Iowa County WI Archives Military Records.....Tyrer, Robert 1865
Civilwar 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Nancy Poquette npoq@hotmail.com December 31, 2006, 5:32 am

On March 3rd, 1865, Robert Tyrer was reported as having deserted, but this was so
reported because no one saw him being taken prisoner of war.

From The Roster of Wisconsin Volunteers:

Tyrer, Robert		Dodgeville	Aug. 15, ‘62	From Co. C; prisoner Mar. 3, ‘65;
Vandeventer, Isaac O.	Fayette		Aug. 21, ‘62	From Co. E; prisoner Mar. 3, ‘65;

First report of his desertion indicated that he went missing near Cheraw, S.C. On
March 31st, the Descriptive List of Deserters in his muster file said this, “Took
with him one complete set of accoutrements for Enfield Rifle Musket, 1 knapsack,
haversack, 1 canteen, 1 shelter tent, 1 greatcoat, strap and 1 corps badge.” The
Company Muster Roll of March and April 1865; “Deserted March 3, 1865 near Cheraw,
SC. Due the N. S. for 1 canteen, 45 cents; for 1 complete set of accoutrements taken
by deserter, $3.25; for the shelter tent, 1 knapsack, 1 haversack, 1 canteen, $6.20,
taken by deserter. In the Descriptive List of Deserters Arrested, dated May 31,
1865, “The cost of transportation for himself and guard will be stopped against his
pay, provided he is held as a deserter-$4.20.”
In a Notation of the War Dept, Adjutant General’s Office, dated Sept. 1888, we are
provided with this explanation of what occurred: “Captured at Rockingham, NC, March
6, 1865, brought from Smithfield, NC and confined at Richmond, VA, March 31, 1865.”
[Rockingham, NC is just across the Pedee River from Cheraw, SC. Previous reports
simply said that he went missing ‘near Cheraw.” The Adjutant General’s Office, in a
later memo, after examining the records of the Confederate prison, recorded his
actual capture date as March 3rd. The March 6th date is probably the date that the
detachment that captured him, finally reported to their own regiment.]
From a Notation of the War Dept, Adjutant General’s Office: [Robert Tyrer was]
“Paroled at Aikens Landing, VA, April 2, 1865. Reported at College Green Barracks,
MD, April 4, 1865 and sent from Camp Parole, MD to Benton Barracks, Mo, April 6,
1865, where he arrived April 12, 1865, and furloughed April 14, 1865 for 30 days.
Mustered out of service on a Detachment Muster Out Roll May 13, 1865 at Madison, WI.
The charge of desertion on Prisoner of War Record is removed.” [See below for 3 more
Muster Out Rolls, and the confusion they caused.]
Robert Tyrer’s obituary stated that he spent six weeks as a prisoner of war in the
Libbyville prison camp [See photograph next page]. Robert Tyrer was previously
reported [as shown above] on a Company Muster Out Roll for May 13, 1865. He was
again on three more Company Muster Out Rolls, one dated near Louisville, KY on June
20, 1865, and the next dated Louisville, KY, July 8, 1865, and one called Detachment
Muster Out Roll, in Madison, WI, August 22, 1865: “Reported a deserter. Restored to
duty by S. O. 12 dated Headquarters, Dept. of Missouri, August 3, 1865 (over)
Without loss of pay or allowances. Returned prisoner of war. Captured near Cheraw,
SC on the 3rd of March, 1835. Paroled at Richmond, VA, April 2, 1865. Due him 3
months extra pay under instructions from Adjutant General’s Office, May 30, 1865.
Stop for transportation $8.62. Mustered out to date May 13, 1865. Did not report to
his regiment prior to May 30, 1965.” Stamped on the back of this folder was the date
April 23, 1892.

In another notation dated April 25, 1892: “Charge of desertion removed (having been
prisoner of war at the time) per S. O. No. 12 Headquarters, Dept of the MO of August
3, 1865.”

In one last Notation of the Adjutant General’s Office, dated June 8, 1909: “Robert
Tyrer…It has this day, June 8, 1909, been determined by this department from the
records, that the above named soldier was discharged the service August 22, 1865, he
having been retained in service by competent authority to that date after the muster
out of his company, and that so much of the record as shows him discharged to date
May 13, 1865 is erroneous.” Robert must have been a meticulous man when it came to
repairing his honor.
The charges of desertion were removed from his record, but word had reached
Dodgeville ahead of him, and on June 1, 1865, the Dodgeville Chronicle printed the
following:
"We are informed that Robert Tyrer of Co. H, 31st Wis. Reg. has been arrested for
desertion. It appears that he was taken prisoner some months ago, by the rebels and
paroled, when he got a furlough, but instead of being with his regiment and on duty
at the time he was taken he was sixty miles away, and had been reported as a
deserter for some days previous. As this is the second time he has been arrested for
the same offence it may go rather hard with him."

This statement was retracted in the following week's paper of June 15, 1865:

"We learn that we were misinformed in regard to the arrest of Robert Tyrer. He
informs us that he reported at Madison of his own accord, and has since received a
furlough."



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