USA > New Hampshire > The Third New Hampshire and all about it, pt 2 > Part 67
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69
" 22 July 1862 : A court convened today at Capt. Pelouze's headquarters (old)."
"- June 1863 (St. Helena Island) : A court in session here. Capt. Clark on it."
"4 June 1864 : Several veterans (re-enlisted men) returned today nnder guard. Overstayed their veteran furlonghs, and have already been dropped as deserters."
General Order 146. Department of the Sonth. 12 Oct. 1864. directed that all prisoners then at Fort Clinch, Fla .. be transferred to Fort Marion, at St. Augustine; and all thereafter, if sentenced for more than two months. to be sent to Fort Marion.
General Order 76, War Department, 26 Feb. 1864 : See page 431.
General Order 196, War Department. 12 May 1864: See page 485.
General Order 200, War Department. 3 JJune 1864, republished General Orders 76 and 196, and explained by a note that it was not the intention to remit the penalty of imprisonment at Tortugas during the war. but to add thereto the discharge, with loss of all pay. etc. The order only applies to deserters.
General Order 16, War Department, s Feb. 1865 : See page 641.
General Order 35, War Department. 11 March 1865 : See page G4s.
General Order 98, War Department, 27 May 1865 : See page 659.
(1027)
1028
THIRD NEW HAMPSHIRE REGIMENT.
APPREHENSION FEE.
The original fee for the capture of a deserter was $5. This was in- creased to $10 by General Order 222, War Department, 16 July 1863, and to 830 by General Order 325, War Department, 28 Sept. 1863, and there re- mained during the war.
COURTS-MARTIAL IN GENERAL.
These were generally composed of say eight to ten commissioned officers, one of whom is designated in the order convening the court as the president, and another as the judge advocate. The former is the presiding officer, and the latter the recording officer, also acting as counsel for both sides. In general make-up the court appears to be a sort of " trial by jury" affair; but the proceedings are considerably different from the tame civil affair. If an officer is to be tried, the court must be of his superiors in rank. After the trial of a prisoner, if found guilty, the first question is upon the sentence : and here comes the peculiarity of the military court as compared with the civil tribunal. The junior officer of the court proposes a sentence first (this is in executive session). He is assumed to be the youngest in years and ergo the most tender hearted, and therefore will propose a com- paratively light sentence. This is voted upon; and if not accepted, then the next higher in rank tries his hand at it; and so on till a sentence is agreed upon. If the court has been convened by the commander of a de- partment, then the proceedings (all in writing) are submitted and reviewed : and whether approved or not, a general order is issued. stating the fact of trial, findings, sentence, etc., followed (same order) by the approval or dis- approval of this officer. Capital cases, in the early part of the war, all went to the President; but this was changed to department commanders or army corps commanders. An order convening a court generally ended with, " None others can assemble without manifest injury to the service."
DESERTIONS BY RE-ENLISTED MEN.
The following list is of those who, while in New Hampshire on the furlough granted to re-enlisted men, either actually deserted or simply failed to report at the proper time to Capt. Randlett, at Nashua, to return with the main body. Some really did desert, never rejoining; while others simply overstayed and rejoined afterward, as will be noted. Those who over- stayed had a variety of reasons or excuses for so doing; but it is probable that they were having a good time, and didn't feel the necessity of haste or promptness : -
Co. 1: Thomas Johnston.
Co. B : Edward W. Casley, Alonzo Clay.
Co. C: Peter Pelkey, James Quinlan, John Curran, Bryan Costello, Timothy Healey.
Co. D : Joseph F. Moore.
Co. E: Horace B. Kenniston.
Co. F : Charles Lay, James L. Chase, John E. Day.
Co. G : James H. McCrillis.
Co. II : James O'Neil, Win. Robinson, Donald Smith, John Locklin, John Brady, Edward Bickford.
Co. K : Geo. A. Tarbox. Win. W. Wentworth, James W. Willey, James F. Johnson, Hugh Macklin, Geo. N. Bolo.
