1825 John Quincy Adams - Desertion of U.S. Soldiers

Between 1822 and 1825, 2,451 soldiers including 945 infantrymen deserted the U.S. army.  According to the Army's Adjutant General, desertions were especially prevalent during the first 12 months after enlistment.  The Adjutant General also reported that many of these private solders come from an area where there was no regard to "desertion as an act of turpitude" (shameful or repulsive).   The army could  not rely on patriotism alone, but had to find proper incentives to retain the soldiers. The official report came out in 1826, but President John Quincy Adams previewed the report in December of 1825 when he delivered his first State of the Union Address.  Adams mentioned that the report from the Department of War would be delivered soon, and proposed that Congress act soon to address the problem of desertion by passing legislation to hold back a small portion of the soldier's monthly pay until their discharge.  The United States was enjoying a time of peace, but unless something was done, the United States might find themselves in a "sudden eruption of a war" without a "single corps of cavalry".

"The condition of the various branches of the public service resorting from the Department of War, and their administration during the current year, will be exhibited in the report of the Secretary of War and the accompanying documents herewith communicated. The organization and discipline of the Army are effective and satisfactory. To counteract the prevalence of desertion among the troops it has been suggested to withhold from the men a small portion of their monthly pay until the period of their discharge; and some expedient appears to be necessary to preserve and maintain among the officers so much of the art of horsemanship as could scarcely fail to be found wanting on the possible sudden eruption of a war, which should take us unprovided with a single corps of cavalry."

It wasn't until March 2nd, 1833 when Congress passed, "An Act to improve the condition of the non-commissioned officers and privates of the army and marine corps of the United States and to prevent desertion".  This act addressed desertion by establishing a probationary period where $1 out of the solders $6 monthly pay would be retained for two years.   At the end of the two year period, the solder would then receive the $24 outstanding payment provided that he had "served honestly and faithfully".  After the probationary period, the soldier would then receive his full $6 pay. each month.  Veterans who re-enlisted received a bonus of $12, and full monthly salary without an additional probationary period.

References

Presidency.ucsb.edu. (2018). John Quincy Adams: First Annual Message. [online] Available at: http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=29467 [Accessed 3 Jan. 2018].

Homans, B. (1833). Military and naval magazine of the united states volume 1. [Place of publication not identified]: Thompson and Homans, p.151.

Urwin, G. (1991). The United States infantry. New York: Sterling Pub. Co., p.61.

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