Big Request Here -- Help Transcribing Documents.

[YoreLocal]

I recently obtained copies of my g-g-g-grandpa's court martial report, but I can't for the life of me read it. I know I'm asking a lot, but I was hoping someone here could transcribe it for me. He was known to be a gambler and a drunkard, so I guess it would have something to do with that. Sorry if I don't answer any comments immediately, but it's midnight where I live, and I'm taking my brother to Kentucky tomorrow -- I should be able to answer after that.

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Pg. 6

 

[YoreLocal]

To be clear: I can't read it because I'm stupid.

 

[Bur Oak]

I can read most of it, but because of time constraints, I suspect others will get to it before I can. The handwriting is fairly legible if you can read cursive.

It may or may not be applicable here, but I recommend that any youngster out there who wasn't taught cursive in school would be wise to find someone to teach them. If future generations don't carry on the knowledge and skill, documents like this will be as undecipherable to the masses as Egyptian hieroglyphics. To us old farts, that's unimaginable.

 

[tomlamarcooughlin]

To be clear: I can't read it because I'm stupid.

Basically it looks to me that he got drunk, ran away and when surrounded threatened anybody who would stop him with an axe. Found guilty and had to pay ten dollars a month for 4 months and be kept at hard labor for 60 days.

 

[bayonet]

First half of 1863! He should of waited until mid 1865 to get drunk. Don't feel bad. Mine got thrown in the Brig for 3 months right before Appomattox for challenging some newbie LT to a fight during hard riding. His Unit was front and center when Lee rode down into the Courthouse. Busted from Sergeant to Private (but got it back later). Wish he %&#@$ slapped that that LT after Appomattox so I could have bragging rights he was there.

 

[John Winn]

I can read most of it, but because of time constraints, I suspect others will get to it before I can. The handwriting is fairly legible if you can read cursive.

It may or may not be applicable here, but I recommend that any youngster out there who wasn't taught cursive in school would be wise to find someone to teach them. If future generations don't carry on the knowledge and skill, documents like this will be as undecipherable to the masses as Egyptian hieroglyphics. To us old farts, that's unimaginable.

Truth.

 

[Northstep]

I'll transcribe the whole thing for you. Just give me a couple of days.

 

[JOHN42768]

The fluent lines of cursive are quickly becoming a lost art. I think of the hours of creating and practicing each letter under Sister's watchful eyes. Someday soon we will become like the Code Talkers of WW2 fame.

 

[Bur Oak]

The fluent lines of cursive are quickly becoming a lost art. I think of the hours of creating and practicing each letter under Sister's watchful eyes. Someday soon we will become like the Code Talkers of WW2 fame.

That might be an interesting opportunity for there to be a new profession --- Scribe.

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

I can read most of it, but because of time constraints, I suspect others will get to it before I can. The handwriting is fairly legible if you can read cursive.

It may or may not be applicable here, but I recommend that any youngster out there who wasn't taught cursive in school would be wise to find someone to teach them. If future generations don't carry on the knowledge and skill, documents like this will be as undecipherable to the masses as Egyptian hieroglyphics. To us old farts, that's unimaginable.

I agree 100 percent.

Sad fact ... those guys and girls learned to write better cursive than we did in the mid 20th century.

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

To be clear: I can't read it because I'm stupid.

Come on now, don't say that.

I scanned these pages ( but also didn't have time to completely transcribe everything).

The basics seem very serious .
The first few pages relate that the court-martial was held at Murfreesboro, Tennessee during May 1863.
They also detail the General Orders to the Army, the make up of the court-martial jury, his specific charges ect.

The next few pages seem to include witness testimony that he was always drunk and violent or threatening violence
toward fellow soldiers, officers and civilians and slaves.

The next pages reflect he was found guilty of 5 of 7 charges ?

From what I quickly read, I'm not sure if his punishment is included on these cards.

But thanks for posting. I found this very interesting.
My GG Great Uncle served as an officer picked for a court-martial.
I forget the soldier's crimes that he had to judge, but I don't think it was close to the seriousness of your
ancestor's crimes.

