Documenting The Melungeons

This Melungeon Blog brought to you by one researcher determined to shed light to the misinformation being published on the Internet, books, articles, etc., and to show by documentation the rights and wrongs associated with these families who were called Melungeons, Redbone, Croatans, Brass Ankles and other names. Joanne Pezzullo

Thursday, March 21, 2019

History and Genealogy





When we started this project, it was to be a simple biography of my wife’s g-g-Grandfather Alexander Taylor, just for the family, but as I started the research into his history I realized that it was not only his story but the story our nation. And the conflict of the Civil War

Reconstruction, and Indian wars, and a personal love of this country, helped in compiling the story of his life.







The following pages are a compilation of information found on the internet and in military records of the National Archives in Washington D.C., and musty libraries from New York, Fort Wayne Indiana, Detroit Michigan Chicago Illinois, and many others to vast to mention, in a quest to find information about the history of Alexander H.M. Taylor

In the late eighties and early nineties as the internet became more available the necessity to search in a library diminished, but not totally, sometimes what you need is not on the internet, and some legwork is required. All of the initial information about Alexander is on statements he made in his military records, from the National Archives.




Especially helpful in the research were newspaper archives, and Fold3.com, which has extensive military records. Subscriptions to these sites are at a reasonable cost and well worthwhile, and probably the most, accept the national archives, was the marriage of Google and Collage’s and Universities in the Google Books project and in the research rooms of the LDS available to us all. Which brought to every day Americans the vast knowledge of their combined libraries. I have tried to combine the history of his time with that of what was happening in the Country at those times. This spanned over thirty years of service to his country.











Major A.H.M. Taylor







Alexander H.M. Taylor



Educated at the public schools of Troy New York and the Lansingburgh Academy. Alexander the son of Lyman Oliver and Margarete Elizebeth Pelham Taylor came to America in 1843 from Manchester England.

On December 24, 1795 a group of promident

Lansinburgh residence peitioned the Regents of the State of New York for a charter, for the purpose of establishing a Seminary of Learning to be called The Lansinburg Academy. They erected a wooden building on the village green. This petition was signed by 27 persons. The charter was granted on February 20, 1796 and signed by John Jay It contained the names of the first sixteen trustees.

By 1820, it was apparent that the first building was not large enough to serve the growing student body, so a second building of brick was built on the northwest corner of what is now known as Fourth Avenue and 14th Street

then called North Street) It remains almost unchanged in appearance today. The building was constructed on two lots transferred to the trustees of the academy by a deed dated May 2, 1820.

Many famous people were connected to the Academy, author Herman Melville graduated with a degree in surveying and engineering and Chester A. uthour future president of the United

States taught a course ‘Elements of law.’ when he resided in Lansingburg.

[Wikipedia]



CIVIL WAR

Headquarters Provisional, Army. C.S.A.

Charleston S. C. April 11, 1861

Sir. The Government of the Confederate States has hitherto forborne from any hostile demonstrations against Fort Sumter, in the hope that the Government of the United States, with a view to the amicable adjustment of all questions between the two Governments and avert the calamities of war would voluntary evacuate it.

There was reason at one time that

Pursued by would be the course the Government of the of the United States, an under that impression my government Has refrained from making any demand for the surrender of the fort. But the Confederate States can no longer delay assuming actual possession of a fortification commanding the entrance to one of its harbors, and necessary to its defense and security.

I am ordered by the Government of the Confederate States to demand the surrender of Fort Sumpter. My aids, Colonel Chestnut and Captain Lee, are authorized to make demands of you. All proper facilities will be afforded for the removal of yourself and command, together with company arms and property all private property, to any post in the United States which you may select, the flag which you have upheld so long and with so much fortitude, under the most trying circumstances, may be saluted by you, on taking it down. Col Chestnut and Cap Lee will for a reasonable time await your answer.

I am sir very respectfully, your obedient G.T. Beauregard Brig - General Commanding.



Major Robert Anderson

Commanding Fort Sumter

[The reply]



Fort Sumter. S. C. April 11,1861

GENERAL: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication demanding the evacuation of this fort and to say in reply thereto that is a demand with I regret that my sense of honor and of my obligations to my Government prevent my compliance. Thanking you for the fair, manly, and courteous terms proposed and for the high compliment paid me.

I am General very respectfully your obedient servants.

ROBERT ANDERSON

Major First Artillery Commanding.



Brig—General Beauregard

Commanding Provisional Army

Charleston S. C. April 12th, 1861 three-twenty am.

SIR: By the authority of Brigadier – General Beauregard, commanding the Provisional Forces of the Confederate States we have the honor to notify you that he will open the fire of his batteries on Fort Sumter in one hour from this time.

JAMES CHESNUT

Aide-D-Camp

STEPHEN D. LEE CAPT, C.S. ARMY, AID-DE-CAMP Maj. Robert Anderson,

U.S. Army. Commanding Fort Sumter

Headquarters Provisional Forces.

Charleston S.C., April 12, 1861

HON: L.P. WALKER, SECRETARY OF WAR

Sir: I have the honor to transmit the enclosed copy of a correspondence with Major Anderson, In consequence of which our fire was opened upon Fort Sumter at half-past four o’clock this morning as already communicated to you by telegraph the pilots reported to me last evening

She approached slowly, and That a steamer supposed to be the Harriet Lane had appeared off the harbor. was lying off the main entrance, some ten or twelve miles, when the pilot came in.



Respectfully. your obedient servant.

G.T. BEAUREGARD

Brigadier- General Commanding.



















Before the start of the civil war, the U.S. Army contained between 15,000 and 17,000 thousand enlisted men. Spread from New York to California and a little more than one thousand officers.

These numbers decreased when the war started, when loyal southerners left the Army to join the

Confederate’s The militia act of 1792, which empowered the President to call out the militia to suppress insurrection. President Lincoln called for seventy- five thousand for six months.

Ill prepared for the influx of volunteers the federal government was ineffective in recruitment and that responsibility fell to the states. Many enterprising men of dubious intent fell upon the state purely for personal gain. Independent recruitment by these unscrupulous fellows was unchecked until Governor Edwin Morgan of New York acted to end independent recruitment. On September 5th general order 71, which stated that no volunteer unit would be equipped by the state unless authorized by the Governor. However, citizens were free to join Federal units, but the state would not be responsibility for them. Another struggle between the state and Federal Government dealt with the selection and commissioning of officers, field grade officers were to be appointed by Governor Morgan. The elective process of the company officers required specific recruitment totals set down by Morgan, a commissioned, as Second Lieutenant required the recruitment of thirty men, First Lieutenant 40, and Captains upon completion of a company.

At the time of the civil war

10 companies = one regiment

3-5 Regiments = one brigade , the makeup of the infantry of the United States was as follows.

100 men = Compan2-4 brigades = one division

Multiple divisions Several divisions one corps = an Army

from an article by Thomas Harrods







President Abraham Lincoln

At Troy New York

February 19, 1861

Mr. Mayor and fellow citizens of Troy, New York---I am here to thank you for this noble demonstration, gathering to do me honor as an individual, and I accept this flattering reception with feelings ofprofound gratefulness. Since having left home, I confess, sir, having seen larg e assemblages of the People,

but this immense gathering more than exceeds anything I have ever seen before. Still fellow citizens, I am not as vain as to suppose that you have but rather, as the representative for the fleeting time of the American people. I have appeared only that you might see me and I you, and

I am not sure but I have the best of the sight.

again thanking you, fellow citizens, I bid you an affectionate farewell.



Lincoln’s speech at Troy New York

May have inspired him to answer the call for troops to help defend the constitution and keep the union as one. In 1861, Alexander resigned a position as a merchandising clerk in New York City, and answered President Lincoln’s first call for troops to defend Washington. The following Statement is part of his military record.












“STATEMENT”

“On April 7th, 1861, I resigned a good mercantile position to engage in the rising of the President Life Guard in connection with Colonel R.D. Goodwin, who had obtained from President Lincoln, authority to raise a Brigade of Volunteers.

In July 1861, seeing that I that I was going to lose heavily I obtained permission from Colonel Goodwin to raise an independent company. I enlisted some sixty men but before I could complete the recruitment of the company, Colonel Goodwin was deprived of his recruitment authority. New York’s Governor Morgan took my men under the authority conferred by the war department and placed them in the “United States Vanguard” now known as the 59th New York

Volunteers forming Company “A” of said regiment.



“The Colonel of the 59th New York Volunteers or U.S. Vanguard understanding my position gave me an appointment in one of the companies of the organization as a 2nd Lieutenant and placed me on recruiting service. I raised some fifteen more men but as I could not get my own men of Company A in my command, many whom I had recruited at large expense I declined to be mustered in as 2nd Lieutenant, although I was assured at the time that Governor Morgan would confirm my appointment and issue a commission. October 1861, I was released by Colonel Tidball and so severed my relations with the 59th N.Y. Volunteers, having expended since April 7, 1861 over sixteen hundred dollars in cash and fruitless exertion to raise first a

Brigade, 2nd a Regiment and 3rd, a company “Not on dollar equivalent been received by me.” .




Executive Mansion

Col R.D., Goodwin, wishes to tender another regiment with your concurrence, and the consent of the governor of New York, I have no objections. Please give him a short interview, and look at the notice of his regiment, which he will show you in the New York Tribune

Yours truly

A, Lincoln









The following letter found for sale on the internet web site: rail splitter.com “Lincolns own” Regiment extraordinary rare letterhead of the presidents “Life Guard “at 596 Broadway, NY, is bearing miss liberty and union shield. An ALS by Charles K. Whitney, Major, / “Presidents Life Guard,” 22 July 1861, in which he advises Captain (Josiah G.) Beckwith of a telegram from empty titles” although he got Publicity, barracks on Fulton street in Brooklyn, and 1,200 volunteers. Goodwin’s organization gradually collapsed due to lack of funds, poor officering, and insubordination, fierce competition for recruits and personal conflict with powerful New

York Governor, Edwin D. Morgan. By August, Col. Goodwin was pleading with Lincoln for

“Protection,” in the form of a supply order, and soon after told him that recruitment had failed.

Lincoln nevertheless reiterated his pledge to accept the guard, but by that time, it was apparently

moot. In October 1861, New York authorities

company ‘A’ of that regiment. (but it retained,

as a nickname, its proud original designation. consolidated some incomplete units as with the

59th with the “Presidents Life Guard”



“The vagaries of the Presidents Life Guard” and Colonel Goodwin’s relationship with Lincoln constitutes a unique, unstudied incident in the life of the sixteenth President. Lincoln’s gratitude. for the effort is indicated by his first written assignment to Edwin Stanton when the latter became Secretary of war: He asked that Goodwin begiven a clerkship “I am very earnest about this.”

(Clerkship, military rank of Colonel in name only with no military powers.)

Whitney the writer, a former New Hampshire artillery colonel, was killed during the battle of Atidem

Material referring to his singular, little known regiment is almost non- existence. although he was not actively involved with any military action during the war, he definitely was not a “ghost.”

Company ‘A ’is the same one recruited by Alexander at his own expense of $1.600 although he is never credited with any association with the 59th that I can find. As for his “Statement and letters of recommendations by Officers of the 59th, when Alexander applied for a commission as 2nd Lieutenant in 1863.

Richard D. Goodwin: On the 1860, U.S. Census listed as living in New York City, with the occupation as a “broker.’’ At the start of the war many unscrupulous men brokered the best deal they could get for the men who could afford to pay a substitute to serve for him, some as much as three hundred dollars or more and then paying the substitute a pittance in return for their service.

Occasionally the enlistee would desert that unit and sign-up with another to receive another bonus.

.

For the cash offered each enliste

I can get you a bonus

Yet bare you no onis

Your desertion is no skin off of me.








Chester A, Arthur

As engineer-in-chief with the rank of Brigadier General assigned to the task of representing the

Quartermaster General’s office in New York City.

In early 1861, all of New York’s required thirty-eight regiments were recruited. All sorts of adventurers flocked to Washington to wangle a commission to raise troops. The War Department was desperate for manpower and frequently authorized private citizens to raise a regiment. Once permission was received, these gentlemen dubbed themselves high ranking officers, set up Headquarters, surrounding themselves with subordinates who often purchased their commission passed out hand bills, and began to plunder local busines.

One such successful applicant.was Billy Wilson, an alderman who represented one of New Yorks city’s most crime areas. Wilson recruited a gang of

Toughs from his district who proceeded to plunder in full uniform. Police were unwilling to crack down on Wilson and his boys because of their great popularity

In the vicinity. Harassed restaurant owners finally appealed to the state for relief, and Governor Morgan ordered Arthur to put a stop to Wilsons marauding.

Upon request, Billy appeared one day at Arthur’s office and swaggered through the door in a

Colonel’s uniform. When told of Arthur’s objections to his recent activities, Wilson bellowed,

`“Neither you or the governor has anything to do with me. I am a Colonel of the United States

Service, and you have no right to order me.”

“You are not a Colonel Arthur replied, indignantly, and you will not be until you have raised your regiment to its quota of men and received your commission.”

“Well, I’ve got my shoulder-straps, anyway,” said Wilson “

In addition, as long as I have them I don’t want any orders from you fellows. At that Arthur rose to his feet, ripped the straps from Wilson’s shoulders, flung him into a chair, and had him put under arrest.”
















I have ordered my men to march as you directed, my Captain of senior the line disputes my authority as I hold no commission and refuses to comply, demanding my authority. Please

answer giving authority. R.D. Goodwin

U.S. Telegram Received August 22, 1861

From: New York




To: President Lincoln.

Shall I see you before I break up my Regiment or will you protect me by sending orders for necessary supplies? I can get them at Army prices on your Authority; Delays are killing us for god sake answer.



On 27, August the following article appeared in the New York Times R.D Goodwin Colonel commanding “Presidents life Guard’’






Presidents Life Guard, No 596 Broadway

New York, August 26, 1861



And whereas the Colonel has received orders from the War Department to march his men to Washington, he calls upon the proper authorities to assist him in putting down said mutiny and restore order in his command. Peter Slade, James R Griswold, Martin D. land, and Charles K. Whitney, having been ordered under arrest, charged with various crimes are the ringleaders of the mutineers. The Colonel prays that they may not be allowed to interfere with the interest of his command until a proper investigation of the difficulty can be had, and which he is ready for at any time.

Colonel R.D. Goodwin



Nine days after this letter was published by the New York Times, this note was published in the

New York Tribune:

Sept 4th, 1861, Authority to raise regiments revoked

The authority of Colonel R.D. Goodwin and Leslie Merritt of New York to raise regiments has been revoked ..

Colonel Goodwin seems to occupy an unenviable position with his officers. At a recent meetiind the acting officers of the regiment was brought against the colonel

1: Gross misrepresentation to the war department in order to have a regiment accepted.

2: Having been expelled from the National Guard New York Militia.

3: Obtaining money under false pretenses from officers acting under him. 4: attempting to remove officers already mustered into the United States Service, appointing others in their place for a pecuniary consideration.

5: Having been convicted and being well known to authorities of New York as a confidence man.







Colonel Goodwin is not so happy in his epistle however, the following letter Provoked by the action of his officers, is at least moderately free from grammatical defects, which characterized his onslaught upon the state authorities.






















