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Theodore Roosevelt forwards a letter to Major General Wood related to desertion from the military. Roosevelt discusses the punishment which is appropriate for desertion in times of war and in times of peace, and asks Wood to look into the case.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-02-17
President Roosevelt is of the opinion that the punishment for desertions of a particular type is often too heavy, as it tends to punish enlisted men to a greater degree than officers. In the particular case he writes about, Roosevelt thinks that six months of punishment is all that should have been imposed, as the man turned himself in to stand trial. He asks for Secretary of the Navy Newberry’s opinion.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-01-06
President Roosevelt finds cases of desertion challenging to judge. While he is uncertain if he can help the young man William R. Moody mentions, he requests Moody send more information.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-09-19
President Roosevelt is glad to hear from Elisabeth D. Nielson Riis, and is pleased that her husband, Jacob Riis, is doing well. He promises to see what he can do about the case she wrote about, although “it is very difficult to do anything for deserters.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-12-06
President Roosevelt forwards to Secretary of War Taft a letter about “an educated and patriotic fellow” who served in the army in the Philippines and later deserted while on duty in the United States. Roosevelt would like to give the man a chance to atone for his error, and believes that the standard procedures for punishing deserters should be reviewed.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-10-04
President Roosevelt asks Secretary of War Root to look into a pardon for Henry Ryan, an army deserter.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-06-01
President Roosevelt has received Jay Ellwood Bergey’s letter and responds that “no deserter should be pardoned,” except under extraordinary circumstances.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901-10-31
David A. Wetherbee, a Civil War veteran, petitions Theodore Roosevelt’s help in having his son, Theodore Wetherbee, pardoned for military desertion.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-04-06
George Willis, an infantryman who has been sentenced to two and a half years in prison for desertion, asks if Theodore Roosevelt can help him get out of the situation. Willis claims that he was away for a few months to deal with a personal matter and was apprehended on his way back to rejoin the army.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-02-10
Secretary of the Navy Meyer received Theodore Roosevelt’s letter and agrees with him on military desertion. He would enjoy spending the evening with Roosevelt on February 14 if he can arrange it.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-01-24
Theodore Roosevelt writes to Secretary of the Navy Meyer regarding a young man about whom they have exchanged letters earlier, who has since taken Roosevelt’s advice and turned himself in. Roosevelt feels strongly that the Army and Navy deal too harshly with desertion in times of peace and that the severity of punishment contributes to the number of desertions. Major-General Edward Hamilton of the British Army found that it was better to show leniency. Roosevelt invites Meyer and his wife to visit him when Meyer attends the Lincoln dinner.
Massachusetts Historical Society
1911-01-20
Theodore Roosevelt says that if George von Lengerke Meyer is willing, Meyer can ride out with him. Roosevelt thinks the situation is a bad joke on him, as he “unwittingly increased the punishment for desertion” while he was President.
Massachusetts Historical Society
1911-02-07