A lot of ink has faded, thus making some cards hard to read.
If I have time, I'll try to darken those cards and see if the details of his charges can be easier read.

BTW, welcome to CWT.

 

[Northstep]

Headquarters 2nd Div 21st A.C. [Army of the Cumberland]
Murfreesboro, Tenn. May 5th, 1863

General Order. No 28

A General Court Martial is hereby appointed to convene within the limits of this Camp on Thursday, May 7th 1863 or as soon thereafter as practical for the trial of such persons as may be brought before it.

Detail for the Court
1. Major Thomas M. McClure 24th Ohio
2. Captain Lewis C. Freeman 36th Indiana
3. Captain C. B. Russell 5th Ohio
(4. skipped)
5. Captain John C. Pepper 84th Illinois
6. Captain Thomas Cox, Jr. 1st Kentucky
7. Captain D. B. McConnell 9th Indiana
8. Captain J. M. Bodine 2nd Kentucky
8. Lieutenant Fred A. McKay 41st Ohio
9. Lieutenant William Webb 90th Ohio
and Captain Steele 41st Ohio as Judge Advocate

By order of Major General John Palmer
J. R. Muklemson ?? [unable to verify his name]
Captain and A AG

Friday May 15th 1863
8 o'clock a.m.
The court p? [or hence] met pursuant to adjournment, Present, all the members.
The court proceeded to the trial of Private George W. Lewis Co. D. 24th Ohio Vols. who being called before the Court

page 2

and having heard the orders appointing the Court read, was asked if he had any objections to any member named in the order to which he replied in the negative.
The Court was then, in his presence, duly sworn by the Judge Advocate and the Judge Advocate, duly sworn by the president of the Court.
The accused private, George W. Lewis Co. D. 24th Ohio Vols was arraigned on the following Charges and Specification

Charge 1st Conduct to the prejudice of good order and military discipline.
Specification In this that he private George W. Lewis Co. D. 24th Ohio Vols did on the 28th day of February 1863 near Murfreesboro Tenn become so drunk as to render him unfit for duty.
Specification 2 In this that he the said George W. Lewis Co. D. 24th Ohio Vols did while drunk on the 28th day of February 1863 near Murfreesboro Tenn without cause or provocation knock down and shamefully beat one, Willie (or Willis), colored man employed as servant in the 24th Reg Ohio Vols.

Charge 2 Disobedience of orders

Specification In this that he the said private George W. Lewis Co. D. 24th Ohio Vols on the 28th of Feb. 1863, near Murfreesboro, Tenn, when ordered by his commanding officer Capt Isaac N. Dryden to be tied, escape (sic) from the guard saying he "would not be tied for a damned ******"

page 3

Charge 3 Threatening Violence
Specification. In this that he private George W. Lewis Co. D. 24th Ohio Vols did after escaping from arrest lift up an ax, saying "I will cut the mans brains out who endeavors to tie me"

To which Charge and Specification the accused pleaded as follows:
To the 1st Specification 1st Charge Guilty
To the 2nd Specification 1st Charge Guilty
To the First Charge Guilty
To the Specification 2nd Charge Guilty
To the Second Charge Guilty
To the Specification 3rd Charge Not Guilty
To the 3rd Charge Not Guilty

Sarg't Samuel W. Thomas Co. D. 24th Ohio Vols a witness for the prosecution, being duly sworn says:
Ques [Question] by J. A. [Judge Advocate] Do you know if any disturbance having occurred on the 29th of Feb 1863 in the camp of the 24th Ohio, near Murfreesboro Tenn and if so what?
Ans [Answer] I was ordered by the orderly Sergt. to take two men and arrest private George W. Lewis by order of Capt. Dryden, near Murfreesboro Tenn. on the 29th of March I think. I do not recollect the exact time, it has been so long since. I arrested him and reported to Capt. Dryden, he started out to a tree near the prisoner, he (the Captain) had a rope in his hands he began pulling it around the prisoner when the accused ran off towards the quarters.

page 4

I saw an ax in his hand and heard him say, 'keep away from me' and struck the the ax upon the ground.
Ques by J.A. Did you hear the prisoner make any more remarks at that ?time?
Ans I heard him tell them to keep away from him, which is all I recollect hearing him say.