A curious scene occurred at the United States District Attorney’s office this afternoon. Colonel

Goodwin, of the president’s lifeguard was brought in by a deputy marshal, haven been arrested on a warrant issued by a justice of the Peace of Kings County, for enticing men to desert from regiments stationed there.

The matter was taken before Mr., Andrews, an assistant in the office who inquired of Colonel

Goodwin the cause of the arrest. The colonel replied that a portion of his regiment was in

Washington and his enemies have now brought this charge against him. While the fact was that He was endeavoring to get his own men to go to Washington, just then an Irishman entered the office, and Colonel Goodwin turning toward him said this was one of the men who made charges against him, adding, “He is a wild Irishman”.

The Irishman, who is a Lieutenant in the same regiment. Ground his teeth in rage. Colonel

Goodwin said, “This man would commit murder, Fowler and Wells say so. I had him arrested for assault and battery a few days ago.”

The Irish lieutenant, “you lie you were arrested for taking funds belonging to the regiment”

Colonel Goodwin said, “That complaint was dismissed.”

The contestants were getting more and more excited, when Mr. Anderson said the subject was out of the jurisdiction of this office, and that the warrant must be returned to the justice of the peace who issued it. The Colonel and deputy Marshal then left the room. Our reporter subsequently learned that Colonel Goodwin was allowed to go into a cigar store, and when the Deputy went to look for him he had escaped out the backdoor.






NEW YORK TIMES

Washington D.C. Friday, Dec 5, 1862

GEN. McDowell Challenged: Colonel Richard D. Goodwin, who seems to lead the prosecution in the case of General McDowell, has sent a letter challenging to that officer in conservative of the statement, Which General McDowell presented to the court yesterday morning, reflecting upon the character of that gentleman. We may add the general seems to pay little regard to the matter so we think nothing serious need be feared.



Washington D.C.

December 6, 1862









May It please this honorable court in as much as a letter of impeachment by way of protest was read to the court yesterday from General McDowell, I beg that the General be permitted to prove all of any charges against me, giving me the right to defend myself. I here “emphatically deny” that I ever was in prison for any crime or that I ever tried to defraud the government; but I cannot deny that the government has defrauded me. I believe as far as I stated in my New York letter of General McDowell, I have sustained my position before the court, but drunkenness in our nation may be considered a crime. This nation has been on a drunken frolic for years, during which she has been eating up n-----s, body, and soul, and drank the hart’s blood of the poor white man. Whilst she hunted down and murdered her soil with flesh and blood of the red man, but now the doctor has given her an emetic, from which she is suffering.

Her brain is maddened and her blood is at fever heat. She has delirium tremens and is now tearing the flesh off her own bones premeditating self-destruction, the head is deranged, and I mean the cabinet is not a unit; the congress is divided, and the heads of our armies are distracted. Not knowing what to do or how to do it. Nevertheless, our great father will bring her to know Her self; he will give her a cathartic and will purge her of all her dross. And filth, after which she will become cool and collected; when she will again return to her senses and be found clothed and sitting in her right mind once more. I am a friend of god and humanity and shall condemn wickedness wherever I see it. Yours for truth: R.D Goodwin.





These are the comments made by General McDowell, “I am and have been loath to consume the time and tax the patience of the court in the manner of the character of R.D. Goodwin. I have thought in this case, which the court has already ruled was an exceptional one, I could show what I am assured and believe is the fact that the witness has attempted to pass forged papers on the Government and has been an inmate of one of the New York penitentiaries. I am not acquainted with the practice of civil courts and have felt in this case such acts must be sufficient to discredit the witness amonmilitary men.” Irwin McDowell.



The following letter found on the back of a picture of Elmer Ellsworth when I did a Commented [J2]:

Google search for Colonel Goodwin.

Gurney and son

New York, City

November 3rd, 1863

Gentlemen: It is two years and a half since the death of the fires martyr to liberty, which at the time, came like a thunderbolt shock penetrating the heart of every loyal citizen. Ellsworth was a warm friend, and one whose loss I will live to regret.

He was the vanguard of volunteers, I visited where he fell and possessed myself with some of the bloodstained floor upon which he breathed his last

under very similar circumstances, I received the following letter, reported to come from him, and a facsimile of his handwriting:Go on to victory I can accomplish more now than if I had survived my fate . Elmere Ellworth





Colonel R.D. Goodwin.



Gurney and son was at this time the preeminent photographic studio in New York City producing the likes of Matthew Brady and other civil war photographers.

How and why this letter was on that picture is unknown unless Col Goodwin was running some sort of fraud and using the very popular personage of Elmer Ellsworth in it.





From the papers of President, Andrew Johnson

R.D. Goodwin

104 West 49th street

New York, June 2, 1863



Mr. Johnson: I have always been an advocate for human liberty but I believe the Negro should not be permitted to vote for ten years to come in, order to avoid another reaction. I can explain to you my reason for saying so.

I hope you will put them on probation whilst the white populations are becoming educated up to the justice of equal rights to all humanity.

Most truly yours

Richard D. Goodwin

The following article cements Alexander’s comment that Colonel Goodwin “turned out badly,” and General McDowell’s comment that he (Goodwin) has been an inmate of one of New York’s York’s penitentiaries.



July 24th, 1866

New York Times: One of the most extraordinary exposures of the tricks of spiritualism was brought out on trial yesterday in the special session, before Justice Kelly so cunning are the devices used by these adventures that decency forbids an exposure of them and the manner in which they are carried out to delude simpletons. In this case two ladies, Mrs. Isabella Bradley and a Mrs. Adams, having seen an advertisement to the effect that that a séance would be held at No, 814 Broadway, went there with a gentlemen friend on the evening of 14 June (Sunday) and paid there twenty-five cents admission fee. They went up to the third story of the building on Broadway, where Colonel R.D. Goodwin, the complainant said he lived, in order as he expressed himself during his examination “to be as near heaven as I can get.” Colonel Goodwin, as soon as he was called to the witness stand, began to lecture reporters, the audience, by saying the press was misguided, and the people were ignorant. He continued to live at 814 Broadway; my business is now that of a lecturer; I lecture on various subjects of interest; I am a reformer; I am a politician, but not according to the hackneyed term as regards the séance, I am not a spiritualist; I ignore the name; I am a man investigating the truth. I am connected with Ella Vanier in the advertisement, she purports to be a “child of god” and I so believe her to be. Bedford, Assistant District Attorney, read the card that was published in the in the times when the arrest was made, and offered in evidence.



On the 24 of June (Sunday), I lost four rings worth 84$ the majority belonging to myself, and the balance were in my keeping. “The things were taken by the prisoner a known character and I am reach to prove that she is a bad character and an inmate of a notorious house of prostitution.” At this point Judge Kelly ordered the witness to confine himself to the questions asked by counsel. The witness said he understood the position he occupied; he was speaking to a prejudice press;

(when he said this he addressed himself to the six representative’s members of the press at the table, and turning suddenly around to the audience, he added) and an ignorant people. Pursuant to the advertisement just read, my congregation was assembled to witness manifestations, which we believe to be sacred. As soon as into the hall, before taking the rostrum I saw indications of a row and I sent a message to the captain of the police for help. The woman at the bar, with another woman, was appointed to examine the medium; and see that she had nothing on her person or pockets that would enable her to make the Davenport demonstrations in the cabinet where she was to be concealed. The medium having been undressed, the committee of ladies found concealed on her person a parcel containing the key to unlock the padlock with which her hands were fastened, a quantity of ribbons, a number of rings, and a bracelet. This bracelet the defendant took possession of and so indignant was she at the subterfuge of the spiritualist

That as soon as she got in the hall she threw it down and informed her friends of the discovery The other lady, Mrs. Adams passed the package to the audience and declared as loudly as she could to the feminine portion of the audience of her discovery, whereupon Goodwin ordered the unruly part of the congregation to leave the room.



Those who discovered the fraud departed but the others remained behind. The medium, Ella

Vanier, having been sworn, was examined as follows, “are you the party that lives at No 814

Broadway” “yes” “were you there on the 24th of June Sunday “I was” “was there a performance or lecture there.”

There was a séance and a spiritual manifestation. There was some suspicion that some jewelry had been taken from my bedroom by the ladies who are here now. I saw them take it. There was a committee and appointed to search me, but they did not find this jewelry about me, nor the parcel they speak of. I never saw that parcel of ribbons that they speak of, six inches long; I guess they took it out of the room. The bracelet, rings, and key they found in the corner, a short distance from where I stood when they searched me they found nothing on me, so help me god.

They threatened to expose me as a bamboozler but I don’t know why they should.”



On the cross-examination, Miss Vanier said she did not know how the bracelet and rings came on the floor. She said she was a spiritual medium, was born in Michigan was about nineteen years of age, and had exhibited in Baltimore and Washington, and believed in all she said and swore to. There was she acknowledged, a sort of business relationship existed between her and Colonel Goodwin, she boarded with him and when she asked for money he gave it to her.

Colonel Goodwin had made a contract with her but she did not remember now what it said. Goodwin had a housekeeper and attended to the financial department while she devoted herself to the spiritual.



Colonel Goodwin, on being recalled, admitted that he had been arrested so often that he could not tell the number of times, He said he had once been sent to the penitentiary, and after about ten minutes prevarication he admitted that he believed that he had been pardoned out. He also admitted that he had been arrested on the charge of swindling the

Government in raising troops through the war



The medium being recalled: I came from Michigan last December and since then have had séances in Clinton, Saratoga hall, Baltimore and Washington, I have no father but I have a mother. I first descovered I was a spertiualist medium in the latter part of December. Bedford— the theory is that those rings; this breaclet and these ribbons are brought to you by some spirit? Whitness—yes Bedford-you swear to that ? Witness--- they are put into my pocket as I go to the hall by the spirits that bracelet has sometimes been shown from the cabinet, but never these rings, Counsel—how many times do you exhibit—I don’t exhibit. Councel—well show yourself. Witness as often as please; Goodwin gets that advertisment out; sometimes I charge twenty-five cents and sometimes a dollar. I don’t know what part Goodwin get of the receipts; I have made no bargain with him. When I want money he gives it to me; Henley takes the money at the door and gives it to Goodwin; I live with him as one of the family; I pay no price for my board; there is a contract in this way, he is my guardien and counsel—who appointed him?

Witness—my-self. Counsel through the surrogate? Witness—no; but who made an agreement in writing. Counsel—who drew it up? Witness—Goodwin drew it up. The further cross- examination tended to corroboratethe the statement of Goodwins.

The next witness called was Charlotte Whipple, however, happened to be on the second committee who was appointed to examine the medium previous to her being tied. The witness said “I don’t think the property was stolen. They found it somewhere it should not be. If I had been on the first committee and found it as they did, I would have done as they did---expose the fruad to the audience. It was no theft. The lady was told to make the search, and she did so and she found what she did not expect.”

Two gentlemen were examined for the defence, who testified that when the committee of two came out, Mrs Bradley threw the bracelet on the floor in disgust, and her associate, Mrs Adams gave the parcal containing the ribbons and rings to be viewed by the audience both women on discovering the fraud informed the audience of it, and relinquished possession of the property. No evidence of larsney was shown, but on the contrary, a great imposition was exposed, and the accused were released from custody. After the aquittal, an application was made for the arrest of Goodwin. Judge Kelly—“what is your application”, culver—I wish to arrest Goodwin for perjury, judge Kelly said “ you ought to know this is not the proper place to make such an application you should go to the police court. Culver said he would do so.



I don’t believe Mr Culver got his wish, the last time I found Goodwin was in St Louis Missouri

He had become a doctor and by the looks of things became interested in the accult.





Independent Host of Reformers

Sleepers awake! Death is at your doorstep! Draw the sword of justice and defend your rights. Rebels are upon you, traitors are in your mist and you must weed them out. Old and young, poor and rich, men and women are invited to join The Indipendant Hosts of Reformers.



Our subject and aim is to defend the union, constitution and laws in there purity,

Independent of political red tape, and to denounce all forms of a “star chamber” or inquisition. The book of host number one, are now open at Peter Cooper Institute room twenty for the signature of those wishing to join.

Col R.D. Goodwin

Grand aid N.Y.Sept 1862

Col Goodwin

St Louis Missouri founded the Continental League of 1876, to foster seperation of church and state, Astral Travel, Rosicrucianism and Clairvoyance. My wife found his G.G. Grandson in

StLouis and sent him an E-Mail , but he never responded.





As eighteen sixty – one draws to a close we find Alexander without his company of men in which he has invested so much time and money in recruitment, Moreover, his chance of becoming an officer, which he had worked so hard to obtain, had been lost. As his record shows, he did not give up on his become an officer. In his record’s there is a statement saying that soon after the failed attempt to raise a company Alexander joined the 83rd New York Volunteers.

.







































CHAPTER THREE



From the history of the ninth N.Y.S.M

By

,

George Hussey



During the early history of the New York state militia, the state was divided into two hundred and sixty - nine regimental districts, in each of which the arms-bearing population was enrolled in regiments designated by the number of the district. In only a few of the districts were the members uniformed or armed, however little knowledge respecting the early history of the original Ninth Regiment can be obtained, except possibly by delving into old musty records, some dating back to 1812 this is believed not to be necessary, or desired. In 1845, the

Seventeenth ward of New York City constituted the Ninth Regimental District.



On May 6. 1847 by an act of the legislature, the first division of the N.Y.S.M. was organized.

On May 27, 1850, by orders of the Adjutant Generals office the regiment was disbanded. In 1848, immediately after the receipt of the news of a revolution in France, a meeting of expatriated Irishmen was held at the Shakespeare hotel in the city of New York, to discuss the situation in Ireland, and endeavors to decide upon the best means for accomplishing the freedom for that unhappy land. Many eloquent speeches were made, notably among which was one by

Michael O’ Connor who upon Concluding was asked by Michael Phelan the pertinent question, “can you fight as well as you have spoken.” – Upon it, being announced that a brigade was to be formed under the title “Irish Republican Union.” Mr. O’ Connor approved the movement and headed the roll with his signature, Mr. Phelan was next, and among others were John G Fay and

James f. Markey.



“The Irish Republican Union” had maintained its distinctive character for over a year, when for obvious reasons it was deemed advisable by its founders, and such other prominent Irish refugees as had meanwhile arrived in New York, to have the organization incorporated as part of the New York state militia. From what has been said respecting the personnel of the Ninth Regiment, it will be seen that the elements which gave life and soul to the organization, was composed of those who sympathized with the condition of Ireland, and who hope to be able soon, to render signal service to their native country. These men had also formed themselves into a secret organization, known as the S.F each member being pledged to aid personally in revolutionary Ireland.

Upon the surface, the regiment to which I was attached, the Ninth New York State Militia few of the members were nothing else, but the bulks were Irish rebels in disguise. The wheel within a wheel was the order of the “S.F.’’s. As a rule, those who held the highest positions in the Ninth militia were not prominent officers of the “S.F.” s for instance, our Colonel an American, and a most worthy gentleman, was not aware of the double character of the organization he had the honor to command.