The names given were all dropped as deserters; but in cases where one rejoined soon after, he was taken up on the rolls, in nearly all cases without trial. In one such case, the man was afterward commissioned.
DESERTIONS AT JACKSONVILLE, FLA.
While the regiment was at Jacksonville. and during the short time the four companies (A, D), H and K) were away at Palatka, there arose a mania for desertion, wholly confined to the substitute recruits. It became of daily (or nightly) occurrence and caused serious apprehension. Finally secret measures were taken, not only to prevent desertion, but to prevent it permanently, as we shall see further on.
.
.
1029
THIRD NEW HAMPSHIRE REGIMENT.
These desertions were of the most flagrant character, almost wholly from the pieket line. In most cases the deserter took with him his equip- ments, and (the regiment being mounted at the time) sometimes the horse. The measures adopted to bring this mania to a definite and tragic conclusion were these: After the line had been posted as picket on the night of 15 April 1864, and the probable would-be-deserters had been selected for that night -another line of pickets, composed of pieked and reliable men, was secretly posted where the rebels would naturally be located. This outer line was in charge of Lieuts. Wadlia and Button. The time arrived; eight of the would-be deserters started for rebeldom, and were soon in the embrace of their fellow soldiers of the Third New Hampshire. Sur- prised, did you say? Well, it was a surprise party indeed! A more crestfallen, sheep-stealing look never bedecked the countenance of the meanest of God's creatures than was visible that night even by the glimmer of a camp-fire. At early morning of the 16th the camp was a lively one, and grew more lively every moment, as the news of the capture went around.
Maj. Plimpton at once ordered a drum-head court-martial, to sit imme- diately and try the eight deserters. The court was composed of Capt. Ela and Lieuts. Trickey, Wadlia and Dodge, the former being president and the latter judge advocate. Only one, Henry Miller, substitute recruit of Co. F, was found guilty ; and he was sentenced to be, and was, shot immediately.
Did desertions cease? They did for the time being. The example made of Miller was temporarily effectual at least.
A letter written by J. G. Graham at this time says : " Have just come in from the execution of . . . . Henry Miller of Co. F. We have lost 13 men by desertion since we came here (Jacksonville), all substitutes. Pri- vate Smith deserted April 7; three more deserted on the 12th; on the 13th three more; on the 14th four more; on the 15th (yesterday) two more; and six others were captured trying to desert. Miller paid the penalty of death at two o'clock this p.M. The other five are awaiting their sentences. They were tried by drum-head court-martial . . . . Miller was a German, from New York, and took it very coolly. Our regiment and the Fortieth Massachusetts were the only troops present . . . . There is one of my company (B) awaiting sentence, by name of William Amie, from New York City. We have lost one before from our company -John Clark. They take horses and equipments with them . . . . We detailed twenty-four men,
and quietly formed . . . under cover of darkness between the . . . . lines . . and about three o'clock relieved the picket line, when seven of them made a break for the rebel picket line
Lient. Dodge says of the four men selected from his company (F) for the inner line : three were brought in by Corp. Ash of Co. I, one of whom was Miller. Of the subsequent history of the others : one was missing and one killed in action at Drewry's Bluff, 13 May 1864; and the fourth deserted to another regiment, 19 Aug. 1864.
The names of those who deserted at Jacksonville may be found in the general list.
DESERTIONS AT NEW YORK.
While the regiment was on duty (? ) in New York Harbor, during the election of November. 1864, the temptation to desert was strong, and sev- eral yielded to it. Probably some only intended to go to the city, have a good time for a day or two, and return ; but having entered upon the afore- said good time, it proved too much for them. Coming to their senses when too late to rejoin at New York Harbor (the regiment having returned to Virginia), they made a bad matter worse by completing the act of deser- tion, which they originally did not intend to do. This much, not in vindi- cation, but in extennation, and for purposes of information to the reader.
COURT-MARTIAL CASES.
