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Thought was given to prosecuting Pickett and Hoke (OR Series II, Volume VIII, Part 1, Page 903)
"ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE, Washington, May 1, 1866.
Honorable E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War:
SIR: In compliance with your orders I have the honor to submit copies of papers called for by resolution of the House of Representatives dated April 16, 1866, requesting "a report of the Judge-Advocate-General and such other information as may be of record or on file in his department on the subject, which will show what are the facts in the case and what steps have been taken to bring to justice and punishment the murderers of the following-named Union soldiers, belonging to the First and Second Regiments of North Carolina loyal infantry, alleged to have been tried and executed by orders of the rebel generals Pickett and Hoke, under the pretext of their being deserters from the Confederate service, viz: Jesse J. Summerlin, Hardy Dougherty, Stephen Jones, Davis Jones, William Haddock, John Freeman, Joseph Brock, Sergt. Joseph H. Fulcher, William D. Jones, Charles Cuthrell, [Elijah] Kellum, Mitchell Busick, Lewis Freeman, Joseph L. Haskett, William Irving, Amos Amyett, Stephen Jones, John J. Brock." ......
The papers submitted show that the investigation of this transaction has been continued, under the commanding general Department of North Carolina, from the 19th October, 1865, and was progressing until the receipt of the resolution of April 16, with the view of collecting the whole testimony in proper form for such action as the President might direct.
I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
E. D. TOWNSEND,
Assistant Adjutant-General.
Subsequent investigation focused the blame on solely on Pickett and Judge Advocate General Joseph Holt recommended his arrest and prosecution later that year, not withstanding Grant's opinion. After additional months of inaction the entire matter died away. As far as I can tell only one other Confederate general, Archibald C. Godwin, was considered for prosecution of war crimes. Godwin's mistreatments of Federal prisoners were alleged to have occurred before his promotion while he served under the Provost Marshal in Richmond (Castle Thunder) and in Salisbury, NC. The matter was dropped when it was realized Godwin had been killed in action during the war.