While many privates in the regiment were, officers of high rank among the “F.S.” unfortunately, the growing number and increasing power of the “F.S.” s. attracted the attention of men whose trade was politics, and whose principal were far from being of the best. At the eleventh hour, they wormed themselves into the organization, with the view to making the credulity of their countrymen a stepping stone whereby, at the worst, they might ascend to local office of trust and power, therefore, a powerful and promising organization was stripped of its boasted unity of action, if not of purpose.

Captain Phelan



As for the part of the S.F.’S remaining in 1858, they with other members of the regiment were transferred, mostly, to the sixty-ninth by special order 41. A.G.O. Dated May 3, 1858 and soon disbanded; later in 1858, the remainder of the original ninth was combined with the 23rd regimen district and were assigned to the 22nd regimental districts, and designated as the Ninth Regiment

District.

From the book History of the Ninth. By George Hussy.





WASHINGTON DC



It would be difficult to describe the condition of affairs at this time. Loyal men knew not whom to trust. Regular army officers were resigning and casting their lot with the secessionists, and many in the civil service were held in distrust. Almost majorities of the inhabitants of Washington were disloyal; a large number remaining so through the whole war, remained as spies for the Confederacy.

The Woodward building, on Pennsylvania Avenue, near Tenth Street, was designated as quarters for the regiment; some of the members, however, found better accommodations at hotels and boarding houses. Not having yet been sworn into service, the men were privileged to go where they pleased. The following day was spent by most of the Regiment in rambling about the city, scanning the bulletin boards for the latest news, and comparing notes with chance acquaintances.

On the 30th, the regiment marched to the arsenal, at the foot of Four-and-a-half Street, where Harper’s Ferry smoothbore buck and ball muskets, caliber.69 were issued; after which it marched in review at the White House, before President Lincoln.

Announced that the regiment was to occupy Camp Cameron, on Meridian Hill, where the seventh N.Y.S.M., were then quartered; the thirty- day term of that regiment having expired, they had been ordered to New York. A detail for guard duty was at once made, consisting of Captain Allen Rutherford, Officer of the day, Lieutenant Erastus R. Miller, officer of the guard and Sergeant Angus Cameron, Sergeant of the guard. They proceeded to Camp Cameron and relieved the guard of the seventh. At three o’clock in the afternoon, line was formed, and the regiment marched to its first camp, two miles distant on the Harper’s Ferry road. The Seventh was found drawn up in line, and as the Ninth marched by it received the compliment of a salute

The camp was taken possession of a half-past five, the Seventh leaving the Ninth as a legacy their wall-tents, all of which were floored, and many of them containing mattresses, chairs, wash-basins, etc., while some were even supplied with a generous quantity of canned meats and other substantial comforts, all of which were thankfully received, and the extreme generosity of their fellow soldiers fully appreciated. The following order was issued for the government of

the camp.



Headquarters, Ninth Regiment Camp

Cameron, Washington, D. C. May 3



General Orders.}

No. 12

Reveille will be beat at sunrise, under the direction of the officer of the guard, when the men will rise, and sentinels leave off challenging, a commissioned officer will, fifteen minutes thereafter, superintend the roll call of each company, by the first Sergeants. Upon the company, parades and the captain of each report the names of Absentees to the Colonel or commanding officer. Immediately after the reveille roll call the tents of each company, and the space around them, will be cleaned and put in neat order by the men of the companies, superintended by the chiefs of squads or messes, and the quarters of the guard by the guard or prisoners.

“Peas upon a trencher” will be beat at seven o’clock. “Troop” is to sound or beat at eight o’clock for assembling the men for the duty and inspection before guard mounting.



Company drills from half-past nine battalion drills from ten to eleven A.M., and dress parade at half-past five P.M. The morning reports of the companies, signed by the captains and first sergeants, will be handed to the Adjutant before eight o’clock A.M. and be consolidated by the Adjutant within the next hour, for the information of the commanding officer of the regiment. The guard for each day will be one captain, one lieutenant, one sergeant, three corporals, and ninety-six privates, furnished by detail from each company. Guard mounting at half-past nine at which time the officer of the day, the officer of the guard and the detail for the day, will assemble on the regimental parade, and be formed by the adjutant and the sergeant major.

The “Surgeon’s Call” will be sounded immediately after guard mounting, when the sick, able to go out, will be conducted by the first sergeants to the hospital tents, for the examination of the surgeons. Patients unable to attend the dispensary will be visited by the surgeon the camp will be inspected every day at five P.M. by the officer of the day, assisted by the officer of the guard, when every man will be at his post- muskets stacked opposite respective tents-quarters clean and orderly. Every man is required to give the strictest attention to the care and appearance of His uniform and equipment, and will be held accountable for any loss, damage, or injury thereto, other than reasonable ware. “Roast Beef” at twelve

“Retreat” will be sounded at sunset, for the purpose for warning officers and men for duty, and reading the orders of the day.

“Tattoo” will be sounded at half-past nine P.M., after which no soldier is to be out of his tent or quarters, unless by special leave; and at ten o’clock, the “Taps” will be given, when all noise must cease in camp, and lights be extinguished.

The body belts will be worn on all occasions when the men are out of camp; and no article of dress, other than the regular uniform, will be permitted to be worn by officer of soldier when on duty or when out of camp. Divine service will be held on Sunday at ten A. M. Every officer and soldier, not on duty or the sick list, is expected to be present, in uniform, without arms.

All absentees at roll call, without leave, will be punished by being deprived of recreation for one week, or otherwise, in the discretion of the commanding officer of the regiment. No compliment by guards or sentinels will be paid between Retreat and Reveille. Strict order and regularity will be maintained by the commandants of companies, and they will be held accountable for a want of discipline in their respective commands, and will take proper measure to enforce it. The Articles of War will be read by the commandants of companies to their respective commands, immediately after Inspection; and they will be governed by the rules and regulations of the United States.

Loaded arms shall not be placed in stack; nor shall any piece, except those of the guard, and for immediate target practice, or in apprehension of attack or necessity for defense, be kept loaded upon campground.

Drum commands

The “Assembly” is the signal to form by company.

“To the color” is the signal to form by battalion.

“The Long Roll” is the signal for getting under arms in case of alarm, or the sudden appearance of the enemy.

“First Sergeants Call” one roll and four taps.

“Sergeant’s Call,” one roll and three taps.

“Corporal’s Call,” one roll and two taps.

“For Drummers” the drummers call.

Official.

J. W. STILES, Colonel Commanding,

J. B. COPPINGER, Adj



The parade ground at once became the scene of the active School of the soldier, and the men soon showed remarkable Proficiency in the manual of arms. Since crossing the borders Of the State of New York, the regiment had been merely a body of armed and uniformed citizens, without any military Status whatever, and it is greatly to their credit, that amid the Status whatever, and it is greatly to their credit, that amid the Many difficulties encountered, from April 19th-the day they volunteered-to June 8, the date of their muster into the U.S. Service, nothing occurred to mar their record. Nearly Two months, during a period of actual war, is very long times to hold a body of patriotic men together, which are anxious to Meet the foes of their country. The Ninth’s experience before it left New York cost it quite a number many members, who hastened off to join organizations more fortunate, in that their Services were earlier accepted by the government.

On the eighth, the regiment was mustered into the service of the United States-to serve during the war unless sooner discharged. Captain William D. Whipple of the regular army was the mustering officer, and Adjutant General Lorenzo Thomas, was present to witness the ceremony. The regiment was formed in a hollow square on the parade grounds, when Colonel Stiles made a brief address, explaining the oath which each man was expected to take, and, at the same time, giving those who did not wish to be sworn an opportunity to retire. Eight hundred and thirtyseven men, with uplifted hands, swore fealty, even unto death, in defense of their country’s honor and flag, about forty men concluded that they had seen about all they wanted to know of active solders-life, and refused to be mustered. Senator Hennery Wilson subsequently introduced a bill into the congress, which became a law, defining the term of service of all those regiments who had taken the oath of service ‘’during the war’’, to be; ‘’three years unless sooner discharged.”










October 25th, 1861



Camp Tuthill was finely situated; wood and water were convenient to camp, which was situated about a quarter of a mile from the Potomac River. Lieutenant Joseph Wickham of company “H”, who was home on recruitment service, arrived in camp with a number of recruits, and he brought with him a stand of colors presented to the regiment by the ‘’Common Council” New York City.

26th early in the morning broke camp; our division (banks) marched through Poolesville and late in the afternoon, encamped on a hill near Seneca creek, after a comfortable march of an easy ten miles. Sunday the 27th in the morning resumed our march, passing through Dawsonville, and near Darnestown

On Saturday, took a branch road toward muddy branch (rightly named) near which, we halted early in the afternoon, in a piece of woods, with pine trees and bushes, and clearing them away, we laid out our camp, in low marshy ground. We named our camp in honor of Captain

Prescott of Company “C”, Camp Prescott.



We had a great deal of rainy and damp weather, and our tents leaked badly. There was a great deal of sickness through the regiment, and doctor Nordiques represented that fact to the General, advised a removal of camp to higher ground and healthier grounds. So, their fore on the afternoon of the Tuesday November 5th, moved out of the woods to a cleared field a short distance from Camp Prescott, here the camp was healthier, the camp being on higher ground. Sunday the 24th the first fall of snow this season the weather cold and wet. Thursday the 28th, Thanksgiving Day at home, all drills depended the men were permitted to leave the camp to spend the day. While those who could not afford it have, there Thanksgiving dinner in camp, of

Government rations – bean soup and hard bread.

On November 30, 1861, Alexander joined the ninth Regiment in the field at camp Prescott.

At Eleven o’clock on the morning of December 2nd camp Prescott was abandoned, and the

Ninth marched to join the division, then being distributed in winter quarters, the vicinity of Fredrick city, a pioneer force went in advance to put the bridges in passable condition. The roads were partly frozen, and the men, horses, and wagons broke through the crust, the march was a very tiresome one. Towards evening, the regiment bivouacked in a field by the roadside, near the village of Barnesville.

The march resumed at eight o’clock the following morning, and soon after passing Barnesville, Sugar Loaf Mountain was observed, upon the summit of which the Signal Corps had been established.

The march continued through Buckeystown, and to within two miles of Frederick City, when, late in the afternoon after the day’s March of about sixteen miles, a halt was ordered and the

Tents pitched in a piece of woods.

Winter quarters of the Ninth Regiment from December 4, 1861 thru February 25, 1861.

On the Thirteenth, snow fell to the depth of three inches, and as the weather soon after became ‘warmer, the quarters were so muddy as to necessitate corduroying the company streets. On the

22nd the camp was ‘’taken’’ by a photographer from Frederick. The weather for the following week was very changeable, snowing and raining alternately. The roofs of many of the huts were

leaky, the men neglected to repair them during pleasant days, for then they did not leak, and being deterred from doing so when it stormed. Drills, perforce, were dispensed with, and this general inactivity, and a service of over seven months without having met the enemy in a general engagement, tended to make the men dissatisfied.

`

On the 27th, the first drill of the year was ordered, but as the ground was soft and spongy, little could be done, and the men were soon dismissed. At dress, parade orders were read to the effect that Major William Atterbury had been appointed Lieutenant-Colonel, and Captain Allen

Rutherford of company “F”, Major of the Eighty-third Regiment, New York Volunteers. Rumors of this change of regimental number had been circulating about camp for some time. authorities had

The announcement caused as much excitement an order on 7 December, was the first time that the news had been officially promulgat as though a bombshell had exploded. Another cause of grievance lay in the fact that the Governor of New York assumed the right to appoint and commission officers, without their being elected and thus recommended by the members of the regiment, as had been customary in the militia service.

Still another annoyance was produced by the U.S. Government refusing to maintain the distinctive uniform of the regiment, and which had been adopted before the outbreak of the war. Upon enlisting in the regiment, all the members had been mustered into the service of the State of New York, for the usual period of seven years. The oath, which was taken upon entering the United States service,’



Member of the Ninth Militia, which, at the time of the change of name, had already earned a valuable reputation in active service under that

Designation and why the Esprit-de-corps should be endangered or sacrificed was a mystery then. That the officers and enlisted men were of true soldier material, is shown from the fact that the great disappointment of their feelings of right and justice was not rebelled against, but merely found in groans and sighs of disapprobation and the writing of articles against the great injustice practiced upon them.

EIGHTY – THIRD REGIMENT OF INFANTRYY

NINTH MILITIA CITY GUARD

The 9th State militia not having been ordered into service under the first call, organized in

Company K, recruited at Rahway, N. J., and armed as artillery, joined the regiment July 7, 1861, but served mostly detached from it and became finally, the 6th Battery. Companies I and L, recruited in New York city, joined the regiment August 25th and, September 24 respectfully.

The opening of the campaign of 1862, found McClellan still commander- in- chief of the armies of the United States. Since Bull Run there has been no great battle fought, the general occupying the time in drilling and disciplining the raw recruits. On January 27th, the president under pressure of “public opinion “issued his first “General War Order,” Directing a forward movement of all

land and naval forces of the Union to be made on the 22nd of February

Alexander served with the ninth through the engagements at Cedar Mountain,

Rappahannock Station, Thoroughfare Gap. Alexander was promoted to sargant and detailed as a clerk at General Popes Headquarters,
















































































































































































































The 83rd is named by Colonel Fox as one of the “300 fighting Regiments” of the War. “I served with my regiment the 83rd N.Y. Volunteers up to July 1862 when I was placed on duty at Major Pope’s Headquarters where I remained until September 11, 1862 When in obedience to instructions from The Adjutant General of the Army I reported for duty to Major T.M. Vincent,

Assistant Adjutant General, with which office and who’s bureau I have remained up to this period of a little more than two years.”

While working in the war department he became friends with Norvel King whose mother, Mary Davis King had a boarding house on 12th and F Street, where Alexander took a room. He met and married Albertina Marshal Williams, granddaughter of Mary King.



Alexander’s salary was 100.00 dollars a month. There first Daughter, Ada was born on May 3,

1864 in Washington D.C.




















WAR DEPARTMENT

Washington May 11, 1863

The board for the examination of candidates for clerkship in the office of the adjutant General, will examine into and report on the qualifications of A.H.M. Taylor a candidate for clerkship of

class one. By order of the secretary of war

G.H. Watson



Assistant Secretary of War







Alexander passed the examination for the clerkship of class one and reported to the office of the Adjutant General. In 1864, he was promoted to head clerk 3rd class in charge of books, letters, and discharges.



“Having a desire to follow for life the profession of arms, I in January 1863 made an application to the honorable Secretary of war for an appointment as Second Lieutenant in the regular infantry this application is supported by testimonials of an undoubted character. From that day to this, I have sought earnestly for the appointment but have not been successful in obtaining it “



In April 1863, Major Hartsuff, formally my Brigade commander, called on the Honorable Secretary of War to urge my appointment, as I am informed, the secretary decided to make the appointment if my papers are satisfactory.

.

Alexander’s “papers “included testimonials from Officer whom he had served under or knew him personally during his attempt to raise a company in 1861. These papers are voluminous and are part of his military record. I will list some of these, some of the names you will know, some you will not.

Milwaukee February 28, 1863

Sir:

The within named Sergeant Taylor was a detailed clerk in the adjutant

General’s office of my late command in Virginia. He is known to me as a very capable young man and of much promise and I cordially recommend his application for

Promotion.