Bailey, Frank : An original man of Co. A. He was so unwise as to throw dirt upon some colored men 9 Feb. 1563. at Hilton Head, S. C. For this he was sentenced to be publically reprimanded on dress parade by his colouel. Sentenced by G.O. 24, H.Q., H.II. (Terry), 14 March 1863.
1030
THIRD NEW HAMPSHIRE REGIMENT.
Constantine, Geo. W. : An original man of Co. A. Fell asleep on his post on the night of 12 April 1862, on Edisto Island, S.C. He was placed under guard and remained in confinement a long time (probably till October following). He was tried by general court-martial, acquitted and restored to duty.
Harrington, John, Co. \: He was a substitute recruit of 1863. De- serted from the picket line 3 Sept. 1864, in front of Petersburg. He was paroled and apprehended 15 March 1865. at Wilmington, N.C. On his return to the regiment he was ordered for trial by S.O. 34, H.Q. District of Wilmington, N.C., dated 12 April 1865. Col. Bedel, Major Trickey and Lieut. Atherton of our regiment were on the court, Col. Bedel being its president. He was found guilty and sentenced to three years hard labor and to lose all pay and allowances due or to become due until expiration of term of sentence. The sentence to be executed under direction of the Com- manding Officer of the District of Columbia. . The final muster-out roll- 20 July 1865 - reported him absent in arrest, at Wilmington.
Brelsford, Samuel D. : An original man of Co. A. Fell asleep on post at Regimental Commissary's, 5 Dec. 1861. Sentenced to be reprimanded by his colonel on dress parade, and to forfeit half of his monthly pay for six months. Col. Fellows was president of court, which was convened by Gen. Sherman's G.O. 6, 24 Jan, 1862.
Thing, Frederick F., Co. B: A volunteer recruit of 1862. Absented himself from his company at Morris Island, on the night of 6 Sept. 1863. He was tried by general court-martial and sentenced to hard labor for bal- ance of his term of enlistment, and to forfeit $8.00 per month during that time. G.O. 55 of 17 Oct. 1863, H.Q. U.S.F., Morris Island, promulgated the sentence; and G.O. 103 of 19 Nov. 1863, from H.Q. Department of the South, designated Fort Clinch at Fernandina, Fla., as the place of contine- ment. As he was not released for discharge till 11 Oct. 1865, as of 17 Sept. 1865, at New York, it would appear that his sentence was fully carried out. Final record: "Bounty suspended at muster-out till he furnishes proper evidence that he was not found guilty of desertion."
Thing, John H., Co. B : Intoxicated and left his beat at Botany Bay Island, S.C., 3 May 1863. Tried within a few days thereafter at Seabrook Island; guilty ; Capt. Aver was his counsel. Sentenced to confinement with provost guard at Hilton Head for three months and loss of one-half of his monthly pay for same period. Lieut. Fogg was Officer of the Guard 3 May 1863; and he preferred the charges, after consultation with and under orders of Lieut .- Col. Bedel - the latter commanding the regiment, and Col. Jackson in command of the post. Thing rejoined regiment 11 Aug. 1863.
Codorath, Engene: An original corporal of Co. C. He very indis- creetly declined to obey the orders of Lient. Jas. Wilson of the Topographi- cal Engineers, while on fatigue duty at Fort Wells, Hilton Head, S. C., 30 Dec. 1861. He was sentenced to be reduced to the ranks, and abstain from eating and drinking for fourteen days, with the proviso that should he desire cominon, ordinary bread, or such water as could be produced (by others) by digging, he could have all he desired. This was a tender-hearted court, surely. Our own Col. Fellows was its president. (G.O. 6, Gen. Sherman, 24 .Jan. 1862.)
Doane. John, Co. C: A substitute recruit of 1864. Deserted 27 March 1865, at Wilmington, N. C. Was apprehended, tried and sentenced to be dishonorably discharged with loss of all pay, and then serve three years at hard labor at Clinton Prison. N. Y.