Capt. G. N. Dryden, 24th Ohio Volunteers a witness for the prosecution, being duly sworn says
The prisoner George Lewis on the 28th of Feb. 1863 became drunk near Murfreesboro Tenn. I ordered him to be tied - he ran away from the guard. He ran towards the front of the Reg [Regiment]. I went up there and found a crowd collected around him. He, the prisoner, had an ax in his hand, he said he "would cut the mans brains out who attempted to tie him" or words to that effect.
Ques by J.A. State the exact words of the prisoner.
Ans "I will cut the mans brains out who endeavors to tie me" or words to that effect.

Ques by Prisoner Did you not hear the boys of the company say "I should not be tied for a ******"?
Ans I do not know that I did.
Ques by Pris. Did you not order me to go to my tent and go to bed?
Ans I think I did and you obeyed.

page 5

The trial here closed.
The judge advocate submitted the case to the Court without remarks.
The Court was then cleared for deliberation and having maturely considered the evidence addressed? find the accused, private George W. Lewis Co. D. 24th ohio Vols as follows.
of the first Specification 1st Charge Guilty
of the 2nd Specification 1st Charge Guilty
of the First Charge Guilty
of the Specification 2nd Charge Guilty
of the 2nd Charge Guilty
of the Specification 3rd Charge Guilty
of the third Charge Guilty

And the Court does therefore sentence him private George W. Lewis Co. D. 24th ohio Vols to forfeit ten dollars per month of his monthly pay for four months and be kept at hard labor for the period of sixty days.

[Signatures]

page 6

Cover page

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

Headquarters 2nd Div 21st A.C. [Army of the Cumberland]
Murfreesboro, Tenn. May 5th, 1863

General Order. No 28

A General Court Martial is hereby appointed to convene within the limits of this Camp on Thursday, May 7th 1863 or as soon thereafter as practical for the trial of such persons as may be brought before it.

Detail for the Court
1. Major Thomas M. McClure 24th Ohio
2. Captain Lewis C. Freeman 36th Indiana
3. Captain C. B. Russell 5th Ohio
(4. skipped)
5. Captain John C. Pepper 84th Illinois
6. Captain Thomas Cox, Jr. 1st Kentucky
7. Captain D. B. McConnell 9th Indiana
8. Captain J. M. Bodine 2nd Kentucky
8. Lieutenant Fred A. McKay 41st Ohio
9. Lieutenant William Webb 90th Ohio
and Captain Steele 41st Ohio as Judge Advocate

By order of Major General John Palmer
J. R. Muklemson ?? [unable to verify his name]
Captain and A AG

Friday May 15th 1863
8 o'clock a.m.
The court p? [or hence] met pursuant to adjournment, Present, all the members.
The court proceeded to the trial of Private George W. Lewis Co. D. 24th Ohio Vols. who being called before the Court

page 2

and having heard the orders appointing the Court read, was asked if he had any objections to any number named in the order to which he replied in the negative.
The Court was then, in his presence, duly sworn by the Judge Advocate and the Judge Advocate, duly sworn by the president of the Court.
The accused private, George W. Lewis Co. D. 24th Ohio Vols was arraigned on the following Charges and Specification

Charge 1st Conduct to the prejudice of good order and military discipline.
Specification In this that he private George W. Lewis Co. D. 24th Ohio Vols did on the 28th day of February 1863 near Murfreesboro Tenn become so drunk as to render him unfit for duty.
Specification 2 In this that he the said George W. Lewis Co. D. 24th Ohio Vols did while drunk on the 28th day of February 1863 near Murfreesboro Tenn without cause or provocation knock down and shamefully beat one, Willie (or Willis), colored man employed as servant in the 24th Reg Ohio Vols.

