Lights and shadows in Confederate prisons : $b a personal experience, 1864-5Sprague, Homer B. (Homer Baxter)
History
Lights and shadows in Confederate prisons : $b a personal experience, 1864-5
Sprague, Homer B. (Homer Baxter)
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Prisoners and prisons
The Judge Advocate stated that he had acquainted the accused of the
order convening the Court, to which he replied in the words following,
to wit: "What is that to do with me? I recognize no authority in this
prison to convene a court martial," or words to that effect.
The accused having refused to appear, the members of the Court were duly
sworn by the Judge Advocate, and the Judge Advocate was duly sworn by
the President of the Court. The accused, Capt. [again we omit the name],
104th N. Y. Vols., was arraigned on the following charges and
specifications:
Charge--Conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman.
Specification--In this: That Capt. [we again omit], 104th N. Y. Vols.,
without provocation, did say in the hearing of several officers to
Lieut. Col. Homer B. Sprague, 13th C. V., speaking in coarse and
ungentlemanly manner the words following, to wit: [here we omit the
language uttered as being too vile and filthy to print]; that he did
several times repeat the same in a coarse and angry tone, and used other
vulgar and indecent expressions in an insulting tone and manner. This at
Danville Mil. Prison, Va., in the lower room thereof on the 29th day of
October, 1864.
The accused refusing to appear, the Judge Advocate was directed by the
President to enter the plea of Not Guilty.
To the Specification, Not Guilty.
To the Charge, Not Guilty.
Lieut. G. C. Wilson, 2d P. Artillery, and Lieut. Wm. Shuler, 107th P.
Vols., witnesses for the prosecution, stated that they had cognizance of
the facts set forth in the Specification.
The proceedings of the Court having been reviewed by the Judge Advocate,
he submitted the case without argument. The Court was then cleared for
deliberation, and having maturely considered the evidence adduced find
the accused
On the Specification, Guilty; with the exception of the words "and used
other vulgar and indecent expressions."
Of the Charge, Guilty. And do therefore sentence him to be reprimanded
by the Senior Officer.
The Court is thus lenient owing to this being the first case of the kind
brought before it.
WM. A. LEACH, Lt. Col. 90th Regt. Pa. Vols., Pres.;
JAS. A. CLARK, Adjt. 17th Pa. Cavalry, Judge Advocate.
The Proceedings and Findings in the foregoing case are hereby
respectfully submitted to Brig.-Gen. Hayes for his consideration.
JAMES CARLE, Col. 191st Pa. Vols., Senior Officer, 2d Floor.
CONFED. MIL. PRISON, DANVILLE, VA., Nov. 1, 1864.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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