Major General , John Pope commanding department of the northwest

Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Executive Department

Boston, Sept 28, 1863



I cheerfully transmit this paper to the secretary of war and beg to call his attention to the ample testimonials, which Mr. Taylor presents.

John J. Andrews Governor of Massachusetts



Headquarters

New Orleans

August 15, 1863

To the Honorable E.M. Stanton

Secretary of War

Sir

Sergeant A.H.M. Taylor of the Adjutant Generals office in Washington was attached to my command in Maryland. He was a most faithful and capable soldier discharging his duties to the satisfaction of his superior officers. I cordially recommend his application for promotion.

N.P. Banks

Major General Commanding.

Headquarters, 83rd NYS Volunteers

9th NYS Militia

January 19, 1863

Approve and strongly recommend …John Stiles… Colonel Commanding Regiment







January 23, 1863 War Department

Sergeant Taylor served during General Pope’s campaign in Virginia under me as my clerk in the office of the Assistant Adjutant General and chief of staff at General

Pope’s Headquarters. He is an excellent intelligent man and a good solider. He is fitted by his education, and by his addresses for the position of an officer and I take great pleasure in recommending him as worthy of promotion.

General D. Ruggles

Colonel. A.D.C..





Late chief of staff of Army of Virginia Assistant Adjutant general 1st U.S. Army

War Department A.G.O.

Feb 8, 1863 Sergeant Taylor has served under my charges as a clerk for several months. My observation of him fully supports the recommendation of Colonel Ruggles. With pleasure, I give this endorsement. Thomas M. Vincent Assistant Adjutant General









To: Honorable E.M. Stanton Secretary of War:

Pennsylvania Executive Chamber, Harrisburg, Sept 1, 1863 I cordially unite with the recommendation. I regard Sergeant Taylor as a very excellent solider and that he may be promoted in accordance with his request

A.G. Curtis, Governor of Pennsylvania .









War Department Adjutant General’s Office

Washington D.C. March 10, 1864 Special Orders: No. 114

Extract



Sergeant A.H.M. Taylor, General Service, and U. S. Army. Recommended for promotion will present himself for examination before the board of Officers, ordered to convene in this city

March 10, 1864, by Special Order No 91, February 25, 1864, from this office.



By order of the Secretary of War.

Signed: E.D. Townsend

Assistant Adjutant General







“Not fully understanding the nature of the examination, I did not ask time for any preparation but left my desk on the day of the examination and reported to the board.”





Official

Williams



Washington D.C. March 17, 1864 11 o’clock am

The board met pursuant to adjournment, present Lieu Col Chas G. Lovell, Captain C. Walker, and Lieu M Miller, absent JC Tidball and called before it A.H.M. Taylor Sergeant General service AGO. Age 23 years, Married and found him qualified as follows.



Moral Character (testimonials presented) good

Physical ability Certified of Charles C, lee surgeon ---qualified




Geography – Deficient



The board then adjourned at 3:45 O’ clock PM to meet tomorrow at 11, o’clock AM.



Washington D.C. March 17, 1864

The board met pursuant to, adjournment present Lieutenant Colonel Charles Lovell, Captain C

Walker, and Lieutenant M Miller, absent Colonel JC Tidball, and resumed the examination of

AHM Taylor, Sergeant General Service and found him qualified as follows.



History --- deficient

Mathematics ---fair knowledge of arithmetic

Orthography and composition --- good

Tactics --- Very little knowledge of infantry, none of artillery or cavalry. The military record of the sergeant has been very good; he has some knowledge of camp books and papers but has no practical experience having been employed as a copy clerk nearly or quite all the time during his previous enlistment.











Washington D. C. Sir, I have the honor to enclosed here with a statement, and papers in my case, to which I beg attention, I am just urgent for an appointment in the regular infantry because I wish to follow the profession of arms for life.

As an Officer, I honestly believe that a trial in the field, will demonstrate a capability equal to my responsibilities.

I respectfully request that the letters of the officers, who composed the examination board in March last, which I appeared, may be taken in connection with my labors in the Government service and considered with their respect, with a view in my receiving an appointment.



A.H.M. Taylor

memo

Rough letter requires action in order not recorded





Brigadier General P. Graham

President Examination Board

Annapolis, Maryland



General,

You are hereby instructed to reconsider a report made in the case of A.H.M. Taylor, General Service, and U.S.A. In March 1864, by the examining board, for non- commissioned officers of the regular Army. It being represented by the members of said board, Mr. Taylor would probably be found competent for appointment, if allowed a re-examination, which they respectively ask might be granted. In addition, upon the urgent request of officers, under whom

Mr. Taylor has served, who vouch for his fitness for a Lieutenancy in the Army.

I am General A.A.G.















June 17th, 1864 Sergeant Taylor at his late examination showed that he had made but slight preparation, I thought at the time that had he had a little time for study that he would have passed a very creditable examination.

M. Miller

1st Lieutenant





Before Atlanta Georgia. August 1, 1864

I fully agree to the above. Thought Sergeant Taylor was found deficient by the board of which I was a member, I did not consider under the peculiar circumstances that it was conclusive evidence against him. I thought his embarrassment his chief difficulty. He appeared to be a man of gentlemanly manners and of fine natural intelligence; I think it highly probable that if allowed another trial he would pass a satisfactory examination.

Captain C. Walker







Madison Wisconsin

July 5, 1864

Sergeant Taylor of Major Vincent’s Bureau

Adjutant General Office War Department having stated to me his great desire to be reexamined before the regular Army Board and that he has fully qualified himself to pass a creditable examination. As late president of said board I recommend he be allowed to do so believing him competent.

Charles Lovell

Lieutenant Colonel 18th

I have the honor to present the enclosed papers for your kind inspection,

And to beg that you intercede with the Lieutenant General, to approve the following. I have every reason to know that the regular Army will soon be re-organized soon after the fall session of Congress and that some appointments will be allowed from the volunteer forces or as indicated in the General Regulations for citizens.

improper, I beg that the General will say this on my papers. Should this applicant sustain his present. I you will please read my “statement” herewith, it will be clear to you what I desire; i.e. that I may be allowed, an examination at that time and deemed eligible by the Honorable Secretary of War for a commission in the Army. The position I hold here is one in which I have tried to do my duty and I assure you I will not be less faithful in the position I covert. If it not character at the date when the reorganization of the regular Army is decided and vacancies exist; recommend his re-evaluation with a view to appointment.

The above is simply the Idea I wish to present and no offense is intended by giving that expression in my own composition. You will see that I was examined in March 1864 but was not successful and I feel deeply the disgrace of that report and you cannot wonder that I burn for another appointment to appear before the examining board and retrieve my reputation. I have the honor to be

With Respect

You are obedient Svt. A.H.M. Taylor

c.c.

Col Vincent’s Bureau, War Dept.



After the failure, Alexander did not give up and asked for permission to be reexamined by the board. More letters of recommendation. General U.S. Grant General, Irwin McDowell, and

Governor of Iowa W.M. Stone, and others.
















.















Testimonials:

June 20, 1865

It is respectfully recommended that Sergeant Taylor, General Service, and U.S.A. Is ordered before the board of Officers. Appointed for the examination of applicants for commission in the regular Army for reexamination

By Command

Lieutenant General U.S. Grant.



Recommendation of Lieutenant General Grant is approved by order of the Secretary of war

C.A. Dana

Assistant secretary of War.



--------------------------------------------------------------















`











San Francisco August 8th, 1865



Honorable E.M. Stanton

Secretary of War

Washington D.C.



Sir I beg to recommend to your favorable consideration A.H.M. Taylor formally a solider under my command who is an applicant for examination before the regular Army examining board with a view to an appointment as 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Infantry.

I do not doubt he will be found qualified and will do credit to the service.

I have the honor to be

Your most obedient servant, Irwin McDowell





The AG will please recall the papers and order for examination of A. H. M. Taylor (sent to president of board filed with T96 CB 70) for commission in regular army.

State of Iowa

Executive Deartment

Des Moines July 5, 1865










Honorable E.M. Stanton

Secretary of War

Sir,

Understanding that A.H.M. Taylor Esq., Chief clerk in Colonel Vincent’s Office is an applicant for an appointment as a second Lieutenant in the regular Army. I have much pleasure in stating that with my intercourse with in that bureau, I have always found him prompt, faithful, and courteous in the discharge of his duties and cheerfully recommend him for this position, which I feel confident he imminently qualified to fill with credit to him and the union.



I am Very respectfully



W.S. Stone

Governor of Iowa



THE EIGHT HOUR MOVEMENT



Washington evening star

October 28th, 1865

The demonstration Tuesday night – The procession and mass meeting of the working men on Tuesday night in reference to the Eight – Hour movement promised to be a large affair, nearly every trade being assiduously engaged in making in preparations for a large turn Out. The procession will form on Pennsylvania Avenue, right resting on 2nd street west, and will move at seven o’clock up Pennsylvania avenue in front of the President’s thence up 16 ½ street to H, to N , York avenue , to 7th , to D and to the City Hall where the mass meeting will be held

The Marshall in chief is M.R. McLean, assisted by Messrs Norval King* Daniel, Davis,

Waltemeyer, and Theo Geer.

The first division will form on Pennsylvania avenue, (foot of the capital,) right resting on second street where it will wait, the arrival of the second division. The first division embraces the committee of arraignments. The employees of the currency bureau, Columbia typographical Society, book binders, stone cutters, bricklayers, plasters, house carpenters, painters and sheet iron workers, cabinet makers, coach makers, harness makers, arsenal employees, wood workers, Arifle and shell department.

The second division will form on Virginia Avenue, (Navy Yard avenue) right resting on 8th street, and take up the line of march at 6 ½ o’clock, and proceed by 8th street to Pennsylvania avenue, and will be joined at the foot of the capital by the first division. The second division is composed of the employees of the Washington Laboratory Ordnance Gun carriages, Iron Molders, Copper Rolling mill, Boiler Makers, Pattern Makers, Blacksmith, Government Repair

Shop, and Laborers Washington Navy yard. [Alexander brother in law]






Executive Mansion

Washington D.C. November 25, 1865



Taylor A.H.M.

Adjutant Generals Office

Applicant for appointment as 2nd Lieutenant. Regular Army,

“August 3rd Referred to the secretary of War” Who will permit this applicant to

“Appear before the Board” and if “competent have him appointed.

A.A.G.















It seemed like Alexander has jumped through all the hoops the War department has thrown at him in his quest to become a 2nd Lieutenant in the” Regular Army, but sometimes there is always one more” I to ” to cross, the following Statement made by Alexander is self-explanatory



.

Washington D.C.

July 21, 1865

His Excellency

The President of the United States.

Honorable A. Johnson



Sir,

I beg to state briefly, what I desire, and I assure your Excellency if the regular channels had not failed to secure me what I consider a matter of justice, this intrusion would not be made. I am a candidate for appointment as a 2nd Lieutenant Regular Infantry, and the Original application made over two years ago, when I was a Sergeant U.S. Infantry, has not been decided to this date. Since my original application, I have been made a citizen clerk, designed as a promotion, by the Adjutant General in his office.

My examination was ordered a few days since, on the recommendation of the Lieutenant General, by honorable W. Dana, Asset Sect of War, but before I was examined, on the very morning of the examination a telegram was received by the president of the board, (Brig General Graham), at Annapolis Md, revoking the order of examination and instructing me to report back at the Adjutant Generals office.

Upon returning, I learned that Mr. Dana, in sending me as a citizen, before the board, although formally a noncommissioned officer of the army, had exceeded his authority and that it would be necessary for my papers to be submitted to Honorable Mr. Stanton and that he must give the order etc.

My papers have however been filed by order of Brig General Townsend, A.A.G. Who has the formal presentation of this class of cases, to the Honorable secretary, on the grounds that not being a soldier I cannot properly expect that promotion as an officer, which is designed to belong only to enlisted men in the Army

I beg you to glance at the accompanying papers, and your Excellency will see how unjust this action of General Townsend is and how inconsistent the objection presented, when it is a patent fact, that enlistments are made constantly of young men so as to bring them under the authority and power of the secretary, to appoint them commissioned officers.



I submit, whatever the position I hold in this office, and to which I have been promoted through the several grades, should be used against as an argument against my promotion as an officer, which would have been my right if had been in the ranks the whole time; and further, whatever the character of the service rendered by me in this department were not equally as valuable and important to the general Government as any could possibly had rendered under an enlistment. April 7, 1861. I enlisted into the business of the late war. I gave to the government a company of men, which cost me over 1,600 dollars, not one-dollar equivalent ever received by me

I have served as private, sergeant, and was in several engagements prior to entering this office: Sept 7, 1862. I have always tried to do my duty and with what success, please read my recommendations herewith.



I beg your Excellency to make an order for my behalf as follows. “The secretary of War is here by granted the necessary authority and will send immediately Mr. Taylor, late sergeant U.S.A., before the board of examiners at Annapolis, Md for his examination as to his fitness for a position of a Second Lieutenant U.S. Infantry and if recommended by said board for promotion, will be appointed as recommended.”

Something like the above is required and you are Excellency will see that I wish no more exercise of your authority. For my appointment hinges upon my examination and if found competent and worthy of the promotion sought, surely it is not against the interest of the Government to commission me, when there are at this date some 300 vacancies in the line in the

Grade of 2nd Lieutenant.

Leaving my case with earnest petition for favorable action.

I have the Honor to remain

With profound respect

Your obedient servant

Chief Clerk Col Vincent’s

Bureau A.G.O. Office

Late Sergeant U.S.A. A.H.M. Taylor











Executive Mansion Washington D.C. November 25th, 1865 Taylor A.H.M.

Adjutant Generals Office

Applicant for appointment for as 2nd Lieutenant. Regular Army

“August 3 referred to Secretary of War.” “Who will permit the applicant to appear” before the

“board “and if ‘’competent have him appointed “

Signed

Andrew Johnson

A True Copy A. J. long Major A.A.G, President







In Alexander’s first attempt of becoming an Officer his military record showed the results of his appearance before the examining board, but those of the second examination were not in his military records. (If there were any). I am beginning to wonder if the battle between Secretary of War Stanton and President Johnson may have played a part in the delays that seemed to hinder his application for promotion.



The following letter from Alexander written in August 1865 to the Secretary of War Stanton may indicate a reluctance of the secretary to approve Alex’s application just to spite the President.

Washington D.C.

August. 7, 1865







Honorable. E.M. Stanton

Secretary of War

Sir,

I have the honor to apply for a 1ST Lieutenancy in a regiment of colored troops.



This application is made with view to remove the difficulty growing out of his Excellency,

President Johnson’s order for my promotion to the regular Infantry and which the honorable secretary, cannot consistent with established regulations execute.

It will be clear, that this appointment herewith applied for, will arranged satisfactorily my case, and if there be any profit or benefits to the service from my connection with it as an officer it will be attained as speedily from the appointment as the other.

It may not be improper here to state, that I trust my mind will be so securely established in the position proposed, as to bring me someday, hereafter properly before the department for the honorable promotion as an officer of regulars.



I have the honor to be sir

Your obedient servant

A.H.M. Taylor

503 12th street.





