Dismissed???

[FrankN]

Hello,
I'm looking up info on a soldier named John Evans (aka John Evans Jr.) of the 3rd regiment, New Jersey Infantry. He went in as a Sgt maj became a private and was promoted to 1st lieutenant and then to a Captain in the 4th regiment NJ Infantry. It shows that he was dismissed on Nov. 22, 64. It doesn't list a reason for being dismissed. I'm unsure if that's considered a negative thing (compaired to discharged)? Or, was his 3 year term complete? I'm thinking something went wrong and he was let go? Maybe there's no way to tell? If anyone can help I'd appreciate it.

Thanks!
Frank

 

[AndyHall]

If the term is "dismissed," it's definitely a negative thing.

 

[Frederick14Va]

"Captain John Evans, 4th New Jersey Vol. (dismissed) to date November 22, 1864, for conduct prejudicial to good order and military discipline"

 

[TinCan]

Well, there you have it.

 

[East Tennessee Roots]

Hello,
I'm looking up info on a soldier named John Evans (aka John Evans Jr.) of the 3rd regiment, New Jersey Infantry. He went in as a Sgt maj became a private and was promoted to 1st lieutenant and then to a Captain in the 4th regiment NJ Infantry. It shows that he was dismissed on Nov. 22, 64. It doesn't list a reason for being dismissed. I'm unsure if that's considered a negative thing (compaired to discharged)? Or, was his 3 year term complete? I'm thinking something went wrong and he was let go? Maybe there's no way to tell? If anyone can help I'd appreciate it.



Thanks!
Frank

John Evans, Jr

Residence was not listed;
Enlisted on 5/25/1861 as a Sergt Major.

On 5/25/1861 he mustered into Field & Staff NJ 3rd Infantry
He was discharged for promotion on 8/30/1862

On 8/30/1861 he was commissioned into "A" Co. NJ 4th Infantry
(date and method of discharge not given)


Promotions:
* Private 8/2/1861 (As of Co. B)
* 1st Lieut 8/30/1862 (As of Co. A, 4th Inf)

..................................................................................................................................

John Evans, Jr

Residence was not listed;
Enlisted on 5/25/1861 as a Sergt Major.

On 8/30/1862 he was commissioned into "A" Co. NJ 4th Infantry
He was dismissed on 11/22/1864

Promotions:
* 1st Lieut 8/30/1862
* Adjutant 11/26/1862
* Capt 3/5/1863 (As of Co. E)

Intra Regimental Company Transfers:
* 11/26/1862 from company A to Field & Staff
* 4/16/1863 from Field & Staff to company E

He also had service in:
Field & Staff NJ 3rd Infantry

Sources used by Historical Data Systems, Inc.:

- Register of Officers and Men of New Jersey in the Civil War 1861-65
(c) Historical Data Systems, Inc. @ www.civilwardata.com

 

[Northern Light]

Could someone explain how he enroled as a Sgt. Major and then became a private? I know that bad behaviour could make you lose you stripes, but that is a pretty drastic reduction,, followed by a promotion to Captain. Any clues?

 

[FrankN]

"Captain John Evans, 4th New Jersey Vol. (dismissed) to date November 22, 1864, for conduct prejudicial to good order and military discipline"

Thanks for this! Sounds like this would more related to a personal conduct type of thing than a battlefield issue?

Frank

 

[FrankN]

John Evans, Jr

Residence was not listed;
Enlisted on 5/25/1861 as a Sergt Major.

On 5/25/1861 he mustered into Field & Staff NJ 3rd Infantry
He was discharged for promotion on 8/30/1862

On 8/30/1861 he was commissioned into "A" Co. NJ 4th Infantry
(date and method of discharge not given)


Promotions:
* Private 8/2/1861 (As of Co. B)
* 1st Lieut 8/30/1862 (As of Co. A, 4th Inf)

..................................................................................................................................

John Evans, Jr

Residence was not listed;
Enlisted on 5/25/1861 as a Sergt Major.

On 8/30/1862 he was commissioned into "A" Co. NJ 4th Infantry
He was dismissed on 11/22/1864

Promotions:
* 1st Lieut 8/30/1862
* Adjutant 11/26/1862
* Capt 3/5/1863 (As of Co. E)

Intra Regimental Company Transfers:
* 11/26/1862 from company A to Field & Staff
* 4/16/1863 from Field & Staff to company E

He also had service in:
Field & Staff NJ 3rd Infantry

Sources used by Historical Data Systems, Inc.:

- Register of Officers and Men of New Jersey in the Civil War 1861-65
(c) Historical Data Systems, Inc. @ www.civilwardata.com

Thank you! I appreciate your quick reply and information!