Kearin, John: An original private of Co. C. Was disobedient to orders and disrespectful to his superior officers, and actually struck his captain (Donohoe), and saneed his orderly sergeant (J. J. Donohoe). All this little piece of acting was at Hilton Head, S. C., 18 Feb. 1862. Sen- tenced to hard labor, under guard, for two months; the first two weeks of each month to partake of bread and water only, and be confined in solitary : to forfeit all pay and allowances that became due him; to have a 12-Ib. ball attached to his left leg by a 4-ft. chain; at expiration of the two months, to have his head shaved and be drumned out of the service. (G.0. 5, Northern District, D.S., Hilton Ilead, 28 April 1862 : Gen. Benham.)
--------------
1031
THIRD NEW HAMPSHIRE REGIMENT.
Foley, David : An original private of Co. C. Was drunk on his post, 5 Feb. 1-62, at Hilton Head. In consequence, was disrespectful to his superior officers, and threatened them with violence. Was also saney to Capt. Aver, who was Officer of the Guard. His sentence was precisely like that of John Kearin.
Mullen, Francis, Co. C: A substitute recruit of 1864. Deserted at Wilmington, N. C., 27 March 1865. Apprehended; tried by general court- martial, and sentenced to be dishonorably discharged (15 April 1865), with loss of all pay, and then be confined at hard labor in the State Prison, Clin- ton, N. Y., for two years.
Welch, James: An original private of Co. C. Was foolish enough to refuse to go on guard when ordered to do so by Lieut. Allen of his company, 10 Jan. 1862. Tried, and sentenced to be reprimanded by his captain, on company parade, and live on a bread and water diet for fourteen days. and to forfeit 88 per month for three months. Col. Fellows was the president of the court. (G.O. 6. Gen. Sherman, 24 Jan. 1862.)
Welch, James, Co. C: An original private. Deserted while on fur- lough from Camp Parole. Apprehended ; trial at Alexandria, Va., 27 Feb. 1865. Sentenced (7 March) to be returned to his company and regiment under guard, for duty ; to lose all pay and allowances then due him, and to forfeit $10 per month for twenty months, and make good the time lost by desertion. Returned to duty 5 April 1865. Lieut. Atherton was a member of the court.
Chipperon, Lawrence: A substitute recruit of 1864. Said to have deserted en route to regiment: apprehended. S.O. 182, par. 6, from Head- quarters Department of the East, New York, 7 Ang. 1865: " Private Lawrence Chipperon, Co. C, Third New Hampshire Vols., is relieved from the charge of desertion and restored to duty without trial, his absence having been satisfactorily accounted for. By command of Gen Hooker, D. T. Van Buren, A. A .- G." Chipperon was mustered out 18 Ang. 1865.
Clifford, Charles, Co. D: An original private. Found drunk and asleep on Post No. 10, regimental guard, at Hilton Head, S. C., at 4.30 A.M., 27 Dec. 1862. Sentenced to be imprisoned at the provost guard-house eight months and forfeit $10 per month same period. (G.O. 11, 27 Jan. 1863 : Gen. Terry.)
Buss, Joseph : An original private of Co. E. Charged with lying down and sleeping on his post, as regimental guard, on morning of 2 Nov. 1862, at Hilton Head, S. C. Lient. - Col. Bedel was president of the court. Acquitted. (G.O. 53, D.S .. 20 Nov. 1862.)
Prew, Charles : An original private of Co. E. Found sleeping on his post, 21 May 1862, at Edisto Island. Sentenced to forty-five days' confine- ment with the provost quard at Hilton Head, from 1 August. (G.O. 54, Hilton Head, 31 Ang. 1862 : Col. Guss.)
Prew, Charles : An original private of Co. E. Misappropriated several Irish tubers from one of his dear U'nele Sam's storehouses. This was while he was on post guard at Hilton Head, S. C., 27 Nov. 1862. Sentenced to two months' confinement in provost guard-house, first week solitary, and to forfeit S5 per month for two months. Col. Jackson was president of the court. (G.O. 9, 29 Dec. 1862 : Gen. Terry.)