Charge 2 Disobedience of orders

Specification In this that he the said private George W. Lewis Co. D. 24th Ohio Vols on the 28th of Feb. 1863, near Murfreesboro, Tenn, when ordered by his commanding officer Capt Isaac N. Dryden to be tied, escape (sic) from the guard saying he "would not be tied for a damned ******"

page 3

Charge 3 Threatening Violence
Specification. In this that he private George W. Lewis Co. D. 24th Ohio Vols did after escaping from arrest life up an ax, saying "I will cut the mans brains out who endeavors to tie me"

To which Charge and Specification the accused pleaded as follows:
To the 1st Specification 1st Charge Guilty
To the 2nd Specification 1st Charge Guilty
To the First Charge Guilty
To the Specification 2nd Charge Guilty
To the Second Charge Guilty
To the Specification 3rd Charge Not Guilty
To the 3rd Charge Not Guilty

Sarg't Samuel W. Thomas Co. D. 24th Ohio Vols a witness for the prosecution, being duly sworn says:
Ques [Question] by J. A. [Judge Advocate] Do you know if any disturbance having occurred on the 29th of Feb 1863 in the camp of the 24th Ohio, near Murfreesboro Tenn and if so what?
Ans [Answer] I was ordered by the orderly Sergt. to take two men and arrest private George W. Lewis by order of Capt. Dryden, near Murfreesboro Tenn. on the 29th of March I think. I do not recollect the exact time, it has been so long since. I arrested him and reported to Capt. Dryden, he started out to a tree near the prisoner, he (the Captain) had a rope in his hands he began pulling it around the prisoner when the accused ran off towards the quarters.

page 4

I saw an ax in his hand and heard him say, 'keep away from me' and struck the the ax upon the ground.
Ques by J.A. Did you hear the prisoner make any more remarks at that ?time?
Ans I heard him tell them to keep away from him, which is all I recollect hearing him say.

Capt. G. N. Dryden, 24th Ohio Volunteers a witness for the prosecution, being duly sworn says
The prisoner George Lewis on the 28th of Feb. 1863 became drunk near Murfreesboro Tenn. I ordered him to be tied - he ran away from the guard. He ran towards the front of the Reg [Regiment]. I went up there and found a crowd collected around him. He, the prisoner, had an ax in his hand, he said he "would cut the mans brains out who attempted to tie him" or words to that effect.
Ques by J.A. State the exact words of the prisoner.
Ans "I will cut the mans brains out who endeavors to tie me" or words to that effect.

Ques by Prisoner Did you not hear the boys of the company say "I should not be tied for a ******"?
Ans I do not know that I did.
Ques by Pris. Did you not order me to go to my tent and go to bed?
Ans I think I did and you obeyed.

page 5

The trial here closed.
The judge advocate submitted the case to the Court without remarks.
The Court was then cleared for deliberation and having maturely considered the evidence addressed? find the accused, private George W. Lewis Co. D. 24th ohio Vols as follows.
of the first Specification 1st Charge Guilty
of the 2nd Specification 1st Charge Guilty
of the First Charge Guilty
of the Specification 2nd Charge Guilty
of the 2nd Charge Guilty
of the Specification 3rd Charge Guilty
of the third Charge Guilty

And the Court does therefore sentence him private George W. Lewis Co. D. 24th ohio Vols to forfeit ten dollars per month of his monthly pay for four months and be kept at hard labor for the period of sixty days.

[Signatures]

page 6

Cover page

Great job !

I can't help but wonder what happened to this man.

Obviously he survived the War ...
or @YoreLocalOhioan wouldn't be around to ask questions.

 

[Bur Oak]

I believe a minor correction to the transcription of the first sentence of page 2 needs to be made:

Replace "number" with " member."

 

[Northstep]

I believe a minor correction to the transcription of the first sentence of page 2 needs to be made:

Replace "number" with " member."

Ouch! Thank you for catching my error. I wish I had the ability to edit the post.
@lupaglupa - Should I repost a corrected version or just hope the OP sees this post?