 

[FrankN]

Could someone explain how he enroled as a Sgt. Major and then became a private? I know that bad behaviour could make you lose you stripes, but that is a pretty drastic reduction,, followed by a promotion to Captain. Any clues?

I wondered about this as well. Maybe he came from a militia unit and to make the transfer to the regular Federal army it was required to start as a pvt. for training and future promotions? Or, he had some bad habits that he couldn't control?

Frank

 

[East Tennessee Roots]

I wondered about this as well. Maybe he came from a militia unit and to make the transfer to the regular Federal army it was required to start as a pvt. for training and future promotions? Or, he had some bad habits that he couldn't control?

Frank

I'm just guessing, I think the difference in rank had to do with going from the 3rd to the 4th infantry.

 

[Major James B. Ronan II]

I wondered about this as well. Maybe he came from a militia unit and to make the transfer to the regular Federal army it was required to start as a pvt. for training and future promotions? Or, he had some bad habits that he couldn't control?

Frank

Enlisted billets in the 19th century were of the regiment. There was one sergeant major billet in the 3rd NJ, not a herd of NJ sergeant majors. For that matter, the same was true of the regular army. There were 6 regular mounted regiments, as an example, and the sergeant major was the sergeant major of his regiment, not one of six cavalry sergeant majors. If you vacated your billet, you became a private.

Many men enlisted in the regulars and at some time were appointed officers. Many were appointed from civil life without becoming enlisted men first. A famous enlisted man who became an officer was Adna R. Chaffee, private to 1st sergeant, Troop K, 6th Cavalry, 1861-1863. He was commissioned in 1863 and served 'til the 1900s. Charles Russell Lowe (nephew of the poet?) was appointed in the 3rd Cavalry directly from civil life and eventually became a colonel. He was commanding a cavalry brigade when he was killed at Cedar Creek.

 

[Northern Light]

Enlisted billets in the 19th century were of the regiment. There was one sergeant major billet in the 3rd NJ, not a herd of NJ sergeant majors. For that matter, the same was true of the regular army. There were 6 regular mounted regiments, as an example, and the sergeant major was the sergeant major of his regiment, not one of six cavalry sergeant majors. If you vacated your billet, you became a private.

Many men enlisted in the regulars and at some time were appointed officers. Many were appointed from civil life without becoming enlisted men first. A famous enlisted man who became an officer was Adna R. Chaffee, private to 1st sergeant, Troop K, 6th Cavalry, 1861-1863. He was commissioned in 1863 and served 'til the 1900s. Charles Russell Lowe (nephew of the poet?) was appointed in the 3rd Cavalry directly from civil life and eventually became a colonel. He was commanding a cavalry brigade when he was killed at Cedar Creek.

That makes sense and if I had thought about it more, I would have realized that promotion depended on availability of positions for promotion, which might explain why he switched regiments, later. Thanks for enlightening us.

 

[FrankN]

Enlisted billets in the 19th century were of the regiment. There was one sergeant major billet in the 3rd NJ, not a herd of NJ sergeant majors. For that matter, the same was true of the regular army. There were 6 regular mounted regiments, as an example, and the sergeant major was the sergeant major of his regiment, not one of six cavalry sergeant majors. If you vacated your billet, you became a private.

Many men enlisted in the regulars and at some time were appointed officers. Many were appointed from civil life without becoming enlisted men first. A famous enlisted man who became an officer was Adna R. Chaffee, private to 1st sergeant, Troop K, 6th Cavalry, 1861-1863. He was commissioned in 1863 and served 'til the 1900s. Charles Russell Lowe (nephew of the poet?) was appointed in the 3rd Cavalry directly from civil life and eventually became a colonel. He was commanding a cavalry brigade when he was killed at Cedar Creek.

Thank you! My Father was a T-5 during WWII (driving a M24 Chaffee!) and was told that they wanted to promote him to sergeant but there was no room in his company at the time.

 

[5fish]

It looks like he was part of the fourth regimental staff... its hard to read...

http://www.roblox.com/Sun-2-Player-Battle-Tycoon-Base-Copy-of-2PGFT-place?id=182733952

 

[5fish]

I found his grave site. No picture and named spelled wrong....

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=19495811

 

[FrankN]

I found his grave site. No picture and named spelled wrong....

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=19495811

Thank you. That must be his given name. It would seem strange that they would get it wrong for his gravesite. Maybe he preferred "John" or used it for documents and the military?

Frank

 

[5fish]

Thank you. That must be his given name. It would seem strange that they would get it wrong for his gravesite. Maybe he preferred "John" or used it for documents and the military?

Frank

I would contact the person that posted the grave site and see if he could get a photo of the headstone...