Punishing Deserters

In 1792 President George Washington recalled Revolutionary War hero General “Mad Anthony” Wayne from civilian life to lead an expedition against the Western Indian Confederacy which heretofore had twice achieved major victories over American forces. Wayne was placed in command of a newly formed army called the “Legion of the United States” and began the enormous task of training and supplying his troops. In a lengthy letter written to Secretary of War Henry Knox in August 1792, Wayne discusses some of the problems he encountered as he went about the business of organizing and training his army. A major concern had to do with desertions which he viewed as “frequent and alarming.” He described an incident in which he had formed his troops for action in response to a report that a large body of Indians was nearby. His men were ordered to maintain their posts “at every expence of blood” until he had gained the enemy’s rear with mounted dragoons. But, in Wayne’s words, “such was the defect of the human heart” from an “excess of cowardice” that one-third of the sentries deserted from their stations. In order to prevent such behavior from becoming “infectuous” he was determined to make an example of these deserters and informs Knox of the punishments which he was considering. He says that if any of them attempted to escape, he would “put them to instantaneous death.” Otherwise he was contemplating “a brand with the word coward to stamp upon the forehead” and to “divest them of every military insignia” and “cause them to be constantly employ’d in the most menial services about camp.” Wayne had a reputation as an effective commander and harsh disciplinarian but it is not known whether he actually implemented his plan to brand deserters. Perhaps the mere threat of such a punishment would have been enough to eliminate the problem of desertions. In any case, this is additional evidence that the sobriquet “Mad Anthony” was entirely appropriate.