COLONEL GUSTAVUS AUGUSTUS WOOD - MANUSCRIPT LETTER SIGNED 10/13/1861 - HFSID 79419

COLONEL GUSTAVUS AUGUSTUS WOOD
As Commander of the 15th Indiana Volunteer Infantry, he submits exonerating evidence to a court martial. Improper paperwork, he reports, is causing the arrest of soldiers who believe they have been legally discharged.
Manuscript document signed: "G. A. Wood/Col. Commanding", 2 pages (front and verso), 7½x 12. Headquarters, 15th Regiment Indiana Infantry Volunteers, Chattanooga, Tennessee, October 13, 1863. To the Assistant Adjutant General, Department of the Cumberland, in full: "Sir, The statement forwarded in the Case of Henry C. Jones, Corporal Co. 'H' - 15th Ind. Vols. Did not give a full and clear explanation. The facts are as follows. On Oct. 8th 1861, H. C. Jones was examined by the Surgeon for Discharge, found unable to perform the duties of a Soldier, and was given the enclosed Certificate of Disability, and with it, he was sent to his home, to await Discharge. At the time Colonel G. D. Wagner commanded the Regt, Brig. Genl. J. J. Reynolds commanded the Brigade, and the Cheat Mt. Division, and Brig Gen. W. S Rosecrans commanded the Army & Dept. of Western Virginia. The Company Commander made the Final Statement, and Discharge was forwarded there. They were either signed and the Discharge ordered by Col. G. D. Wagner (as in other cases) or they were forwarded and the Discharge ordered by Gen. J. J. Reynolds, Division Commander; the Discharge in either case being illegal. The papers after being signed as above were forwarded to the man, but he never received them. Even if he had they would not enable him to get his pay, nor shield him from being arrested as a Deserter. Another case of a man named E. Lovejoy of this Regt., who was discharged as above, was acted upon by a General Court Martial. The man had served 8 months in the 46th Ind. Vol.s, was Discharged, returned home, and was arrested as a deserter from 1th Ind. Vols. The Court Martial restored him to duty, with loss of pay for the period of his absence. Deciding that it was not 'Desertion' on his part but 'Absence without Leave'. The man being unwittingly absent without leave owing to the illegal discharge. He is now doing duty with his Regt. H. C. Jones was arrested at Chillicothe, Ohio Aug. 1st, having sought to excuse his absence from his Regt. - with the enclosed manuscript Certificate of Disability. He is unable for Duty, and is a poor man. I would therefore Respectfully ask that he be discharged from this date - with loss of pay and allowances during the period of his absence - in order that he may not have to be held here - since August 1st, without recompense - the fault not having been his." Postscript: "The Court Martial that gave decision in the case of E. Lovejoy, Private Co. 'D' - deciding that a Discharge given in the manner as before stated - was Illegal and therefore null and void - was convened at Murfreesboro per S. O. 44, 1st Div., 21st A. G., and Capt. J. J. Fanning, 7th Ind. Vols., was President of the Court." Col. Gustavus Augustus Wood (1826-1891), was the second man to command the 15th Indiana Volunteer Infantry, leading the Regiment at the Battles of Shiloh and Chickamauga. The Regiment was mustered out of service on June 16, 1864. The verdict of the Court Martial is unknown. Normal mailing folds. Soiled on top left margin. Stained and toned along edges and corners. Corners slightly worn. Surface creases. Otherwise, fine condition.