White. Chas. S. : An original private of Co. E. Deserted 9'June 1864, on march to Petersburg, Va. (the regiment was there for the day only). Was apprehended 17 Aug. 1864, at Washington, D. C. Tried at Alexandria, Va., at the headquarters of the Military Governor. G.O. 70, 1 Sept. 1864. promulgated the sentence -to be returned to his company and regiment for duty, with loss of all pay and allowances then due and forfeit 810 per month of his monthly pay for eighteen months, and make good the time lost by desertion. [NOTE .- The printed order promulgating the sentence (only a fragment falling into my hands) said, "deserted abont 16 June 1864, at Bermuda Hundred, Va." From the fragment I obtained a clue to the remainder of the proceedings .- D.E. ]
Goodhue, David, Co. F: A volunteer reeruit of 1863. Wounded 16 May 1864; sent to general hospital; and was probably irregularly absent therefrom. The charge of desertion was not sustained; but he was found
1032
THIRD NEW HAMPSHIRE REGIMENT.
guilty of "absence without leave." The court (general court-martial) sat at Concord, N. II. ; so it is probable that he had been attached to the hospital, either at Manchester or Concord. His sentence was: hard labor for one month, and loss of pay for same period. Gen. Dix, commanding Depart- ment of the East, by his G.O. 49, 10 June 1865, ordered Goodhue to be mustered out, while under sentence, under G.O. 77, W.D. He directed that the forfeited pay and the apprehension fee (830) be deducted at the muster- out, which occurred 26 June 1865, at Fort Trumbull, Conn. The General also approved the proceedings of the court, but remitted the. confinement : and in ordering the discharge stipulated that pay for the ten days' absence without leave should be deducted from the amount due him.
Green, Albert : An original private of Co. F. Deserted at Fort Rich- mond, New York Harbor, about 7 Nov. 1864. Was arrested at Windsor, Vt., 5 Dec. 1864, and arrived at the regiment under guard 18 Dec. 1864. He was tried by a general court-martial. Sentence : to forfeit all pay and allowances due or to become due, and to be shot to death with musketry, etc. This was approved by Gen. Hawley, 28 Jan. 1865. Gen. Ord com- muted the sentence to one year's confinement at hard labor in the prison at Norfolk, Va., and to forfeit all pay and allowances for that time, except sufficient for clothing and enough to pay the just dues of the laundress (Gen. Ord was a protectionist). A memorandum on the papers in his case reads : " Escaped from guard 31 May 1865." The muster-out roll (final) says : " absent at Norfolk, under sentence." Discharged by S.O. 603, W.D.
Chamberlin, Albert G., Co. F : A volunteer recruit of 1862. Deserted at New York, in November, 1864. Apprehended, and was restored to duty, without trial, by order of Gen. Foster, without loss of pay. The apprehen- sion fee of $30 was paid by A.G.C.
Blood, Stillman : An original man of F; re-enlisted. When on duty at New York, in November, 1864, decided to take French leave, and did so. He returned, however, to the fold, under the President's proclamation. 11 March 1865, and was thereupon discharged with loss of pay and allowances. This at Galloupe's Island, Boston Harbor, Mass.
Caldwell, Nathan : An original man of Co. F; re-enlisted. Deserted at New York City. 7 Nov. 1864. Apprehended 5 Dec. 1864; tried by general court-martial. Sentenced to be shot to death with musketry, etc .. but commuted to hard labor and finally discharged with loss of all pay and allowances to date, & Dec. 1>65. The final muster-out roll says, .. absent under sentence at Norfolk."
