The Portage County Democrat. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1863-05-06
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of April last DR.. Jas. P. Alcorn published
statement connected with his discharge from
the army, in which be copies letter written
by myself MS Provost Marshall to Gov Tod,
which according to my recollection is acorrect
copy Of said letter, and as he says the charges
contained in said letter are all without foun-
dation and utterly false,'' propose with your
consent to give the public the testimony upon
which the charges were based
- The DR.. says " In making two journeys to
Columbus, Ohio, could neither learn who
preferred those charges nor what they were."
On the day of the date of my letter,
Thursday, Feb. 26th it was mailed to Gov.
Tod. On-the Monday following, DIR. Alcorn
went to Columbus on a call from the Gov
ernor, and while there, Gov, Tod told him
what he was charged with, but did not give
him the particulars but said to the DIR. now
we are here alone and advise you as friend
to tell me all you have done on which such
charges could be founded, and it never need
go any further. The DR.. told his own story,
at the conclusion of which, Gov. Tod said to
MIN G0dI ne D1Q dQulIbl6u GDOuOu 10 u0SJFUy
all confidence in him, and that he could not
retain him in the service, and advised him to
resign his commission, and let the matter rest
where it was that if he did not, he should ask
his discharge by the Secretary of War. Af
erleaving the Governor, the DR.. went to the
Commissary or Quarter-masters Department,
and asked for transportation to his Regiment
and his pay. That officer referred the matter
to Gov. Tod, who sent for DR.. Alcorn, and
told him he had better not attempt to go to
his Regiment, if he did, he would meet his
discharge on his arrival there, and that he
could not consent to his receiving his pay at
present.
The DIR. left the Governors Office without
resigning or getting his transportation or pay.
The Gov. forwarded the charges as contained
in my letter to Washington.
On the 18th of March was in the Gov
ernor's office, and was informed that DR.. AL
day with the following brief note. Gov.
Tod, I herewith return my Commission."-
The next Information | received was COM
munication directed 10 me as Provost Marshall,
from the Military Commission at Washing
ion, Brig. Gen. James B. Ricketts, President,
under date of April list, requesting me to for
ward the afidavits of such witnesses as q may
be able to testify in the case.' Accordingly
on the Sth day of April, I took testimony be-
fore VIM. Goldman, Esq, and forwarded the
of io1
the following is copy.
The State of Ohio, Portage County, IS.
I Dennis C. Day, of Ravenna, Portage
County, Ohio, being duly sworn, depose and
say that sometime in February, 1863, about
the 10th day of the month think, 1 was
present in said township of Ravenna, ard
heard a conversation between Assistant Sur
geon, james P Alcorn, and Robert W. Sapp,
and Clemen Chamberlain. Mr.. Sapp said to
DR.. Alcorn that if he, Alcorn, would get him
discharged from the army of the United
States, he, Sapp, would give him ten dollars.
DR.. Alcorn replied that he would try it,
Clemen Chamberlain also at the same time
and place had conversation with DIR. Alcorn
in my presence in reference to getting dis
charge from the army, and offered to give him,
Alcorn, certain amount If he would procure
him a discharge, the amount / did not hear
distinct enough TO state it. DR.. Alcorn re-
piled to him, well, will try it, and see what
can do for you.
t At the close of the conversation, and after
/ Sapp and Chamberlain had left, / asked DIR
I Alcorn upon what ground they wanted dis
I charge, he said that Cham berlain claimed that
t there was something the matter with him
but that there was nothing the matter with
/ Sapp. That he was rather a pet in the fam
| lily, and did not want to go back to the army
and he did not blame him for it.
Sapp and Chamberlain were volunteers il
the army, and at that time were at home
Sapp as paroled prisoner, and Chamberlain
it was understood was absent from his compa
i ny without leave.
The said Sapp and Chamberlain, 1 under
/ stand and believe, have within ten days pas
started to return to their Regiments.
5t DENNIS G. DAY.
Sworn to and subscribed before me this Stl
day of April, A. D. 1868.
WIN. GOODMAN, ]. P.
The State Of Ohio, Portage County, IS.
i i 1 Jacob Outer, of Freedom, Portage Coun
ty, Ohio, being duly sworn, depose and say
that Clemen Chamberlain, a member Of Cot
ter's Battery, taken prisoner and paroled, an'
returned to Camp Chase, Columbus, O., cam
he told me that Capt Konkle told him h
i might come home if he would come bacl
promptly on the Monday following (the 23d.
1 On the Goth of FEBRUARY, carried said Cham
4. berlain to Ravenna to take the cars to Colum
bus, he did not go but went lack with me
part of the way home, he said that Assistan
Surgeon J. P Alcorn, told him that he nee
II not go back, that he would get a discharge fo
him. Chamberlain said TO me that Alcor
told him to send down all his papers to hin
Acorn, and that he would get his dscharg
and his back pay, and that Alcorn was to tax
his pay from the money he collected from th
! Government Chamberlain told me that A
corn asked him what he should give him bt
sides getting his discharge, for the bount
, which he. Chamberlain, was entitled to frol
the County of Portage, being fifty dollars.
Chamberlain told me, he said to A corn ths
he preferred to keep his county bounty hin
, SELF and that he Alcorn should take his pa
! out of the money he was to collect. Sal
= Chamberlain left here for his company on tt
: | 30th of March, not having received any di
a charge.
f / further swear that James Dutter, nepl
e. ew of mine, was also a paroled prisoner, b
i longing to Cotter's Battery, and while at hon
: got very seriously injured. DR.. j. P. Alcol
: was called to see him and said to James
. reply to his inquiry whether he could not g
4 him discharge, that he, Alcorn, could 2
A him discharge, hut that he could Just
: well getit after sixty days, and that he, A
; corn, could get him furlough for thirty
o sixty days, and he could draw his pay for th
+ time from the Government, and then get /
,e discharge just as well at the end of that tin