MEMO



Honorable Secretary of war

After your objection as stated this am, I concluded with a view to make the matter satisfactory, and to bring the case at once to a close to wit. This application, which I think, will at once strike you as honorable and one you can approve.

With great respect

Your obedient servant

A.H.M. Taylor, August 7th, 1865.

Nine Months Later this letter from the Adjutant General, announces that Alexander has been given a commission, of regular troops in the U.S. Army





April 25th, 1866

Adjutant General United States Army



Sir I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 24th instant, concerning a commission as 2nd Lieutenant, 17th U.S. Infantry and beg to signify my acceptance of the same. Agreeable to instructions, I would report my age as twenty- six (26) years, residence at present 496 12th street this city. Home, New York City I was born in Manchester, England March 7,

1840, came to this country when about three years of age and am a naturalized citizen of the

United States. Further, please find herewith enclosed: ‘’Oath of Office’’ duly executed, I have the honor to be, respectfully your Obedient Servant

Alexander A.H.M Taylor 2nd Lieutenant 17th U.S. Infantry.



May 11, 1866





With commission in hand Alexander reports to his first duty station at Harts Island New York

Harbor. Adjutant General

United States Army.



Sir: I have the honor to request this am, extension of the time named in special order, no 191 Headquarters U.S. Army, A.G.O. April 26, 1866 for fifteen days.

This indulgence is asked on account of family matters, which require my personal attention.

I have the honor to be,

Very respectfully

Your obedient servant

Present address: 496th Washington D. C. A. H. M. Taylor









Harts Island N.Y.H.

May 31, 1866 Adjutant General

U.S.A. Army

Washington D.C.

Sir, I have the honor to report my arrival at this post, for duty, under operation of S.O. number 191 April 26, 1866, A.G.O. War Department.



I have the honor to be sir

Very respectfully

Your obedient servant 2nd Lieutenant A.H.M. Taylor











From the Seventeenth Regiment of Infantry.

By Captain C.ST. J. CHUBB, 17TH U.S. Infantry.

Recruiting was actively carried on and by February 1, 1866, the twenty-fourth company was organized. In March, Companies E. F and H, Second Battalion, were sent to Michigan and stationed first at Detroit Barracks, then to Fort Wayne and Gratiot, until October, they were sent to Kansas and Missouri, from whence, in November, they were sent to Texas. In April, the regiment was ordered to Texas, regimental and all Battalion Headquarters. Three companies of the first, two of the second and all of the third Battalion leaving early in the month, going by sea and arriving in the latter part of the month at Galveston.

The Companies that remained at Hart’s Island were those that had been greatly reduced during service and not yet recruited. Early in July 2 of these (A and D First Battalion) followed.

Alexander was Acting Assistant Quartermaster and assistant commissary of substance of the first

Battalion aboard the steamer “Texas” bound for Galveston, the cholera broke out aboard the ship and on arrival; the troops were put in quarantine on the beach at Galveston where they remained until November.

This disease breaking out also at Hart’s Island the remaining six companies were on July 20, changed to David’s island, which place they left October 20th and joined at Galveston, November 1st. During the epidemic, the regiment lost Major Plimpton and a large number of men.

Soon after arriving in Texas a number of companies were sent to different points and commenced that most disagreeable work known as “Reconstruction Duty.”











Subsistence

In 1866, congress authorized the Army to sell food items, at cost, to Officers and enlisted men, starting July 1, 1867. These sales were at every Army post with a subsistence warehouse. Sale areas were simply a table or counter in the warehouse, and the official stock list was only 82 items.

Headquarters District of Texas

Galveston Texas September 25, 1866

Special Order No. 8

Extract



Second Lieutenant A.H.M. Taylor, 17th U.S. Infantry is hereby detailed as acting commissary of Subsistence of Galveston, and will report without delay to Brevet Major general. John P.

Hawking’s, U.S. For instructions.

Brevet Major general Hawkins will transfer all subsistence stores at the above-named post, for which he is responsible, to Lieutenant Taylor, taking proper receipt thereof.

By: Brevet Major General Getty

George C. Potwin

1st Lieutenant A.A.C. A.A.A











.Official

Galveston Texas Sept 30 ,1866

Official copy

A.H.M. Taylor

2nd Lieutenant 17th U.S. Infantry A.C.S.



Office Commissary of Subsistence

Galveston, Texas, Dec 1, 1866

Bvit Major General Lorenzo Thomas.

Adjutant General, U.S.A.

Washington D.C. Sir.

I have the honor to report agreeable with provisions of Par, 468-revised regular Army 1863,

A.H.M. Taylor 2nd lieu 17th Infantry

that I am stationed at Galveston Texas, and having been relieved on the 30th ultimo, as acting Commissary of substance at this depot and post, I am now closing up the business growing out of said position, for the past month.

I have the honor to be, sir your obedient servant



The United States, the term reconstruction era has two senses: the first covers the complete history of the entire U. S. from 1865 to 1877 following the Civil War; the second sense focuses

on the transformation Very respectfully



History of the Southern United States from 1863 to 1877, as directed by Washington, with the reconstruction of state and society.

From 1863 to 1869 took a moderate position design



The views of Lincoln and Johnson prevailed until the election of 1866, which enabled the Radicals to take control of policy, remove former Confederates from power, and enfranchise the

Freedmen.



A republican coalition came to power in nearly all of the southern states and set out to transform the society by setting up a free labor economy, with support from the Army and the Freedman’s bureau The Radicals, upset at President Johnson’s opposition to Congressional Reconstruction, filed impeachment charges but the action failed by one vote in the senate. President U.S. Grant supported radical Reconstruction, using both the U.S. Justice Department and the U.S. Military to suppress white insurgency and support Republican reconstruction.

* Wikipedia


















The Freedman’s Bureau

1865-78

Brevet Major General Charles Griffin

January – September 1867

“I should as soon [have] looked to the English crown to leave the establishment of peace in Ireland to Fenians as to see our nation leave the reconstruction of the southern states to those that tried to destroy the Government.”

Brevet Major General Charles Griffin to O.O. Howard, June 17, 1867.







The Griffin Era



After a brief stint as head of the department of Maine, Griffin took command at Galveston of the military district and Freedmen bureau of Texas in December of 1866. Under General Phil Sheridan, senior officer of Louisiana and Texas, Griffin was quickly embroiled in Reconstruction

politics.

Circu

Headquarters District of Texas

Galveston, Texas, April 15, 1867

Under the Act of Congress, passed March 2, 1867. To provide for the most efficient government of the rebel States, and the supplementary Act thereto, the district commander is required to protect all persons in there right of person, and property, suppress insurrection, disorder, and violence, and to punish, or cause to be punished, all disturbers of the public peace and criminals.



Jurisdiction of offences may be taken by the local civil tribunals, but where it is evident that the local civil tribunals will not impartially try cases brought before them, and render decisions according to the law and evidence. The immediate military commander will arrest, or cause the arrest of, offenders and criminals, and hold them in confinement, presenting their case in writing, with all the facts secured, to these headquarters, with a view to the said parties being brought before and tried by a military commission or tribunal, as provided in section F of the military

bill.

By command of Brevet Major-General Griffin

A.H.M. Taylor, Second Lieutenant 17th U.S. Infantry



Under the reconstruction acts. He moved to disqualify antebellum officeholders who had supported the Confederacy, and surveyed the state for Unionist replacements. At the same time, he enforced the “iron- clad oath” (requiring men to swear they had never given service to the confederacy) as the basis for jury selection in Texas.



Unsatisfied with Governor James W. Throckmorton’s lack of corporation in carrying out the mandate of Congressional Reconstruction, especially conferring of political and civil rights on freedmen. Griffin persuaded General Sheridan to remove Throckmorton from office.



A Republican and unionist, Elisha M. Pease, replaced Throckmorton and worked with Griffin to remove a number of other state and county officeholders as “impediments to reconstruction.”

Although Griffin’s policies aroused the ire of many Texan at the time, the record suggests that duty, as he saw it under Reconstruction acts, rather than partisanship, was the primary motive for his actions against democratic officeholders.

The bureau was most successful in its educational efforts. At the end of 1865, sixteen schools were serving just over 1,000 By July of 1870, the last month of the bureau’s activities, 150 schools enrolled 9,086 black students. As other areas of their work, the bureau had faced fierce and determined opposition on the part of some white Texans, who burned school buildings, harassed teachers, and otherwise obstructed progress. Gradually, however opposition declined. In his last report, the superintendent of the Texas school reported that the “burning of school house and maltreatment of teachers so common at the commencement of the bureaus operations, have almost entirely ceased.”

Even historians generally critical of the Freedman’s Bureau have conceded that the education of blacks in Texas would not have been possible so soon without its efforts.







Headquarters, District of Texas

Galveston, Texas Jan. 12, 1867



Circular No. 1.

For the information and guidance of officers of the Army within this district, having command of posts, or acting as Sub-Agents in the Freedmen’s bureau, the following extract, taken from a letter to the commanding officer, Post of Victoria, Texas, from these Headquarters, dated

December 26, 1866, is hereby published.



(EXTRACT)



By the sub-Assistant Commander at Victoria, Texas to the effect that he is refused military assistance by you under the operation of the letter of General Gram, nullifying General Order,

No. 3, current series, Adjutant General’s Office. War Department.

The military authorities are required to aid in preserving good order, and the enforcement of the laws of the United States, wherever willfully and persistently violated, provided the civil courts are indifferent and derelict in their duty regarding such violations, and the life, liberty or property of any citizen is jeopardized thereby, and adequate protection and security from the civil authorities cannot be obtained, or is denied.

You will see from the reading of the President’s Proclamation of August 20th, 1866, upon which General Grant’s letter is based, that the principle of military aid, as above indicated, is recognized in the following words, viz.:” Whereas, adequate provision has been made by military orders to enforce the execution of the acts of congress, aid the civil authorities, and secure obedience to the Constitution and laws of the Unite States within the state of Texas, if a resort to military force for such purpose should at any time become necessary, &c. “

The Freedman’s Bureau, though organized for a specific purpose, has general features growing out of the act creating it, (passed July 16, 1866,) in certain obligations imposed upon the military authorities, and enjoined with particular significance.

There is also an intimate connection between it and the act passed April 9, 1866, “known as the Civil Rights Bill,” under which any attempt to delay and defend the objects or purpose of its Legislation becomes a matter of consideration, and requiring the action of the military commander, being clearly indicated in section 14 of the former act, and in section 9 of the latter act mentioned.

Where points are presented involving new principals or making doubtful the relations and obligations of the military, all such cases will be presented without delay, giving full details, to these headquarters, for the needful instructions.

Cases not admitting of delay in the usual form of correspondence, before action is taken, will be acted upon under the military powers of the acts cited, with a view to the best interests of the public service, and the same reported in writing, with a full history of the case, immediately, to the district commander

Due regard must be had to the action required in that class of cases named in general orders

No. 26. Current series, Adjutant General’s office, War Department, copy enclosed, viz: “That hereafter, when after offences committed by civilians are to be tried, where civil tribunals are in existence which can try them, their cases are not authorizes to be, and will not be brought before military court martial or commission but will be committed to the proper civilian authorizes.



Please acknowledge receipt by mail to these headquarters



By command of Bvit Major. General Griffin

George C. Potwin, Bvit Captain, and A.A.A. General

















Headquarters District of Texas

Galveston Texas Jan 14, 1867



General orders

No 1



At his own, request Brevet Captain George C Potwin, First Lieutenant 19th U.S. Colored

Cavalry, assigned to duty with the 9th U.S. Cavalry, by special orders. No 4 current series Department of the Gulf is hereby relieved from further duty at these Headquarters, and will report in person to the Assistant Adjutant General Department of the Gulf, at New Orleans, La, for further orders.

Second Lieutenant A.H.M. Taylor, 17th Infantry, is hereby announced as the Acting Assistant

Adjutant General of the District of Texas, and will be respected and obeyed accordingly.

Lieutenant Taylor will at once assume the duties of this position.

The General commanding, in thus relieving Captain Potwin from a purely staff position to enable him to join his command in service, thanks him for the personal and official service rendered during the period he has been acting Assistant Adjutant General of this district; regards the spirit which inclines him to prefer service with his regiment to staff duty, as justly to be commended, and an augury of success in his future professional career.



Charles Griffin

Brevet Major General, Commanding.

A.H.M. Taylor, Acting Assistant Adjutant General







Headquarters district of Texas

Galveston, Texas. Feb 4th, 1867 Brevet Major General. E.D. Townsend U.S.A.

Adjutant General U.S.A.

Washington D.C.

General: Agreeable with requirements of Par, 468, rev regular Army 1863. I have the honor to report myself on detached duty as Assistant Acting Adjutant General, District of Texas. Headquarters, Galveston Texas, by virtue of General Order No 1, current series from these

Headquarters. Copy herewith enclosed.

I have the honor to be General Very respectfully 2nd Lieutenant Infantry

March 22, 1867 AHM TAYOR



We are indebted to Lieutenant A.H.M. Taylor U.S. Army, for the following dispatched intelligence from Fort Clark via San Antonio received at district Headquarters, Galveston, yesterday on twelfth instant, 38 men attacked a permanent camp of Indians 1,500 strong, on the river near Fort Lancaster, fought four hours, killing and wounding between 20 and 30 Indians. Lost so far one killed, two wounded and four missing. Captured a Mexican boy who said they are Comanche’s, Apaches, and Kickapoo’s. Six Companies started in pursuit immediately and will probably overtake and annihilate them. Captain John Wallace of the Forth U.S. Calvary commanded the attacking party *from newspapers.com







Brevet Major General Lorenzo Thomas

Adjutant General U.S. Army

Washington D.C.

General; I have the honor to report myself on attached duty as aid-de-camp to Brevet Major General Charles Griffin, U.S. Army District of Texas and special instructions at this post, under letters from Headquarters, District of Texas,

July 15, 1867, special order No 96 c.s. Headquarters Fifth Military District

I have the honor to be

Very respectful you’re obedient Servant , A.H.M Taylor





The Yellow fever epidemic of 1867 in Galveston and the surrounding area, became the worst ever in Texas. The following letter from the chief Medical Officer, Headquarters District of Galveston April 16, 1867.

Lieutenant A.H.M. Taylor, 17th U.S. Infantry, Acting Assistant Adjutant General, and District of Texas LIEUTENANT: I have the honor to invite the attention of the general commanding to the subject of sanitary and quarantine regulations of this city, in anticipation of the coming months.

To preserve the health of the city, it is absolutely necessary that strict sanitation rules be adopted and rigidly enforced without delay. I would respectfully recommend that the city of Galveston be perfectly cleaned by the filling up of all low places in the street, where the water stands more than twenty-four hours; that all lots or parcels of ground in the populous parts of the city be also filled, so no water will remain thereon; that bone, leather, rags, as well all dead animals, be removed from the streets and alleys; that the streets and alleys be cleaned, and all deposits removed before 7 o’clock a.m. daily ; that the sulphate of iron or other disinfectants be used in all privies and alleys, where there is, or has been, any accumulation of filth; that ashes, rubbish and water-tight boxes or carts, and carried without the limits of the city daily, and also the sinks and privies be cleaned at regular intervals of at least one month, and a disinfectant used at all times; that lime be spread over the alleys and streets where there has been any mold or green scum; and that all animals, such as hogs, goats and cows be kept out of the city limits or confined in lots, where the offal from such can be collected and removed before 7 o’clock a.m..

