the case you should now accept with confidence. By order of the Governor : AUG. GAYLORD, 36-A. G. 764] GENERAL HEADQUARTERS, STATE OF WISCONSIN, Madison, December 9, 1865. In view of the present and prospective demand upon this office for certificates to facilitate the collection of bounty, back pay or pensions due to soldiers, or to the families of soldiers, formerly in the United States service from this state; and in order that the parties interested may be protected against loss through the action of unauthorized and unprincipled agents, the following regulations are announced, and will hereafter govern in the issue of certificates from this office: First All claim agents asking for information, are required to file in this office evidence that they have taken out a license to act as such, under the existing laws of Congress, authorizing such action. Secondly-All claim agents asking for certificates or information from the records of this office, must furnish evidence from the proper claimant that such agent is duly authorized to act for and in his or her behalf, either by power of attorney or legal certificate, to be filed with the application. These rules are not intended, and will in no way interfere with, the giving of information to the families of soldiers, relative 7651 to the service or death of those in whom they are interested. Such information will be given upon application by relatives, but certificates upon which to base a claim for local bounty, state aid, or against the General Government, will be issued only upon proper evidence that the party making application is the rightful claimant or a legally authorized attorney. Soldiers, and relatives of deceased soldiers are advised to exceeding caution in the selection of agents for the transaction of this business, that it may fall into the hands of only responsible and honest men. By order of the Governor : AUG. GAYLORD, No. of Subdistrict. 766] QUOTAS & CREDITS-ENLISTMENTS. 563 "B" ADJUTANT GENERAL'S OFFICE, Madison, Wis., October 16, 1865. STATEMENT: showing the whole quota of the several subdistricts in the State, under the calls of February 1st, March 14th, July 18th and December 19th, 1861; also the quotas of the several Congressional districts, under calls prior to October 12th, 1863; with the total credit to each, as compiled from the records of this office. FIRST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT-MILWAUKEE COUNTY, |