Ford, George B. (1828-1911) [Court Martial proceedings in the case of Wiley Sullivan for being absent without leave]
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02233.23 Author/Creator: Ford, George B. (1828-1911) Place Written: Greenville, North Carolina Type: Autograph document signed Date: 26 May 1863 Pagination: 4 p. : docket ; 24 x 19 cm. Order a Copy
Details the trial and conviction of Sullivan for the charge of "absence without leave." Records specifics of the charge, testimony from the trial, and resulting sentence. Sullivan was sentenced to carry a twenty pound stick eight hours a day for fourteen days and then gagged eight hours a day for five days. With the names of James Dalrymple as the Judge Advocate and Captain Thomas R. Youngblood as if signed, but likely in Ford's hand.
Wiley Sullivan was a private in the Fiftieth North Carolina Infantry. George B. Ford was a captain in the Fiftieth North Carolina Infantry. James Dalrymple was a third lieutenant in the Fiftieth North Carolina Infantry. Thomas R. Youngblood was a Captain in the Fiftieth North Carolina Infantry.
Wiley Sullivan was a private in the Fiftieth North Carolina Infantry.
George B. Ford was a captain in the Fiftieth North Carolina Infantry.
James Dalrymple was a third lieutenant in the Fiftieth North Carolina Infantry.
Thomas R. Youngblood was a Captain in the Fiftieth North Carolina Infantry.
Camp 50th NCI Greenville NC
May 21st 1863
A Regimental Court Martial met in ? of the following order
HdQu 50th Regt NCI
Near Greenville NC
Special Order
No 35
A Regimental court Martial is hereby appointed to meet at these HdQu on the 26th day of May 1863 or as soon thereafter as practicable for the trial of Festus Oliver and such other prisoners as may be brought before it
Detailed for the Court
Capt G. B. Ford
Capt P L Burwell
Lieut Curwill ?
Lieut Ino Branlly
Lieut Ios ?
Lieut Judge Advocate
By order of Lt. Col. Geo Wortham
All the members of the Court being present the Judge Advocate read the Order convening the court. Asked the prisoner if he objected to any member of the Court, to which he answered "no". and the court having been duly known the charge specification against the prisoner was read aloud as follows
Charge & specification against private W Sullivan Co. "C" 50th N.C.I.
Charge - absence without leave
Specification - We charge that private Lt. Sullivan Co. "C" 50th N.C.I. did on or about the 6th of May 1863 absent himself from his Co & Regt near Kinston without proper authority and remain absent therefrom until the 20th May 1863 at which time he returned to his Co & Regt near Kinston of his own accord
Signed J. R. Youngblood
Capt Co "C"
Sgt. Ru?
Private ?
The Judge advocate addressing the prisoner Priv. W. Sullivan Co "C" 50th N.C.I. You have heard the charge & specification pre? Against you. How say you? Guilty or not guilty? To which he answered "not guilty". Private A Horne Co. C 50th N.C.I a witness on the part of the prosecution being duly sworn. & asked by Judge Advocate State what you know in the case of private W. Sullican Co C 50th N.C.I. The prisoner now on trial for absenting himself without leave ans. He left the Co & Regt the 5th or 6th of May 1863 and returned about the 19th May of his own accord. ? by Judge Advocate was that the first time he had gone home without proper authority. And. "No, he was guilty of a similar offence while the Regt was ? at Goldsboro last winter" Lieut ? accused what do you know in regard to my saying I would leave the Co unless I recd more rations. Ans. "I do not recollect." ? by Court. Had he any more cause of complaint on that account ? ? ? of his Co ans. "I do not know that he did" ? by court "- did the prisoner take his gun and accoutrements with him - ans. "they were missing and be brought them back when he came" - question by Judge Advocate - did you understand that it was for the purpose of ? ? of his gun & accoutrements that he took them away - ans. "I did not" Guest. By Court did he take them with him from Goldsboro - ans - "I do not know" Sgt. ? a witness on the part of the prosecution being duly sworn. Quest by Judge Advocate - State what you know in regard to the case of private W. Sullican Co "C" 50th N.C.I. now on trial for absenting himself without leave - ans - he was absent without leave from about the 6th to the 20th of May 1863. ? by accused - have I been generally obedient to my officers - ans - yes, except once when he left the Co & Regt wile at Goldsboro. Question by Court - did he take his arms with him from Kinston - ans - He did but I do not know what was his design in so doing.
? ? Co "C" 50th N.C.I. on the part of the defense being duly sworn. Question by accused What have you heard me say in response to carrying off my gun when I went home. Ans - "I do not recollect" Quest. By Court Do you know that the prisoner had any more cause of complaint about rations than the rest of his Co? ans - "No"
The evidence being concluded on the part of both the prosecution and defense, the court was cleared for deliberation and having ? considered the evidence ? do find private W. Sullivan Co C 50th N.C.I. as follows
Of the specification - Guilty
Of the charge - Guilty
And the court do therefore sentence private W Sullivan Co C 50th N.C.I as follows "That he be compelled to carry a stick of wood weighing twenty pounds on a ring in the regimental parade ground eight hours a day for fourteen days allowing one half hour interruption each day and at the end of that time the he be bucked & gagged eight hours each day for five days. The last five days to be kept on bread and water and be closely confined in the guard house during the intervals
GB Ford
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