The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1866-05-03
Tardv .Tustice.-The War Depart


ment has at last, partially at least, done
Justice to Captain D. S. Caldwell, formerly
of the 123d Regt. o. V. l.. as brave a sol
lier as ever donned the blue. When the
Union troops were defeated at Winchester
in July, 1864. and Crooks mastery stam-
pede occurred. it was discovered that few
officers belonging to the command had
made very hasty and precipitate retro
gade movement and as they hastened to-
ward the banks of the famous Potomac,
indulged in some rather extravagant sto-
ries as to the character of the little drub-
bing we had just received at the hands of
the ''Johnies.'' Therefore Gen. Hunter,
who was also somewhere in tile rear-at
Harper's Ferry. we think-sent an officer
to Hagerstown to procure the names of
the gentlemen who had made this splend-
id movement upon that village, and report
them to him, and upon the report of this
officer, without inquiry into its truth or
falsity, the General assumed the fearful
responsibility Of disgracing every man
whose name was in the list by issuing an
order dismissing them from the service.
Among the officers dismissed was Capt.
Caldwell, who had not been in the battle
at Winchester at all, but who, on the con-
trary, had been for some time on light duty
at Martihsburg, being unable to march in
consequence of disability created by ex-
posure in his daring and perilous escape
from Libby Prison, in February, 1884,
When the troops fell back from Martins
burg of course the Captain accompanied
them, not deeming it eXpedient to under
take to hold the position himself until
General Hhuter should see proper to
reinforce him. The officer alluded to above
found Captain c., under these circum-
stances, enquired his name, and reported
it among the stockholders to the General
commanding who, in that hasty, arbitrary
and tyranical style SO peculiar to himself.
ordered this gallant and merritorious officer
to be torn from his command in disgrace.
We made written statement of these
facts to the War Department, but strange
to say no move was made toward atoning
for this act of gross injustice until re-
Gently, when an orderwas issued discharg-
Il
we take the following extract:
i. -ADJtTAST GENERALS OFFICE. !
WASHINGTON, March 18th, 1866.
SPECIAL ORDERS, No. 12l:
[ExTRACT]
2. BY direction of the President and in
connection with the report Of the Military
Commission, instituted by Special Order,
No. 53, series of 1868 from this office. So
much of General Order No. 50, July 29th,
1864, from Headquarters, Department. of
West Virginia, confirmed by Special Or
der No. 3S1. Nov. 3d. 1864. from this office.
as dismissed Capt. D. s. CaldweH, 123d
Ohio Volunteers, is hereby revoked, and
he is HoNORABLY DISCHARGED from the
service of the United States to date, July
24th, 1864
BY order Of the Secretary of War.
E. d. TOWNSEND, A. A. G..
This will do as far as it goes, but it is a
poor return for the bitter grief and an
guish experienced by sensitive man
while lying under this weight of disgrace
for nearly two years, affording the wicked
and malignant food for scandalous in
uendoes and yillanous slurrs.
Captain Caldwell has handed rs the GER
titicates of DR.. Ferris, the Surgeon by
whose order he remained at, Martinsburg
for treatment. Lieutenant Colonel Hun
ter and Capt. McCracken, embodying the
above facts, but as we have made full
statement Of the case, and as we were in
command of the Regiment at the time these
things occurred, and know whereof we
speak, we do not deem it necessary to ap-
pend these certificates, particularly as we
are cramped for room this week. If the
Captain desires it we will give them in
our next.