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

I wish I had the ability to edit the post.

You do have the ability to edit ... for a few hours.

Go back to your post and look at the bottom line.

You should see two words in "blue" ... report & edit.
Click edit, make any corrections and then click "save ".

I'm not sure if it's a 12 or 24 hour window, but you can make corrections
to a previous post.

 

[YoreLocal]

Great job !

I can't help but wonder what happened to this man.

Obviously he survived the War ...
or @YoreLocalOhioan wouldn't be around to ask questions.

I don't know too much, but I have heard some details from my great-grandpa. He married while on furlough in early 1864 and seemed to straighten up after that. Sometime in 1865, he was appointed sergeant. It's also claimed that he was shot in the head at the Battle of Shiloh. After the Civil War, he became a devout Christian and spent a lot of his time and money on helping the needy. He was also known to have an interest in politics. Though, I can't find official records relating to it; several sources claim he was the leader of the local Republican Party. Through questionably legal gambling, sometime after the Civil War: George obtained a thousand-acre tobacco farm. Despite his prior money troubles, this acquisition had him set for the rest of his life. He passed in his sleep at the age of 80, on October 27th, 1921.

In "A History of Adams County, Ohio," Nelson W. Evans claims that George W. Lewis fought at the battles of Shiloh, Cheat Mountain, Perryville, Stone River, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, Lookout Mountain, and others. Oddly, Evans claims that George enlisted on May 27th, while official records say June 13th. His farm is owned and operated by his direct descendants: though it's only a tenth of the original size. I had the fortune to grow up on that farm, and it's probably what got me into history. Supposedly, he carried a silver dinner knife around with him. One day, he stuck the knife in one of the dining room walls; and it was left there for a hundred years before my parents decided to remove it. I've always wondered if there's any context to the story, but I can't imagine what it would be.

 

[Bur Oak]

Ouch! Thank you for catching my error.

One word in the whole document. Good job with the transcription.

 

[YoreLocal]

I don't know too much, but I have heard some details from my great-grandpa. He married while on furlough in early 1864 and seemed to straighten up after that. Sometime in 1865, he was appointed sergeant. It's also claimed that he was shot in the head at the Battle of Shiloh. After the Civil War, he became a devout Christian and spent a lot of his time and money on helping the needy. He was also known to have an interest in politics. Though, I can't find official records relating to it; several sources claim he was the leader of the local Republican Party. Through questionably legal gambling, sometime after the Civil War: George obtained a thousand-acre tobacco farm. Despite his prior money troubles, this acquisition had him set for the rest of his life. He passed in his sleep at the age of 80, on October 27th, 1921.

In "A History of Adams County, Ohio," Nelson W. Evans claims that George W. Lewis fought at the battles of Shiloh, Cheat Mountain, Perryville, Stone River, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, Lookout Mountain, and others. Oddly, Evans claims that George enlisted on May 27th, while official records say June 13th. His farm is owned and operated by his direct descendants: though it's only a tenth of the original size. I had the fortune to grow up on that farm, and it's probably what got me into history. Supposedly, he carried a silver dinner knife around with him. One day, he stuck the knife in one of the dining room walls; and it was left there for a hundred years before my parents decided to remove it. I've always wondered if there's any context to the story, but I can't imagine what it would be.

Also, according to my great-grandpa, when he was young, he would sneak whiskey from a local inn. One day, he was caught by a constable. But, for some reason, the constable let him keep the whiskey. Somehow, word got to George; and George was enraged at the news. He immediately assembled a mob, found the constable, and chased him out of town. I remember seeing a newspaper clipping that supported this claim, but it's stored in a warehouse pretty far north at the moment.

 

[YoreLocal]

Ouch! Thank you for catching my error. I wish I had the ability to edit the post.
@lupaglupa - Should I repost a corrected version or just hope the OP sees this post?

Thanks for the transcription! No need to worry about the error, the neuro-surgeons relying on this transcript have already realized that it's supposed to say; "wunbos"; and have made their calculations accordingly.