Kendall, John : A substitute recruit of Co. G. Deserted on the night of 28 Nov. 1863, at Morris Island, S. C. His case was a peculiar one. He had not been long with the regiment - in fact, his arrival and desertion were within the month. He set out to be cunning in his methods. Arriving at the creek which separated us from the enemy, he stripped and phinged in. His geographical knowledge was bad, and the location of our troops was unknown to him. When he reached a landing it was at Black Island, and a detacliment of Unele Sam's soldiers were there. He landed, and supposed himself among the rebels; but was astonished to find himself among Union troops. His nakedness was for the moment his salvation. He claimed at once to have come from the rebels as a deserter. This ruse . took": he was kindly provided for, and next morning sent to the provost guard at Morris Island, to be there kept till convenient to send him North or other- wise dispose of him. The provost guard was of the Third New Hampshire, and the Provost Marsha, was Capt. Randiett. This put the man where he had got to " look sharp, ' He had been in confinement but a few days when some one of his own company chanced to get a good square look at his face. Presto! " You're Kendall !" said the Co. G man, " Oh. no! you're mistaken." said Kendall. But this recognizer at once repaired to his company, and brought several men to identify the prisoner. He surrendered. was tried by general court-martial, and was sentenced to be shot to death with musketrv. Gen. Gillmore's G. O. 111, 14 Dec. 1863, promulgated and ap- proved the sentence and directed that he he shot within forty-eight hours after the order had been received by Gen. Terry, who commanded the forces on Morris Island. This was done, about half-past four on the 17th.
7
1033
THIRD NEW HAMPSHIRE REGIMENT.
The Provost Marshal (Capt. Randlett) headed the procession; Third New Hampshire Drum Corps next in line, playing with muffled drums; a platoon of armed men from the regiment; a hospital wagon, with the prisoner seated upon his coffin; another platoon of armed men of the regiment; followed by Chaplain Hill and attendants. This procession halted in front of our camp, and the troops (all available of those on the island) formed three sides of a hollow square. The firing party consisted of twelve men selected from the companies on provost guard. . It is said that only nine of these A guns were loaded with ball. Kendall all this time was full of bravado, and so re- B O . mained to the last. Hle even went so far C as to " square off'" at the Chaplain while he was endeavoring to awaken in him a sense of the solemnity of the occasion. This was all in vain. He very readily submitted to the blindfolding, and then seated himself upon his coffin. The war- ing of a handkerchief, as a signal by the Provost Marshal, and Kendall was no A Coffin more. Nearly all the above particulars B Prisoner were taken from the diary of G. W. S. (drummer), who added that at the final C Firing Party moment a large white sea gull circled TROOPS over the spot. This was of course a mere coincidence. Another diary says D Reserve TROOPS the Chaplain offered prayer prior to the fatal shots ; that after Capt. Randlett had adjusted the blindfold, Kendall called him back and shook hands with him. This other diary also says that one man fired TROOPS before the signal was given; that nine shots took effect, seven of them through his breast; that the whole command was TROOPS marched past his dead body. Another diary says all the troops were ont - white and black, and civilians, four deep; two sections (platoons) of men under Lieut. Wadsworth; Alanson Blake of Co. H drove the ambulance. This last also adds that the Chaplains of Third and Fourth New Hampshire were on horseback, Maj. Plimpton and Dr. Buzzell bringing up the rear; three men did not fire. Still another diary says he made a few remarks, but did not confess his crime, saying he was an Englishman and like an Englishman would die.
Knox, George P. : An original private of Co. G. Forged an order on a sutler (D). Coggswell), at Hilton Head, S. C., for ten dollars, and attached Capt. Emmons' name. This was 30 Dec. 1862; and he got the goods. lIe was sentenced to hard labor at the provost guard for the balance of his enlistment. and to forfeit all pay and allowances from 19 Feb. 1863. (G.O. 27, Hilton Head, 2 April 1863 : Gen. Terry.)
Ferguson, John R. : An original private of Co. G. Was charged with throwing dirt on some colored people at Hilton Head, 9 Feb. 1863. Acquitted - same order as Knox.
Moody, Alfred C. : An original private of Co. G. Charged same as Ferguson. Acquitted - same order as Knox and Ferguson.
Vittum. David P. S. : An original private of Co. G. Was tried for setting fire to the woods, at Ililton Head, 5 March 1862, and acquitted. (G.O. 5, Northern District, 28 April 1802 : Gen. Benham.)
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.