This being done, I would further recommend that, according to the ordinances of the city, a strict quarantine be established, to take effect on an after the first day of June, upon all vessels coming from foreign ports, or from cities in this state or any other State where there is known to prevail yellow fever or cholera, and all vessels with small pox, typhus or typhoid fever on board, or known to have been on board during the passage.

I respectfully state that Dr. Greensville Dowell, health physician at Galveston has been consulted about the foregoing measures, and has approved of the same.

I am respectfully, your obedient servant.

George Taylor

Brevet Lieutenant colonel and surgeon U.S.A. Chief Medical Officer.









Mayor’s Office, Galveston, Texas.

April 18th, 1867.

Lieutenant A.H.M. Taylor. 17th Infantry

Acting Assistant Adjutant General District of Texas: Sir—I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of official communication from Brevet Major General Griffin. United States Army, commanding. Inclosing a communication from Colonel Taylor, surgeon and chief medical officer, relating to sanitary and quarantine regulations for the city and post of Galveston, for the coming summer months and would respectfully beg you to inform the General Commanding, that it shall secure the early attention of the Mayor and Board of Aldermen, as far as practicable.

Shall be the rule of action for the board of health (soon to be appointed) and the Sanitary

Committee. I have the honor to be, sir. Very respectfully

J.E. Havilland, Mayor





MILITARY ORDER.

Headquarters district of Texas

Galveston, Texas May 1, 1867

Circular No. 4- the attention of all persons is invited to the fact that full and perfect liberty must be afforded. No advantage must be taken of the working of labor contracts or any state law rendered to the newly enfranchised class of citizens, and all laborers, to presents themselves before Boards of Registration when the same shall have been appointed and the registration of voters commenced.

To refuse either colored or white voter the time necessary to secure registration: shall any voter be neither prevented, intimidated, or persuaded from exercising the right of suffrage agreeable to the laws of the United States. Any interference shall constitute a misdemeanor, and the offender will be subject to arrest and trial before a military Commission.

By command of Bvt. Major General Griffin Second Lieutenant U.S. Infantry. A.A.A. General

A.H.M. Taylor





From the Galveston News.

Headquarters District of Texas,

Galveston Texas, May 13, 1867.



Circular No 15.

There being to be a general opinion throughout the state of Texas, that the operation of the Military Government Bill passed March 2, 1867 relieves the citizens thereof from the payment of their usual taxes; and it is appearing further that certain citizens, holding to this opinion, have refused payment of the said taxes, it is hereby ordered, that all taxes now due, or to become due be paid as heretofore, to the proper civil officer.

By command of Brevet Major General Griffin.



A.H.M. Taylor

2nd Lieutenant

A.A. General



In his effort to secure experience teachers in July, he sent his acting assistant adjutant general

A.H.M. Taylor to the east coast to see if he could use his “Washington” connections to help implement his educational plan of using U.S. Army officers as teachers in Texas.

Stopping in Washington, where he conferred with General Howard. Taylor discovered that most Military officials did not care if the freedmen got even “a few crumbs of knowledge.” Taylor went on to say, “I feel very sad at the want of consideration given to the freedmen in their present ignorant condition.” He presented Griffin’s plan to use military men to teach in Texas, only to be refused. He went on to New York City to gain support from the societies headquartered there. Suddenly, Taylor’s trip was cut short by unexpected news. General Charles Griffin was dead.

Without Griffin, the command structure of the Texas bureau collapsed. Even with his presence, the yellow fever epidemic would have severely limited bureau programs. As it was, the command of the bureau devolved onto the shoulders of the only staff officer able to get on his feet, Second Lieutenant Charles Garretson. The Lieutenant had assumed job after job all summer until he had now rolled the entire headquarters staff in to one. He telegraphed Howard and begged for relief from the incessant paper work Howard excused him from the monthly reports and informed him of his replacement on Oct 23. The weary soul was returned to his regimental

duties.

(From the book overreached on all sides by William L Richter.)



Alexander returned to the command at Galveston in early November only to find that the fever had decimated the headquarters. In a later statement, Alexander said that he does not know how he managed through those terrible times.

In September1867, Alexander is promoted to first Lieutenant and continued Bureau work at Camp Hempstead and Camp Houston, and as aid-de-camp to General Reynolds who had replaced Griffin. Reynolds moved Headquarters from Galveston to Austin further inland and away from the epidemic.

Alexander performed the normal duties of an Infantry Oficer among his other military duties.

Adjutant General’s Offifce

June 11th, 1868

Case of Lieutenant A.H.M. Taylor

17th U.S. Infantry



A.H.M. Taylor, was appointed from civilian life a second Lieutenant in the 17th Infantry to date

March 16th, 1866, and promoted 1st Lieutenant September 1, 1867

He accepted April 25, 1866 and remains on duty with it until detailed for duty as Acting Assistant Adjutant General, District of Texas, December 10, 1866. He remained on duty at

Headquarters District of Texas until July 17,1867 when by special order No 94 from Headquarters 5th military District he was ordered to Washington, D.C. on special duty connected with the Freedmen’s Bureau By special order No. 171 War Department, Bureau of Refugees,

Freedman, and abandoned lands, November 2nd 1867, he was directed to report to the Adjutant General and by special order No. 450, November 7, 1867 from this office, he was directed to join his regiment November 30, 1867.

November 25, 1867 while in route to his regiment, he was detailed for duty as Acting

Assistant Adjutant General 5th Military District and continues on that duty.

He now requests, (in view of his being about to be relieved and ordered to his regiment.) that he be granted a leave of absence for sixty days, to take effect July 1, 1968. States that he greatly prefers to join his regiment from a leave of absence to being ordered to join from Headquarters 5th Military District and that it will be necessary for him to purchase an almost entire new outfit for frontier services, which would be embarrassing for him to do at this time.

Disapproved by the Commanding General 5th military District, who remarks that he sees nothing in the case of this young Officer why leave should be granted, and that the very character of his application is insufficient explanation of its disapproval.

Lieutenant Taylor belongs to Company “B “stationed at Austin, Texas the Officers of which are serving are as following; Captain, E.P. Pearson Jr, (on general recruiting service.) 1st

Lieutenant, A.H.M. Taylor, Second Lieutenant J.A.A. Robinson (on escort duty.) Company “B” 17th Infantry is temporally commanded by 2nd Lieutenant James W. Leatherbury of company” I” same regiment.



Adjutant Generals Office: Washington June 11, 1868

Leave not approved at present but will be considered if application is made and properly approved after Lt Taylor has been with the company. By order of the secretary of war R.D. Townsend, A.A.G.

Send letter to Lieutenant Taylor. [fold3]







Military Items

July 1, 1868

--------

The following orders were issued June 29, from Headquarters Fifth Military District: Leave of absence for twenty days is hereby granted to 2nd Lieutenant, Charles King Jr. 1st artillery.

Pursuant to instructions, by telegraph from the General Commanding the Army, of June 29,

1868, leave of absence for sixty days is hereby granted to 2nd Lieutenant. Allen Smith 1ST

Infantry.

1st Lieutenant. A.H.M. Taylor, 17th Infantry, will take charge of Twenty-one recruits of the 4th and 9th Cavalry, in route to their regiments in Texas, and turn them over to the Commanding

General, District of Texas at Austin, to be forwarded to their proper stations. [www.newspapers.com/image/# 25529792 Times-picayune (New Orleans)]









After a prolonged delay at Richmond, Rolfe arrived at Colombia in early December. He was in office only two weeks before he received a visit from inspector Sinclair, who relieved him from duty for being “addicted to intemperance”; Sinclair said that Rolfe had taken nineteen days to reach Colombia from Austin usually a five-day journey.

He had been drunk much of the time since he arrived, Sinclair went on, and Rolfe “associates had been the vilest of rebels and the vilest of men- barroom loafers and common drunkards” he had addressed while drunk, called himself a “southern man,” and done no real business. It would be better to have no sub assistant commissioner at Colombia than to put up with Rolfe, whom Sinclair called a “rascal” and an embarrassment to all persons.

Second Lieutenant J.P. Richardson acting on orders from General Reynolds sympathized with Rolfe, but had his duty to perform and said he was a disgrace to the bureau, and his services were no longer necessary. Lieutenant Taylor also turned against Rolfe, thanked Richardson, for his frankness, and apologized for his families embarrassing relations. [From the book Overreached on all sides, by William L. Richter.]





CHAPTER SIX





Early in 1869, the regiment was ordered to transfer its men to the 24th Infantry, and the officers and surplus non-commissioned officers were to proceed to Fort Columbus, N. Y. H. for recruitment duty. Before this could be carried out, and owing to an Act of Congress reducing the army, the order was revoked, and soon after another was issued for the regiment to proceed to

Virginia and there have, the 44th Infantry consolidated with it. The movement commenced in

April and by the latter part of May, all had arrived at Camp Grant, Richmond Virginia. Companies H.I. and K were broken up and about the same time the 44th Infantry was consolidated into three companies which on the first of June, became H, I and K of the seventeenth, General Heinemann was retired and General T.L. Crittenden assigned as Colonel in his stead.

The companies were stationed at various points in Virginia and continued on reconstruction duty. There being some trouble in North Carolina. Lt. Col. Hayman and four companies were sent there early in 1870. (Alexander.)

The following report found along with many others, in Google Books are probably the more socially acceptable one in our times, I had no need to copy all of them, anyone should be able to get from this report how the feelings of the south were toward the Government and the

Freedmen.

Headquarters Post of Graham

Graham, N.C. March 6, 1870

Colonel: I have the honor to report the action of the Ku-Klux in this vicinity since my last report. They visited the company shops on Friday night, and went to the house of mister Boon, the gentleman whose life they threatened the night before; not finding him at home they went away without doing any damage Mister Boon returned from Raleigh this morning and has just left this camp. He says he is afraid to go home. The meeting held yesterday by the citizen did not amount to anything; there was quite a large gathering their object was to denounced the action of the mob, or gang of outlaws and to pass resolutions of that kind, and to have them published to make people think they was only an individual so as to prevent any report of it; but finding it had been reported and troops already here they talked the matter over outside of the courthouse and did not even call the meeting to order. Most of them either belonged to that gang or were there friends; the mass of them were very indignant and the sight of the solders. Moore the leader of the gang, told Mr. Braham, a loyal man, that it was the fault of five men in this town this ease, that the damn blue-coated sons of bitches were brought here. He managed to get into a fight with Mr. Braham before he left, and beat him very bad; the people tell me one of his legs is broken. I have not seen him since. I was told yesterday of several murders they had committed within the last few months and none of them were reported to authorities.



Two colored men came to me yesterday and told me they had not slept in their own houses for over a month, they are having been taken out some time before and whipped. A few nights ago, they left a coffin at Esquire McAdams’s door, fired three shots, and then rode off, they left a note on his gate saying, “beware ye, guilty. ‘’

also saying if the coffin did not fit, they would bring him one on Friday night that would. I enclose one their fine specimens that was put up on the door of the clerk’s office in the courthouse.

The colored school is broken up and the teacher left town. They gave out notice yesterday that they would call in after one white man and one colored man to hang them. Many of the citizens thought they intended to attack the camp; we were up and under arms all night praying that they might come; but morning came and no Kuku. I have a sufficient force to keep them out of town. However, unless there are some steps taken to arrest them, they can go about the country committing depredations with impunity, it is my opinion the only way they can be found out is through detectives and troops stationed at two or three different places with instructions to fire upon and capture any gang of them they may see.

I was at a loss last night weather to attack them. If they come into town and did not offer to molest me or not; but I have made up my mind if an armed body of men came in disguise, weather peaceable or not to arrest them; and if they refused to surrender to fire on them. Knowing full well that they are a gang of outlaws, this gang never disturbs the peace more than one hour at a time, and in the dead hour of night. They steal in on their victims, gag them, take them out and hang them, even the nearest neighbor would not know for some time. I think the presences of troops will have a good effect I have no doubt but they would have been in here last night, had it not been for our presence here.

Very respectfully your obedient servant

2nd Lieutenant 17 U.S. Infantry

C.P. McTaggar Colonel S.B. Hayman

Commanding post at Raleigh N.C. First Lieutenant A.H.M. Taylor, Adjutant



The next three years are best described by Alexander in a letter to the Secretary of War, W.W.

Belknap.



March 25, 1870



Honorable W.W. Belknap

Secretary of War

Present



Sir.

I have the honor to submit the following statement in explanation of my case.



In April last passed, I was on duty at Raleigh N.C. and at the time, my Regiment was ordered to the frontier. General Campy received orders to select an officer to remain in charge of the public buildings and property at Raleigh, who was charged with the sale of the same, it having decided by the president to remove troops from the state of North Carolina, and break up the interior Military Posts.

Raleigh had been an important supply depot for many years and the public buildings etc. were of an expensive character. The officer selected for this duty was myself, while engaged in the preliminary steps to a public sale; I received a telegram from General McDowell to stop all further proceedings as it was intended to maintain the post. Soon afterwards, four companies of the 8th Infantry reported, and I was relieved and instructed to report at Richmond Va. General Campy by this time had left and I came on to Washington.

Upon arrival here, I found my wife very low with fever and her life despaired of, she had been recently confined and typhoid fever attacked her. I was allowed under a telegram from General

Camby as a whitness then going on in the U.S Ssenate.

.

SAN-DOMINGO





The evening after New Year’s Day, 1870, President Ulysses S. Grant wrapped himself in his winter cloak, strode out of the White House, and walked across Lafayette Square, alone, to call on Senator Charles Sumner of Massachusetts. Sumner had first come to Congress in 1851; now, 19 years later, he was not only one of the most powerful, most influential men in the Senate, but he was revered among Abolitionists and African American freedmen as a living martyr.



In 1856, during a heated debate in the Senate on the proposed Kansas-Nebraska Act, Sumner was attacked by Congressman Preston Brooks of South Carolina. Using his cane, Brooks beat

Sumner over the head until he fell bleeding and unconscious to the floor. Sumner’s injuries were so severe it took three years for him to recover.



On the evening of January 2, President Grant was willing to do what no American president had ever done — to go in person, unannounced and unescorted, to make a personal appeal to a senator for his support. Sumner was at home, dining with two newspapermen. The sudden, unexpected arrival of the president surprised the senator and his guests, but Sumner recovered his poise, asked Grant to join them at the table, and offered him a glass of sherry. Grant took the seat, but declined the wine. Then he explained the purpose for his call. He wanted the treaty for the annexation of Santo Domingo to pass, as chairman of the Senate’s Foreign Relations

Committee, Sumner’s support for the treaty was essential. Sumner replied, “I expect, Mr.

President, to support the measures of your administration.”



Grant was content. He wished the gentlemen a good evening and walked back across Lafayette

Square, believing that he had received Sumner’s assurance that he would back the Santo Domingo treaty.



