Shamed

[Bruce Vail]

Sometime before leading his 11th Connecticut Infantry into the attack on the Burnside Bridge that would claim his life, Colonel Henry W. Kingsbury informed his command that the names of "every coward and skulker" would be published. Though Colonel Kingsbury did not live to see his threat carried out, the regiment's acting Adjutant saw to it that his wishes were met. This article was published in the October 14, 1862, edition of the Hartford Courant.

Edit: Cited newspaper.
View attachment 127461

The acting adjutant responsible for this showed extremely poor judgement. If there was evidence against the men charged with cowardice or other transgressions, then there should have been a court martial where the men had a chance to defend themselves. Under the laws of today, Adjutant Barney would have been guilty of libel or slander or worse and would be drummed out of the army.

 

[Cavalry Charger]

The acting adjutant responsible for this showed extremely poor judgement. If there was evidence against the men charged with cowardice or other transgressions, then there should have been a court martial where the mean had a chance to defend themselves. Under the laws of today, Adjutant Barney would have been guilty of libel or slander or worse and would be drummed out of the army.

I wonder if it was his way of honouring his dead Colonel's wishes? Agreed it was also a moment of poor judgement. I am also wondering if this was a rare occurrence, or if it was common practice at the time? No doubt there was a process in place that should have been followed, as you suggest, and the Adjutant, by his actions, is as guilty as those he is accusing in this instance.

 

[JeffBrooks]

I only hope that the men listed there really were guilty of cowardice or desertion -- that's a helluva thing to be falsely accused of.

This gives me the idea for a good short story. Imagine a man who fights bravely in battle, but his name is accidentally included in a list like this.

 

[Cavalry Charger]

This gives me the idea for a good short story. Imagine a man who fights bravely in battle, but his name is accidentally included in a list like this.

You have the mind of a writer, Sir

 

[War Horse]

Lee, himself hide under a log. Perhaps not a good example, but wise!

 

[JerseyBart]

Seems petty, biased and highly unreliable yet those names are still in a newspaper. A newspaper is an inappropriate forum for this man's possibly incorrect assumptions.

 

[War Horse]

The tragic story of Richard Garnett comes to mind.

 

[ErnieMac]

A Confederate news article from the Richmond Dispatch of October 11, 1862. Points out the problem without naming names. On the other hand, does it accomplish anything?

 

[JerseyBart]

The 'social media' of its day! I imagine it would have impacted greatly on these men, their families, and their futures. It would also have held other men in place, as intended. The misery inflicted by the CW has many faces it seems...

The history of public revenge, punishment and shaming is one of the many aspects of ancient and modern history I cover in class. It's pathetic really. Some never learned to mind their own business...a personal motto of mine...M.Y.O.B.

 

[War Horse]

The history of public revenge, punishment and shaming is one of the many aspects of ancient and modern history I cover in class. It's pathetic really. Some never learned to mind their own business...a personal motto of mine...M.Y.O.B.

Something Dan Sickles would have benefited from.

 

[JerseyBart]

Something Dan Sickles would have benefited from.

Excuse me..."Historicus."

 

[Cavalry Charger]

The history of public revenge, punishment and shaming is one of the many aspects of ancient and modern history I cover in class. It's pathetic really. Some never learned to mind their own business...a personal motto of mine...M.Y.O.B.

Sounds like an interesting class...has it got a title? Sometimes, in the public interest, a story needs to be told, and wrongdoers need to be exposed, but this is not one of those instances. To run in fear of your life is a natural human response when confronted with the likelihood of imminent death. How other men stayed in place in spite of what they saw and felt is what captivates me...

 

[War Horse]

Sounds like an interesting class...has it got a title? Sometimes, in the public interest, a story needs to be told, and wrongdoers need to be exposed, but this is not one of those instances. To run in fear of your life is a natural human response when confronted with the likelihood of imminent death. How other men stayed in place in spite of what they saw and felt is what captivates me...

Longstreet, Jackson, Lee, Hancock, Chamberlin to name a few. It's the difference I refer to in the Meditation thread. It's uncommon, it's unnatural and it's something you are born with and can't be taught. Meditate all you like

 

[JerseyBart]

Sounds like an interesting class...has it got a title? Sometimes, in the public interest, a story needs to be told, and wrongdoers need to be exposed, but this is not one of those instances. To run in fear of your life is a natural human response when confronted with the likelihood of imminent death. How other men stayed in place in spite of what they saw and felt is what captivates me...

Just 5th and 6th grade history classes.

 

[civilken]

in my lifetime I have been called to duty I can only judge my own conduct and never the man around me I will leave the judging to God for I have found in my life no man should claim perfection.it is always easy to point a finger.. A man who has never been afraid has never faced true danger.

 

[SharonS]

There seems to be a degree of sympathy for these men (not saying this is wrong - just probing further). I found a roster of the 11th Connecticut on Ancestry.com. With two exceptions in Company K, the men listed as deserters were all shown on those rosters as having deserted around the time of the Battle of Antietam. One, Asa Stevens of Company A, was convicted of desertion in the face of the enemy and sentenced to life imprisonment. I was unable to find how long he actually served.

On the other hand, the two Company K exceptions, George Grover and William Lewis, both reenlisted as veterans in 1864. Grover died in a Confederate POW camp in 1864 and Lewis received a disability discharge in early 1865. The acting Adjutant, Samuel Barnum was official given the Adjutant position in October, 1862. He would die of wounds received at Cold Harbor in June, 1864.

Does knowing these facts change anyone's perceptions about calling these men out in public?

There's something more to be found in studying the roster. With the exception of Company B, whose members were mostly from one relatively small section of the state (to be fair, all of Connecticut is pretty small) the companies were made up of men from all regions . It's unlikely most of them knew each other going in (except for B). I wonder if this had something to do with both the commander being so eager to publish names and with the desertions and shirking, if that is indeed what it was.

 

[Cavalry Charger]

Longstreet, Jackson, Lee, Hancock, Chamberlin to name a few. It's the difference I refer to in the Meditation thread. It's uncommon, it's unnatural and it's something you are born with and can't be taught. Meditate all you like

Is there a link to this thread @warhorse?

 

[War Horse]

Is there a link to this thread @warhorse?

http://civilwartalk.com/threads/stonewall-jackson-ate-lemons-like-apples.132552/#post-1499256

 

[Cavalry Charger]

Just 5th and 6th grade history classes.

The way media works these days you can't get 'em young enough as far as I'm concerned. Important topic to cover at any age when it comes to education

 

[Cavalry Charger]

http://civilwartalk.com/threads/stonewall-jackson-ate-lemons-like-apples.132552/#post-1499256

I saw this thread today and it made my face pucker just thinking about it! LOL