COLONEL: By
direction of Lieutenant-General Longstreet I have the honor to state to you for
the attention of the commanding general that Major-General Pickett reports
about 100 men from his command in the guard-house charged with the crime of
desertion. He accounts for this state of things by the fact that every man
sentenced to be shot for desertion in his division for the past two months has
been reprieved.
Respectfully
submitted for the information of the Secretary of War. Desertion is increasing
in the army notwithstanding all my efforts to stop it. I think a rigid
execution of the law is [sic] in the end. The great want in our army is
firm discipline.
[Second
indorsement.]
Respectfully
submitted to honorable Secretary of War for consideration.
NOVEMBER 23, 1864.
Respectfully
submitted for the consideration of the President.
[Fourth indorsement.
]
NOVEMBER 29, 1864.
When deserters are
arrested they should be tried, and if the sentences are reviewed and remitted
that is not a proper subject for the criticism of a military commander.
JEFF'N DAVIS.