The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-05-18

greater. i was o0OIt uA4o o1tos sSSoos~osy ME-
Charged. ut the request Of my friends.
Qsss. Wss your discharge obtained while you
were with your regiment
Al, No, SIR Shortly afterwards ! was taken
alex and An order was given by the Secretary of
War. At the request Of Mr. Cushing. member Of
Con for the third district Of for
me 10 70 10 Fort Columbus. at New Yo&k, ~ the
climate of Florida had affected my health. At Fort
Columbus a discharge was granted me. at the sug-
sestion of Or. Russell and other friends.
Quss. Were you discharged az an invalid soldier
on the 9th of March, 1942!
Mr.. BaADLsy. Your discharge is in possession of
the United States, and ask to look at it. Have you
4 dice barge yourself? CSC Y
Ans. l have. admit that was discharged at
the hospital at Fort Columbus, on the application
of DR.. Russell and other friends.
handed to him by Mr.. May Look on the margin
Of that tischarae and you will find the reason Of it.
Aus II il dated the 4th of March, 1912. 1t states
that my constitution was seriously impaired that
was affected with Intermittent fever and diar.
rh9a, and q general tendency to dropsy. The
physician gave it as his opinion that my final re-
covery was very problematical On his certificate
was discharged as an Invalid soldier. 1 have
entirely recovered my health since that time.
gus. Where did you reside until the Mexican
war?
Ans I resided for portion of The time at And
over, Massac husetts, the residence Of my father,
and the other portion Of the time IN Boston.
Ques. IL that your native place.
-dns. Yes, sir
Quss. Did you not serve during the Mexican
war?
Ans Yes, sir
Ques Were you not appointed in your native
town major of the regiment!
Ans. was chosen major of the regiment in Bos-
ton at the same time Cushing wns chosen colonel.
Ques Who was lieutenant colonel
4Ans Colonel Wright / was chosen the first
msjr.
Ques Was that the regiment of which Mr..
Websters son was major!
~.
Ques When you were discharged from the SER
vice of the United States you went home to your
neighbors and friends, and resided there until the
Mexican war, and then became elected major OF
the regiment
Aas / returned Immediately to Andover after
my discharge, and resided in Massachusetts, some
three years. Had endeavored to do 80 when 1
enlisted, would have obtained a better position.
The CouRT. In what year was Cushing's regi-
ment raisedl
Ans 1t vent out to cIexico in lS47. The gene
raj order was given in November, 1876, shortly af-
ter the battle Of Monterey.
Mr. BRADLEY. After that time. were you thrown
into association with General Twiggs and Mr..
Graham of the court-nartiaR
Ans. met Mr.. Graham in Mexico. He dined
at my own table at Ceralvo met General Twiggs
a umber of times. invited him to visit Perote
Castle when was there with Colonel Wright. /
have converted with General Twiggs here. was
bis orderly when was sergeant In the service in
Florida He took q fancy to me, suppose, be-
cause he thought ] was rather good-lookng
young man. ] am perfectly willing the proceed :
ings OF the court. martial held shall be made
public. have always made the came statement
in regard to the facts that nave this morning 1t
was a mere matter of humanity on my part, and
nothing else, and the fact Of being a private sol
dier have always been proud Of, for | acquired
knowledge then that fitted me for h CHER station
subsequently than that occupied by some Of those
whose names have been mentioned.
Mr.. May. Were you regularly tried by the
court-mariiaR
4drs. | looked upon the affair at the time
farce.
Quss. 1, was by it's sentence, however, that you
were reduced to the ranks?
Ans Yes. sir.
Quss. Did your friends know that these trans
actions had taken place in Florida when you say
they elected you major?
Ans. All my friends knew of them. They knew
had been non commissioned officer.
Quss Did they know any thing about the SEN
tence of the court martial
Ans l don't know that the public generally
knew about it. 1t was always a matter of joke
with me.
Mar. CARLISLE. Who was the president of the
court martial!
Ans. Charles May.
Ques. What was bis rank!
Ans. Lieutenant. ."
CUES. Was he first or second lieutenant?
Ans. forget. | think that in the spring of lS4l
he was fret lieutenant, in command OF company Z.
Quss. When were you appointed lieutenant
colonel
Ans. | wac chosen lieutenant colonel at Mata-
moros when Colonel Gushing was appointed gen.
eral.
Mr.. MAY. Was not your regiment, or con-
siderable portion of it, put in durance for depre
dating on the people of Mexico?
Ans No, sir. General Cushing told them to
take the regular uniform, and they refused to do
it. Some sixty or seventy refused psremptorily to
obey, and they were marched to the castle Of San
Juan de Ulloa, where they remained for two or
three days only.
Ques Were they not put in the castle for disor-
Derby conduct and depredations on the people OF
Mexico generally?
Ans. No, sir. / have said it Was for refusing to
take the infantry uniform of the United States
when the order was given. They wanted to wear
their own uniform
CUES. Were they not put in for depredating on
the people?
Ans. There were single instances in that, as
there were in other regiments; but in none more
than in the second dragons.
Mr.. May. The fact is a matter OF history.
Ana Ii ia not matter of history; and repeat
again that they put in the castle for refusing
to wear the uniform.
Mr. MAY Others have different impression.
This closes the case on the part OF the Govern
ment.
The counsel for the defence then proceeded to
offer their sur rebuiting testimony.
Major John p. Lee. s,Dorn.
Mr.. BRADLEY. Is there any record in the War
Department of court martial against Colonel
A blot?
Ans No, sir. There are three sorts Of courts.
martial in the army-garrison, regimental, and
general. In the years 1885 and l64 the records o.
garrison and regmental courts martial we sent te
| headquarters of the dvisions-to Generals Gaines
and Scott. The records of the general courts
martial only were sent to Washington.
Ques. If the court martial against Colonel Alb
bot had been a general one, the record would have
| been under your charged
Ans. Yes, sir
| Cues. At the period of l94l the record Of any in
| ferior court would not have been returned?
Ans. No, sir; it would not have been returned.
Ques. Then, there is no evidence Of any kind il
| the Department of any court-martial on Colone
Abbott
| -Ans There is none. There is on the muster
| roll a record that be was reduced in rank on thu
| 18th of April. ls4l.
CUES. Does that roll show the officers in com
| manor
Ans. 1t shows only the officers of his company.
CUES Who were they?
Ans Henry Sibley, first lieutenant command
| ing; William Steele, second lieutenant. The com
pany to which he belonged was company II, secont
| dragons.
Qu<s. Do you know where they are now'
Ans. Sibley is in Texas; but do not know whe r
Steele is.
Mr.. MAY. Colonel Thomas says that he is il
| New Mexico.
Wiiness. / find that MIR. Steele was not presen
With the company, but that be was on duty at Car
| iisle barracks.
MIR. BRADtsY Where was the company eta
toned?
Ans. Fort Shannon, in East Florida. The pos