What does this odd discharge language mean?

[Kamm]

I'm researching a corporal in the 1st Iowa Cavalry. He was involved in scout duty in Missouri. In his company descriptive book, the remarks from his captain state he "was discharged July 31st, 1862. Reason gunshot wound received about April 12, 1862 from an enemy though not in the line of his duty." His certificate of disability for discharge states "His disability arises from a gunshot wound received during his time of service but not in the regular discharge of his duty; though from an enemy in arms against the authority of the U.S." In reading through Roster and Records Of Iowa Soldiers, War Of The Rebellion, Historical Sketches Of Volunteer Organizations, Vol. IV, he is one of only 3 out of 111 soldiers listed as wounded without a place or date cited.
What do you make of the vague and ambiguous wording about his injury?

 

[lelliott19]

Here's a report from late April that outlines the counties the 1st Iowa Cav is garrisoning

Daily Democrat and News. (Davenport, IA), April 28, 1862, page 2.

 

[Cornpone and Molasses]

He was not wounded in battle, nor when on duty. It states it was due to "an enemy in arms against the authority of the U.S." which, in this war could be any of the occupied territories of the Confederacy - IOW a local who did not like soldiers in blue uniforms especially those who were doing things he did not like. The list, as already explained, could be quite long. It may have been criminal or just plain anti-social. I wonder what the repercussions by Union forces were?

Would it have been stated in that manner to make sure that he could not be eligible for a military pension?

 

[JackADriscoll]

I just want to say this is one of the more interesting threads I've written

 

[lupaglupa]

Would it have been stated in that manner to make sure that he could not be eligible for a military pension?

If so, it didn't work!

 

[R. Porter]

A quick check of Ancestry.com provides:

Ernest Hall
in the U.S., Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles, 1861-1865

U.S., Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles, 1861-1865
Add or update information
Report a problem
Detail Source
Name: Ernest Hall
Enlistment Age: 21
Birth Date: abt 1840
Birth Place: England
Enlistment Date: 25 Aug 1861
Enlistment Rank: 8th Corpl
Muster Date: 24 Sep 1861
Muster Place: Iowa
Muster Company: L
Muster Regiment: 1st Cavalry
Muster Regiment Type: Cavalry
Muster Information: Enlisted
Rank Change Date: 7 Oct 1861
Rank Change Rank: 7th Corporal
Muster Out Date: 11 Aug 1862
Muster Out Place: Butler, Missouri
Muster Out Information: disch wounds
Side of War: Union
Survived War?: Yes
Injured in Line of Duty?: Yes
Residence Place: Dyersville, Iowa
Last Known Residence Place: Illinois
Death Date: 10 May 1905
Additional Notes 2: Rank Change 2 Date: 07 Dec 1861; Rank Change 2 Rank: 6th Corporal; Rank Change 3 Date: 07 Feb 1862; Rank Change 3 Rank: 5th Corporal; Rank Change 4 Date: 04 Mar 1862; Rank Change 4 Rank: 4th Corporal;
Title: Roster & Record of Iowa Soldiers in the War of Rebellion; GAR Dept of Illinois: Death Rolls

Ernest Hall
in the Iowa, U.S., State Census Collection, 1836-1925

1856
Iowa, U.S., State Census Collection, 1836-1925
Add or update information
Report a problem
Detail Source
Name: Ernest Hall
Age: 16
Birth Year: abt 1840
Birth Place: England
Residence Date: 1856
Residence Place: New Wine, Dubuque, Iowa, USA
Gender: Male
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members (Name) Age
Charles Hall
50
Mary D Hall
48
Charles E Hall
25
Miller Hall
22
Ernest Hall 16

Ernest Hall
in the 1870 United States Federal Census

Add or update information
Report a problem
Detail Source
Name: Ernest Hall
Age in 1870: 30
Birth Date: abt 1840
Birthplace: England
Dwelling Number: 1550
Home in 1870: Chicago Ward 14, Cook, Illinois
Race: White
Gender: Male
Post Office: Chicago
Occupation: Hardware Merchant
Father of Foreign Birth: Yes
Mother of Foreign Birth: Yes
Personal Estate Value: 3000
Real Estate Value: 3000
Inferred Spouse:
Caroline Hall
Household Members (Name) Age
Ernest Hall 30
Caroline Hall
26




Ernest Hall
in the Web: Illinois, U.S., Databases of Illinois Veterans Index, 1775-1995

Visit websiteWeb: Illinois, U.S., Databases of Illinois Veterans Index, 1775-1995

Report a problem
Detail Source
Name: Ernest Hall
War Years: 1861-1865
War: Civil War
Company: L
Unit: 1 IA CAV
Cemetery: Forest Home
Burial Place: Cook, Illinois, USA
Volume: 1
Page: 274
Record Source: 1929 Illinois Roll of Honor (War Veteran Burials)
URL: https://www.ilsos.gov/departments/archives/databases/honorroll.html
This record is not from Ancestry and will open in a new window.

 

[Library Lady]

Update: our corporal in the 1st Iowa Cavalry is Ernest Hall (Ernest Hemingway's maternal grandfather). He was from Dyersville, Iowa and, after the war, returned to Dyersville and later moved to Chicago. I'd be grateful for any resources or insights you could point me to.

OK, then. This picture could be him.

Ernest Hall portrait. Front.

Formal portrait of Ernest Hall. Embossed Brand.

www.idaillinois.org

Please note in the object description the Ernest Hemingway Foundation of Oak Park and the Oak Park Public Library. If you haven't contacted them already, they could be sources of information for you. Ernest Hemingway is a BIG DEAL in Oak Park.

Edited to add Find-A-Grave information: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/75388095/ernest-miller-hall

Edited again to add information about the Foundation and the Hemingway house in Oak Park.

Hemingway Foundation

Ernest Hemingway's Birthplace Museum just outside Chicago in Oak Park, Illinois

www.hemingwaybirthplace.com

 

[TerryB]

Missouri, especially northern Missouri had a lot of Southern sympathizers and a lot of pro-Confederate guerrillas. Sounds like the enemy in this case would fit that description, and I tend to agree with those who think our boy was doing some unauthorized foraging. I also can see that he might indeed have been in bed with a sesesch lady and got shot by an irate father or other relative who may well have been a regular Confederate. Although something that salacious might well have made the papers, I can see why the military records would use veiled language. Then there's the "Cold Mountain" scenario---shot while lustfully assaulting a Southern woman. He could well have been on duty at the time, but that sort of thing doesn't qualify as combat.

 

[archieclement]

In July 1862 the 1st Iowa was in Cass and Henry counties.

 

[Cornpone and Molasses]

If so, it didn't work!

I see that now.