Page:Harris Dickson--The unpopular history of the United States.djvu/163

Demagogues and Dissension Politicians, anxious to curry favor and make votes, withdrew soldiers from the breastworks to be used at the polls.

Once safely at home, if a man wanted to stay there, he could secure a discharge by getting any physician "in good standing" to sign a certificate of disability. And these certificates soon acquired a commercial value — as was inevitable under the temptation. Militiamen learned the art of feigning every disease suggested by patent medicine advertisements. Impositions became so frequent that discharges for rheumatics were absolutely barred — that was too easy. Records of the War Department show that disability certificates were subjects of barter and sale. Medical officers of character and patriotism were exposed to every kind of bribery. Thousands and thousands of men never returned to the ranks. General McClellan mentioned a single regiment, which sent 506 men to the rear, of whom only 15 or 20 reported again for duty. By reason of "chronic absenteeism" and [145]