Discharge: drunk and....

[Blessmag]

Charge and Specifications preferred against William H. Schriver, Capt. Co. "G," 126th Reg't Ill. Infantry Vol.
CHARGE—Habitual Drunkeness.
SPECIFICATIONS—In this, that the said William H. Schriver, Capt. Co. "G" 126th Ill. Inf'ty Vol., has, for the last year or more, been given to the use of ardent spirits to such an extent that his habits and conduct have proven him to be utterly demoralized.
CHARGE 2nd—Drunk on Duty
SPECIFICATION—In this, that he, William H. Schriver, Capt. Co "G" 126th Reg't Ill. Inft'y Vol., did at the mouth of White River, Ark., on the 18th day of February., 1865, superintend his company roll call, at revilee, while in a state of intoxication.
CHARGE 3d—Conduct Unbecoming An Officer and Gentleman.
SPECIFICATION—In this, that the said William H. Schriver, Capt. Co. "G" 126th Reg't Ill. Inft'y Vol., did, on the night of the 18th day of February, 1865, at the mouth of White River, Ark., leave his company quarters and quarter himself with a notorious prostitute (known as Lizzie Allen) in a negro cabin, and did remain a portion or all of the night with said prostitute.
The charges were sustained and the said Schriver dishonorably dismissed the service.
Yours, &c,
Jesse Smith, Co. G, 126th Ill. Vol.
Rock Island Weekly Argus, March 15, 1865

 

[Samuel.Sohm]

Ouch...still happens today sadly.....

 

[JPK Huson 1863]

It's interesting though, thank you! I'd read where 'self-employed' women followed the troops around, so am guessing Schriver could have gotten away with 'employing' her if he'd done so less obviously and without being an habitual drinker?

The fellow who wrote this sounds a little tempermental about poor Lizzie, too- naming her and kind of veering off the intent for a bit making sure everyone knew she was a NOTORIOUS prostitute, not just a plain old, run of the mill one.

 

[jessgettysburg1863]

Charge and Specifications preferred against William H. Schriver, Capt. Co. "G," 126th Reg't Ill. Infantry Vol.
CHARGE—Habitual Drunkeness.
SPECIFICATIONS—In this, that the said William H. Schriver, Capt. Co. "G" 126th Ill. Inf'ty Vol., has, for the last year or more, been given to the use of ardent spirits to such an extent that his habits and conduct have proven him to be utterly demoralized.
CHARGE 2nd—Drunk on Duty
SPECIFICATION—In this, that he, William H. Schriver, Capt. Co "G" 126th Reg't Ill. Inft'y Vol., did at the mouth of White River, Ark., on the 18th day of February., 1865, superintend his company roll call, at revilee, while in a state of intoxication.
CHARGE 3d—Conduct Unbecoming An Officer and Gentleman.
SPECIFICATION—In this, that the said William H. Schriver, Capt. Co. "G" 126th Reg't Ill. Inft'y Vol., did, on the night of the 18th day of February, 1865, at the mouth of White River, Ark., leave his company quarters and quarter himself with a notorious prostitute (known as Lizzie Allen) in a negro cabin, and did remain a portion or all of the night with said prostitute.
The charges were sustained and the said Schriver dishonorably dismissed the service.
Yours, &c,
Jesse Smith, Co. G, 126th Ill. Vol.
Rock Island Weekly Argus, March 15, 1865

The poor fellow was only having a good time.

 

[Samuel.Sohm]

Officers have always been held to a standard (in public anyway) so this is not surprising. We could be seeing the shadows of a personal vendetta here though, all speculation of course though.

 

[ExNavyPilot]

Every month or so I read in the Navy Times of another present-day commanding officer or senior enlisted being sacked for some personal failure; DUI, fraternization, etc. I am therefore not at all surprised to learn of a Civil War officer's dismissal for "alcohol-related incidents", nor that the charges--in all their lurid details--were published in a hometown newspaper. However, I feel the same sense of disappointment that the guy couldn't control himself, and feel bad for the men of Co. G who had to live with (and fight under) this commander. I'm also thankful that my relative in Co I, 126th IL wasn't in Co G.

 

[hoosier]

I expect your relative and his buddies in Company I would have had a good laugh when they heard about Company G's roll call on the morning of 18 February.

 

[ExNavyPilot]

I expect your relative and his buddies in Company I would have had a good laugh when they heard about Company G's roll call on the morning of 18 February.

Yeah, some laughs followed by some commiseration. I don't think they used a phrase like "I feel for you, man," back then, but the sentiment would have been the same.

 

[Sam Grant]

I find it intriguing and often amusing to catch a glimpse of the 'wilder' side of Civil War soldiers.

 

[ExNavyPilot]

I find it intriguing and often amusing to catch a glimpse of the 'wilder' side of Civil War soldiers.

Yeah, too often we think of our forebears as these noble, righteous do-gooders who did no wrong. Like you, I find it interesting to see their faults and mistakes as well as their strengths and successes. Just as we're not perfect today, they were not perfect back then (and visa versa.)

Technology advances, knowledge increases, but humans remain human; we have the same emotions, weaknesses and foibles now as people did millenia ago. Today we might do a little bit better job of trying to control those negatives, but we're not perfect and we still fall into the same traps.