Greenleaf, Moses (1755-1812) [Records of court martial of Samuel Shattuck]
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC01450.438 Author/Creator: Greenleaf, Moses (1755-1812) Place Written: West Point, New York Type: Manuscript signed Date: 9 January 1780 - 11 January 1780 Pagination: 3 p. : docket ; 35.3 x 22 cm. Order a Copy
Record of the court martial trial of Sergeant Samuel Shattuck. Lists other men set to stand trial, and gives details of Shattucks case. Includes tesstimony of two witnesses who testified that Shattuck knowingly left the service before his time was up. Also states that he was convicted of mutiny and desertion, and punished with a reduction in rank and lashes. States that Captain Moses Greenleaf was the "Judge and Advocate" in the case, and that Major Moses Knap was the President. Verso signed by Greenleaf. Marked "triplicate."
[excerpt]
Proceedings of a Garrison Court Martial held at West Point Jany. 9th.. by order of B. G. Paterson for the Tryal of such Persons as shall be brought before them
Majr Knap President y D100
Capt Warren 1st
Capt Cooper 2nd
Capt Dix 3rd …
Capt Greenleaf Judge Advocate
The Court met and being duly Sworn, no evidence at Hand the Court then adjourned untill to morrow [strikeout] 10 oClock A.M. -
Monday 10th: Jany: 1780 The Court met by adjournment and proceeded to the Tryal of Serjt Samuel Shattock of Capt Bailey's Regt Confin'd by Capt Seth Drew [struck: of Sd Regt] for [inserted: Joining in a] Mutiny and for Deserting from sd Regt -
The Prisoners being arraigned plead not Guilty Evidence called
Lieut Taylor being }
Sworn Deposeth }That on the Last Day of Decr 1779, [struck: The Depo[illegible]] [inserted: understood that some of the Company were determined &] went into the room where the [struck: men illegible] Prisoner quartered, & [struck: Informed the men] [inserted: told] the men [inserted: they] must not … [inserted: and told them it must be attended with very ill consequences if they did] the men in general declared their Intentions to go of [struck: it] the next morning, I do not recollect as Serjt Shattock in particular said he would go, but said the whole [textloss: of] the three years men would go [2] unless [struck: there was something] they were better used, he likewise said he thought his time expired the 1st of Jany:
Q - Did you Inform Serjt Shattock his time would not expire then -
A - I am not Certain as I did, having often told the Company in his hearing that their Time would not expire untill they had served three years from the Date of their Inlistments - and mentioned it tto thim on the last Day of Decr 79.
Q - Did Serjt Shattock [struck: go] Desert from the Company the Next Morning - -
A - He went of the next morning, I look upon it Desertion
Q When [struck: Did] [inserted: would] Serjt Shattocks Time of Service expire
A On the 27 of Feby: 1780 -
[struck: Q by the Prisons]} Q - did you ever know Serjt Shattock to Join in any Mutiny
A - Never before the first day of Jany. -
Q by the Sd. Did you observe that I was more forward [inserted: to go of] than
the rest of the men
A - I did not -
Asa Merrill being }
Sworn Deposeth -} …
[3] Q - Did you understand [inserted: by any of the party] that he was a ringleader
A - No the party Informed me he was not, any more than the rest of them, and
[inserted: he] appeared to be as forward to return as any of them
Q by Sd when you overtook us, did not I endeavour to make the men return
A - You appeared to be forward in coming back, but I do not recollect any words you said to the men
The Court being cleared after mature deliberation of the charge and Evidences are unanimously of opinion that he is guilty of Joining in a Mutiny - also are unanimously [struck: Guilty] of Opinion that he is Guilty of Desertion, and find him Guilty of a breach of Article 3rd & 4th [struck: .] Second Section & Article 1st 6 Sect Rules & Articles of war, and do Sentence him to be reduced to the ranks and receive one Hundred lashes on his naked back and return to his duty - …
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