According to the terms of the proposed treaty, the United States would annex (“purchase” might be a more accurate word) the Caribbean island of Santo Domingo for $1.5 million, plus an honorarium of $100,00 paid directly to the president of Santo Domingo, Buenaventura Baez, who was an enthusiastic supporter of the annexation. Grant’s motive was controversial: after five years of vigilante violence in the old Confederacy, in which African Americans were the frequent target of such groups as the Ku Klux Klan, the president had come to the conclusion that white Southerners would never live peacefully beside their former black slaves. The prudent solution, it seemed to Grant, was to relocate the more than four million recently freed African

Americans outside the continental United States where they would be safe and free to prosper. Grant truly meant well, but today it is impossible to read of a president planning to relocate millions of African Americans and not cringe.



It must have been disheartening for the freedmen that President Grant’s solution to the killings and other outrages they suffered at the hands of the Klan was not an all-out effort to enforce the law, but rather a scheme to encourage the victims to leave the country — as though the upheaval in the former Confederacy was all their fault, or nothing could be done about it. The debate over the annexation of Santo Domingo brought out a rash of nasty, hateful, elitist rhetoric, even from reformers in the North who had once sympathized with the plight of the slaves. It marked the beginning of the end of the egalitarian ideal of Reconstruction.



When the Santo Domingo treaty was presented to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Chairman Sumner did not obstruct it but let it come to the Senate for debate. In addition, there he buried it. Standing before his fellow senators, Sumner claimed that by acquiring Santo Domingo the United States would saddle itself with a nation where political upheavals were almost a daily occurrence; he characterized Santo Domingo’s President Baez as “a political jackal,” and as for President Grant, Sumner damned him for bullying an impoverished, militarily weak nation handing over its independence to the United States, for attempting to graft an “imperial system” onto the American form of government. Then, working himself into one of those oratorical florid moments for which he was famous, Sumner charged that if America annexed Santo Domingo it would be the first step in “a dance of blood.” (Whatever that meant).

In June 1870, the Senate voted on the Santo Domingo treaty. Deadlocked at 28-28, the treaty failed to win the two-thirds required for approval. Senator Sumner had won.



Grant felt betrayed, but Sumner always claimed that his reply the night the president called upon him had been non-committal. It could be read that way, but from President Grant’s perspective, the senator from Massachusetts had sandbagged him.



The scheme to ship the former slaves to Santo Domingo was in essence a public statement by the president of the United States that blacks and whites could not live peaceably in the same communities, that the acts of violence committed by the Klan and other vigilante groups like them were regrettable but understandable, and that he, Ulysses S. Grant, would not defend the rights of black Americans nor ensure that they enjoyed the full protection of the law.

[Britannica blog top ten mistakes of U.S. Presidents]



This duty ended I started to my Regiment-serving in the Dakota Territory; feeling almost crazed with apprehension, as to my wife’s illness terminating fatally.

Dr Norris was her physician and he had but little hope of her recovery at all, and if she did, he was fearful it would leave her with impaired mind; and all of the family shared in this dreadful fear, that in her terrible sickness, she would become deranged. The doctor had informed me that if possible she should be taken to the Gulf as soon as possible but on my saying to him that this would be impossible for me to do, he said the next best thing was to get her to the coast and he suggested to me to try and affect a transfer to artillery, where I could gain the desired results.

I left Washington on the 7th of July, and on arriving at Chicago, went at once to see General Sheridan with whose staff I had been commanding, and gave him the whole listing of affairs at home. He told me to go on to the company and if a law could be made, to make application through the regular channels, inform him by private note of the fact of the application having gone forward, when he would write a personal letter to the War Department which he had reason to believe would secure the transfer without further trouble to myself or my friends. I followed

General Sheridan’s instructions, but before the paper was out of Dakota, I learned of General

Sheridan’s departure for Europe.

You probably know something of mail facilities In Dakota, it takes a month at the very best to get a letter to or from Washington, sometimes it is shorter, but generally longer. Worried in mind, anxious about my wife, with the loss of two children having buried my little girl of four years while in Texas fresh in my recollection with but scant and tedious means of communicating to, or, receiving information from my home; not knowing but what each mail would bring me the news of my wife’s death would bring, or, the hearing of her loss of mind. All these considerations as pressed upon me, disheartening, and for a time, rendering me almost unable to take any pleasure in or satisfaction in my military duties. I received but few letters from Washington, and very discouraging ones at that, and having without my letters for a period of nearly two months. I wrote a personal letter to General Townsend. I regarded the General as my warm friend, he knew how things were at home, and me and I left it two his judgment to act for me as seemed best.







Dakota Territory

October 17, 1870



General,

I am in receipt of a few lines from my friend Major Babcock, and he thinks, it is not likely that I shall be transferred to the Artillery, there being so many applications of a similar character on file. I desire to say to you as a friend that I shall be glad if you will have, an order made at once, mustering me out under the provisions of the recent act of Congress, as requested in my official communication of twenty August last passed my accounts are all closed with the Government and I am not responsible any property so that no delay will be required

The reason that impel me to this request, are the illness of my wife with slight hope of her recovery for a long time, if ever, and the urgent necessity for my case and attention, as she has now been sick since December last past.

Could I have been transferred to Artillery I thought possibly she would be benefited by a sea coast station and as this perhaps not attainable, I now wish to return home and to remove her to some place that will give her benefit which her attending physician Dr Norris, has informed me as very necessary.

As you are probably aware navigation is closing on the Missouri and if I do not start very soon, I shall have to stay until spring, hence my anxiety for the order of discharge at as early a date as permitted.





A.H.M. Taylor

1st Lieutenant 17th Regiment of Infantry

On 7 November last passed, I received a letter from a relative, stating very encouraging news Doctor Norris regarded her case as promising for recovery and that his former fears about her were greatly lessened, and that there was probably no necessity for my coming home.



















Brigadier General E.D. Townsend

A, G, U.S.A. Washington D.C

Personal

Grand River Agency

Headmasters Military Station









Grand River Agency Dakota

Territory.

November 30, 1870



Special Orders

No. 88



In compliance with special orders number no.300 War Department. A.G.O. Washington D.C. November 7, 1870 announcing that 1ST lieutenant A.H.M. Taylor, 17 U.S. Infantry at his own request, under the provisions of the Act of Congress, approved July 15, 1870. Section 8. Is by direction of the President hereby honorably discharged from the service of the United States. 1st Lieutenant A.H.M. Taylor 17 Infantry, U.S.A, Is therefore relieved from duty at this post. His entire record in the military service up to this date has been honorable and praiseworthy the service loses a capable man an efficient officer and honorable gentleman whose conduct through an extended period of years has been exemplary.

The commanding Officer takes this opportunity to express his regret at losing and the valuable services of this officer and to wish him success and happiness in the future.



C.E. Bennett

Captain Commanding Post

17th Infantry Co “F”



Special order 300 Nov 7, 1870 to be amended to date Dec 1, 1870

Lieutenant Taylor was not relieved from duty nor did he know of his discharge until that date-see special order 88 headquarters military station Grand River agencyDecember1, 1870. (Address S.W. corner of 12th and F street Washington D.C.



Alexander’s Statement continues: I received the order of discharge December 3, 1870 and I need scarcely say how terrible the blow was felt. I started for Sioux City, hoping to reach Washington in time for a reconsideration of the order. I reached the city, just prior to the holidays and since that time to the present, have labored zealously first, for a revocation of the order, second finding that I could not hope to be reinstated .

commissioned, the various positions that I have held, and the Officers records, fully attest I think my character and competency. I served the staff of General Charles Griffin as aid and AAAG department in Texas from the fall of 1866 to the date of that Officers death. Then served in the same capacity on the staff of General Reynolds at New Orleans. Staff of General Mower, General Hancock, and General Buchanan.

I have been in Reconstruction work again in Virginia, and North Carolina, and probably few officers of my limited rank had as important and serious duties to perform, during the period in question. Generals Reynolds, Canby, and Howard can attest the truth of what I say, and to them I leave the estimating of its value.

I have stood by the administration in the south faithfully and firmly carrying out its wished, policy and laws. In this of course but performing a sworn duty, yet it does not seem though it might reasonably claim some consideration, in the making up of judgment in my case for recommission. I admit hoe seriously I erred in sending in my application yet its results injuries myself only, I have committed no crime against the U.S. I have damaged no one. During the whole period of my service, I never received a reprimand, or word of censure from any of my superior officers, under whom I performed duty; and I have never been off duty from sickness or any other cause.

I desire to stay here, that, as I firmly believe the Regular Army to be the great reliance of the Government in an hour of peril, so will I, if returned to it as in the past, show my appreciation of its high responsibility and character, by renewed personal and official efforts, to keep the standard, when the government has wisely fixed, by laws and salutary regulations.

Hoping on reflection, you will be pleased to advance my interests as above indicated. Your obedient servant A.H.M Taylor



I am sir very respectfully Late 1st lieutenant 17th Infantry







REPORT ON THE CASE OF A.H.M. TAYLOR





Feb 4, 1871 Lieutenant Taylor addressing a lengthy communication to the honorable secretary of War W.W. Belknap, giving his reasons for asking a discharge from service and requesting a favorable consideration of his application for re-appointment. During the past two years a great many communications have been from Lieutenant Taylor with recommendations from prominent Army Officers urging his re-appointment: and on February 4, a letter was sent here to the honorable Roscoe Conklin Praising him that the President had decided not to make any appointments in the army at present it is probable that none would be made until after the assignment of the West Point graduates in June next ,Mr. Taylors name is on the list to be submitted to the president when appointments

Are to be made. He is now in service as hospital steward U.S.A. on duty in the office of the surgeon General. A.G.O.

Feb/73





Alexander was quick to realize that resigning his commission was a terrible mistake, but as for a faster post from Washington, all of this could have been avoided.

After returning to Washington, he immediately began his attempt for re-commission, relying on recommendations from Officers he had served under and knew him well. Having learned from his first attempt at getting a commission he realized that being in military service, would not give the Army any excuse not to commission him, as it had delayed his first commission.

The following is a request to the Surgeon General for a position in his Office.











Washington D.C.

December 12, 1871

To the Surgeon General of the Army Present:

Sir: I have the honor to make application for a situation in your department.

My recommendations and official papers are filed at the War Department, and if you will refer to them, I presume they will be satisfactory. I have been expecting to be reappointed to the U.S.

Army, but as so long a time has elapsed, I presume my reinstatement is problematical.

I have the honor to be very respectfully

Your obedient servant

A.H.M. Taylor, late 1st lieutenant 17th Inf.

And late of the War Department





May 24, 1872, Brigadier General Townsend, Adjutant General of the Army

General,

I have the honor to transmit herewith enlistment papers of recruit A.H.M. Taylor U.S. Army whom I have this day enlisted in obedience to orders from the Adjutant Generals office dated

May 22, 1872, has been ordered to report in person, for duty to the Surgeon General.



I am General, very respectfully

C.A. Otis

Assistant Surgeon General





Hospital Steward

The lowest ranking of the United States Army Medical Department during the civil war were usually hospital stewards, non-commissioned officers who received the pay and allowances of a sergeant major (30$ ) a month. Each Regiment was authorized to have one hospital steward, who was often chosen by the regimental surgeon from the enlisted men in the unit. The hospital steward also controlled the whiskey used for medical purposes; he was also responsible for keeping medical records. His other duties included assisting the field surgeon operations, and even prescribing drugs and performing minor operations. However, I believe that

Alexander’s position was more of a clerical one.

Alexander wasted little time in attempting being re-commissioned, asking, and receiving

Recommendations from senior military officers.



Washington D.C.

December 31, 1870

His Excellency

The President

Honorable U.S. Grant

Sir

I have the honor to apply for appointment to the U.S. Army as a Second Lieutenant; and, very respectfully refer to papers explanatory of my case, and showing my military history, now filed at the War Department.

I have served the Government in various positions, since the spring of 1861 and as I wish to remain in the service, I sincerely hope that your Excellency will be pleased to make my appointment.



I have the Honor to be

Very respectfully

Your Obedient Servant

A.H.M. Taylor Late 1st Lieutenant 17th Infantry.

--------------------

Mr. A.H.M. Taylor served with me as Lieutenant 17th Infantry in Texas and from personal acquaintance I can recommend him for appointment; He is intelligent, industrious and of unexceptionable habits is in all respects, worthy of being Re- commissioned.

J.J. Reynolds

Col, 3rd Calvary.

----------------------

Lieutenant A.H.M. Taylor has been well known to me for a long time and is an energetic, faithful, educated young man. He has done good work in the bureau and I hope he may succeed with his application.

O.O. Howard

B.R.F. AND A.S. Washington. Feb 27, 1871





Mr. Taylor served with me in Texas. His habits and conduct were unquestionable when I knew him.





JOINT RESOLUTION



41ST congress 3rd Session S.R. 310

In relation to Lieutenant A.H.M. Taylor

1871- February 4th Read twice, referred to the committee on Military Affairs, and ordered to be printed.

Wishes to recall his tender of resignation and be reinstated Rec’d A.G.O. Feb 21, 1871 When entered please file these with his discharge papers

Vide letter to Honorable H. Wilson Feb 20, 1871



Copy of S.R. 310



IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

February 4, 1871

My Lewis asked, and by unanimous consent obtained leave to bring

In the following joint resolution, this was read twice, referred to the committee on Military

Affairs, and ordered to be printed.





JOINT RESOLUTION

IN RELATION TO Lieutenant A.H.M. Taylor



⦁ Be it resolved by the senate and House of Representatives

⦁ Of the United States of America in congress assembled,

⦁ That the President be and he is hereby authorized and

⦁ Empowered to revoke the order discharging from the service of

⦁ the United State, under act of Congress approved July 6, eighteen

⦁ hundred and seventy, First Lieutenant A.H.M. Taylor,

7.Seventeenth regiment Infantry, and to assign said officer

8. To take the first vacancy in his grade occurring in said regiment.



MEMO: 16 February 1871, Is this with the juncture of the President and the Secretary of War?



Alexander thought he had little hope of being re-commissioned but shortly after The following letter from the Surgeon General’s Office nearly two years after resigning his commission indicates that he has been re-commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant 19th U.S. Army now stationed in Baton Rouge Louisiana.



War Department







Surgeon General’s Office

Washington, D.C., October 20th , 1873





For the

Adjutant General

U.S. Army

Washington D.C.



Sir,

I have the honor to request that Hospital Stewart A.H.M. Taylor US Army, now on duty in this office, be discharged from the service of the United States to date October 15, 1873.

Mr. Taylor has been appointed by the President as 2nd Lieutenant of the 19th

U.S. Infantry to date from October 1st, 1873, and has accepted the same to date October 15, 1873.




Greenwood Louisiana

January 24, 1874

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of a commission, as second Lieutenant in the Nineteenth Infantry.

I have the honor to be sir

Very respectfully

Your obedient servant

A.H.M. Taylor

Second Lieutenant 19th Infantry





Colonel Smith returned from Washington in January 1871, and while the regiment remained in

Louisiana, he had command of all the troops assembled in the vicinity of New Orleans. In January 1872, all the companies of the regiment were again summoned to New Orleans and kept busy during the month preserving order and preventing mob violence.

During the year 1873, Companies G and I were stationed at Shreveport, La., and went through the yellow fever epidemics, which scourged all that section of country. In June 1874, the regiment was transferred to the Department of the Missouri. The headquarters and two companies went to Fort Lyon, Colorado, and the others to the Indian Territory in Kansas.









During the violent aftermath of the Civil War known as Reconstruction, a horrible massacre occurred on Easter Sunday, April 13, 1873, when white supremacists in Colfax, Louisiana, killed anywhere from 100 to 200 freedmen and black state militiamen who had barricaded themselves in the local courthouse. The exact number of fatalities will never be known, as many bodies were secretly buried or dumped into the Red River. This ugly incident was a microcosm of the political Battles raging throughout the south. Republicans were trying to ensure black suffrage and incorporating blacks into the political system, while Democrats and white supremacist groups such as the Ku Klux Klan were doing all they could to intimidate blacks from voting and restore whites to the level of power they held before the war.

Louisiana’s election for governor on Nov. 4, 1872, ended in dispute as both the Democrat’s candidate (ex-Confederate commander John McEnery) and the Republican’s candidate (U.S. Senator William Pitt Kellogg) claimed victory. Although Kellogg was later certified as the winner, white supremacists would not relent and tensions rose. There were several outbreaks of violence the first week of April in Grant Parish, where Colfax is located, leading up to the events of April 13, 1873.



“What remains certain is that Reconstruction failed, and that and for blacks its failure was a disaster whose magnitude cannot be obscured by the genuine accomplishments that did endure.” Historian: Eric Foner. Officially, reconstruction was to end in 1878, but for the 19th regiment it ended in June 1874, when ordered to the Department of Missouri.



The Headquarters and two companies went to fort Lyon, Colorado, and other companies to the

Indian Territory and Kansas.

In the spring of this year, the Indians went on the warpath. The regiment arrived in the

Department too late to enter the active campaign, but the companies of Camp Supply and Fort Dodge were kept on the road most of the time escorting supply trains to the troops in the field under the command of General Miles.















PAY BACK

After Alexander’s reinstatement into the Army the Act of July 15, 1870 took effect and

Alexander was to pay back the one year’s pay given him when he was honorably discharged in 1870, at 50% per month. Apparently, this was a burden; the following letters is an attempt to lower the payment to 25



A Second Lieutenant pay per year was 1,400.00 and it included his travel only. So, if he had a wife he would have to pay her own way.












Referred to the Committee on Approbations

Ordered to be printed

The Secretary of War has the honor to invite the attention of the United States Senate and House of Representatives to the fact that, in pursuance of the provision of the act making approbations for the support of the Army for the year ending June 30, 1871, and for other purposes, approved

July 15, 1870 certain supernumerary officers were mustered out of service with the one year’s pay and allowance authorized by said act to be given to those whose connection with the Army should under its provisions, be severed. That for reasons satisfactory to the President, some of those officers were subsequently again appointed officers in the Army; that in every case where such an appointment was made the Secretary of War has directed that fifty- per cent, of the officers pay be stopped, monthly until the sum total of the extra year’s pay and allowances received by him when mustered out shall have been payed to the United States.



Those officers, a list of whom have thus been appended, who have thus been re-appointed and fifty per cent of whom has been withheld, regard the measure as a hardship, and maintain there is no authority for its enforcement.




The judgment of the Secretary of War supports the measure, believing that when these officers were mustered out with a year’s pay and allowance, it was the intention of Congress, in giving it, that it should be a full consideration for leaving the Army. It appears to be but equitable that if they are to be re-appointed they should refund the amount so generously given to them. The question, however, is respectfully submitted to Congress for the decision of the legislative authority. WM Belknap





Washington D.C., Oct 25. 1873

Sir: A stoppage against your pay this day is intended upon the books of this office, for 50 Percent of your pay; until the collection aggraded $1500 amount received by you as “one year’s pay and allotments" upon your honorable discharge from the service December 1, 1870, under the act of July 15, 1870.



Very respectfully

Your obedient servant

Benj. Stone

Paymaster General





Baton Rouge Barracks

June 3, 1874

Brevet Major General E. D. Towence




War department Washington D.C.



I have the honor to request that the stoppage named in letter of the Paymaster General of the Army of October 25, 1873. Copy herewith enclosed, may be modified to read twenty-five percent. Concerning the principle Involved in this restoration of money received under the law of July 15, 1870, I hope that the honorable Secretary of War, will see as abjection to grant this means of relief requested.



I have the honor to be, General

Very respectfully your

Obedient servant

A.H.M. Taylor,

2nd Lieutenant 19, Infantry























From July 1874 until May of 1875, Alexander was stationed at Camp Supply Indian Territory, as part of the Quartermaster Corp receiving his Indian War Medal for the actions at Sappi Creek.













Sappi Creek

1875



On April 6, 1875, more than 150 Cheyenne escaped from the Darlington Agency on the North Fork of the Canadian River, and were pursued and surrounded by elements of the 5th Infantry and the 6th cavalry Among the Cheyenne were those who had been identified as having raped the German girls. Most were captured and eleven were killed.

Those not killed or captured fled upriver, where they joined another band. They were trailed by Lieutenant Austin Henley, who caught up with them on April 23 at Sappi Creek in Kansas. While another thirty- plus escaped again, the troopers surrounded nineteen warriors and eight women and children in a dry creek bed and gunned them all down. Henley was later disciplined and reprimanded for what was to be called the Sappi Creek Massacre.





-------------------------------------------------------













Camp Supply Indian Territory

Woodward, Oklahoma



Fort Supply established in November of 1868, for a winter campaign against the Southern Plains tribes in what is now western Oklahoma. From this post, Lt Col George Armstrong Custer and the Seventh U.S. Calvary marched south to the Washita River Valley and attacked the Cheyenne village of Chief Black Kettle. This event marked the end for the Southern Plains Tribe’s nomadic way of life because they were soon forced onto reservations

The military presence in the region was felt for the next twenty-five years as troops from the post performed peacekeeping duties monitoring the Cheyenne, Arapaho reservation, Solders patrolled the reservation and the Cherokee Outlet in an effort to contain the tribesmen and keep out trespassers. Buffalo hunters, timber, and hoarse thieves, whiskey peddlers and “Boomers” were a constant threat to the stability in the Indian Territory.

The post served as the supply point for the Red River War of 1874-75. This was the final subjection of the southern plains Tribes. The unsuccessful attempt to stop the flight of the Northern Cheyenne from their reservation, known as the Dull Knife Outbreak of 1878, was the last engagements between Indians and soldiers from Camp Supply. Alexander stationed at Fort

Supply from July 1874 until May of 1875 as Acting Assistant Quartermaster













Cleveland Daily Herald

INDIAN TERRITORY

-------------------

Later Interesting Details of the Military

Movements

--------------------------

FROM YOUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.

----------------------------

Camp Supply

Indian Territory, Sept 22, 1874



As my previous letters gave but a brief account of the movements of Major Price’s command I will now give your readers a more detailed report.

General Pope, commanding the Department of the Missouri, ordered that Major W. Redwood Price, with all the available men of the Eight Cavalry, at fort Wingate, New Mexico be put involute

Eastward so that at the time to go forward to form a junction with Colonel Miles’ expedition, now operating against the Indians.

Delayed two weeks at Fort Union waiting for further instruction and outfitting the command. They left the latter place for Fort Become, New Mexico, on the 20th of August, having in his train five thousand complete rations together with sufficient forage and ammunition for at least a month.

Lieutenant H.G. Carlton of “H” Company was left behind, he not being able to accompany the command on account of sickness. He subsequently came to this post, with Lieutenant

Kingsbury’s command for medical treatment and is now doing well.

An escort of but a sergeant and three men were left with Lieutenant Brinkerhoff and the citizen train. They continued marching eastward, arriving at the Washita river the 14th inst. After having unloaded there stores they started the next day for the post for needed supplies, arriving on the 19th inst, happily with no casualty that was apprehended in my letter of the 18th inst. Mr. Bovill, who had accompanied Major Price on the scout toward the Red River, came through with the train, which is now loaded and starts back at noon, escorted by Company “H” Nineteenth Infantry, Lieutenant A.H.M. Taylor, commanding.

Great anxiety is felt on account of the non-appearance of lieutenant Farnsworth’s command. Major Price, not meeting him at the Washita, started out on the evening of the 15th inst, in search of him.

From the fact that no bands of Indians have been seen since the 13th inst, it is suppose that they have collected all their forces and corralled his command at some point on the stalked plains, where, if no water can be obtained they will suffer the same as Captain Lyman’s command, although if required will have the benefit of a surgeon.

All the Officers with the command think that Farnsworth’s superior military knowledge, and ability to act calmly under the most adverse circumstances, will see him through all difficulty Any further information relative to his progress will be forwarded as soon as known here. Lieutenant Brinkerhoff’s train arrived this 19th inst, and left on the 22nd inst, loaded with supplies for Major Prices command. It was escorted by Company H Nineteenth Infantry,

Lieutenant A.H.M. Taylor in command.

No bands of Indians have been seen since the arrival of the several commands on the Washita on the 14th inst. Still it is considered unsafe, on account of straggling parties of them, for small detachments to go from one camp to another, as they are on the lookout for such opportunities to get scalps.



Yours etc., E.W.P.





In May of 1875, Alexander stationed at Camp on the north fork of the red river from May 1875 until June 1875. Cantonment, Sweetwater, Texas, June of 1875 to January 1876, all of which were to become Fort Elliot.

Incident at Cantonments Sweetwater Texas.

For Bat Masterson, the road to legendary status began at a backwater hamlet called Sweetwater, near Cantonment Sweetwater in the Texas Panhandle. For him the decisive moment involved a gunfight with an obstreperous soldier of the 4th Calvary known in the legend simply as “Sergeant King.” On the night of January 24, 1876, King and a woman known as Molly Brennan were killed. Masterson was seriously wounded and the essential components of the legend were in place, lacking only the embroideries of time to grow from a senseless shooting into Bat

Masterson’s rite of passage to fame, replete with overtones of true love and the triumph of good over evil.







Fort Elliot Texas s



In June, orders came to move the camp to a permanent location. The troops immediately began construction of permanent buildings. Six civilian carpenters hired on during July. By the next month, sixth civilian workers were laboring at the post. The command hired eleven more carpenters and three masons in September, and the work progressed steadily by November, the command had completed most construction and let the civilian workers go.

Knowing that the congress was to vote on an Act for the rearrangement of the army, perhaps thinking back to his Brother In-law A.N.F. Rolfe’s inability to retain his position in the Freemans bureau because of his drunkenness.

And to offer for consideration a retirement plan for the common soldier

In 1876



To improve the efficiency of the Army as;



⦁ The sale, gift or barter of intoxicating liquors is hereby prohibited at any military post or on military reservations to and with enlisted men of the army and any civilian at a military post or on a military reservation who shall offer for sale or shall make gift of or attempt to barter spirits liquors with enlisted men shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction before an United States Court of Circuit jurisdiction, shall will be fined no less than 500 dollars or imprisonment for one year or both at the desecration of the court.

Any Officer or solider so offending a violation of this Act shall be subject to call before a General Court Martial and upon conviction if an officer shall be dismissed from the service, and if an enlisted man, shall be dishonorably discharged the service and confined in a military prison for a period of time from one to four years at the discretion of the court.

Nothing in this section shall be understood as not to affect the use of spirits liquor in the line of duty by the medical department of the army.



⦁ Commissions as Officers in the United States Army shall be hereafter extended to maintain some commissioned officers of the army in the proposition not more than five years, to 2 inferred in any one year in time of peace, the qualifications and fitness of those commissions to be determined by a board of officers to be convened as necessity may require, under each regularities as shall be prudent by the secretary of war.

⦁ enlisted men of the army who have served faithfully in their duty for a period of not less than thirty years shall be entitled upon approval of the secretary of war to be retired from the service and to receive a medal from the Government suitably inscribed to show the length and grade of service of the solder and to receive on such a retirement a monthly pension of twenty dollars during life, the payment of which will be made by the commissioner of pensions. Under such so far as the same as applies now governed the payment of pensions to discharged solders disabled in the line of duty

All laws and parts of laws incumbent with this act hereby accepted.

Whether this had any affect is unknown apparently, it did not set well with some of the

Officers of his regiment.



Alexander H.M Taylor

1st Lieutenant 19th Infantry

Fort Lyon, Colorado.



To headquarter of Infantry

Forbidding the sale of liquor to enlisted men at military posts

Fort Lyon Colorado

January 17,, 1878

Respectfully forwarded:

I do not concur in the recommendation to prohibit the sale of intoxicating liquor at military posts. I think the trader should be required to keep a good quality of whiskey for sale to enlisted men under proper restrictions; otherwise, the men will go else ware to get worse liquor, and if the distance be so, great to absent themselves without leave to get it.

Luke O’Riley

Captain 19th Infantry.







In February 1876, military authorities changed the name of the post to Fort Elliott, in honor of

Major Joel Elliott, killed in action with hostile Indians during the Battle of the Washita. In October 1875, Lieutenant A.H.M. Taylor, Nineteenth Infantry, shepherded a party of recruits through the fort and toward Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, to replenish the decimated Seventh

Calvary.



The forerunner of Fort Elliott had been established in December 1874 as a supply depot for troops out of Camp Supply, Indian Territory whose mission it was to clear the panhandle of Indians. Construction of a permanent facility, which was begun in July 1875, no provisions had been made to enforce civilian law in the area.

Requests for help from the army in dealing with the stock thieves were being forward to Major General John Pope. Pope was sympathetic but lacked the authority to intervene, in turn he wrote to the Assistant Adjutant General, military division of the Missouri E.R. Platt, in Chicago asking for directions. He stated that he had been asked for help by the law-abiding citizens of the panhandle, but reminded Platt that he was powerless unless President Hayes ordered it. No such order was to be forth coming and the depredations continued.

In mid-January 1877, 52-year-old William Casner and his 40-year-old brother Daniel, headed with their flock of seven hundred sheep into the chaotic piece of real estate south of the Canadian River called the “stalked” plains hidden in their wagon was $5500 in Arizona minted gold coins, that they had earned working in the California gold fields. The Casners were accompanied by an unnamed Navajo boy they had hired to help drive their flock in search of unclaimed pasture.

Englishman Phillip “Joe “Goodfellow cast a covetous eye upon the Casner flock. Born in 1839 at Dudley, Worcestershire, England, Goodfellow came to America in 1850. Goodfellow fellow, who never relinquished his English citizenship, went to the area around Fort Elliot in the mid1870s to make his fortune. Believing he could do better with a trading post and sheep ranch further west, he left for the Palo Doro Canyon on the Canadian River in September 1876. Selling government supplies stolen from Fort Elliot made a good second income. It was believed his partner in crime was Assistant Quartermaster at the fort, Lieutenant Charles T. Wetherill.

A thirty-nine-year-old native of Eastport, Maine, Lieutenant (Brevet Major) Wetherill had served meritoriously with the sixth Maine Regiment during the Civil War, being wounded in the battle of Rappahannock Station. Remaining in the Army, Wetherill found himself with the Nineteenth Infantry at Fort Supply in the Indian Territory in 1874. He was soon sent to Fort Elliott, Texas, to help in its establishment. There with him were his wife and son as assistant Quartermaster his responsibilities included handling the posts supplies. At Elliot he apparently fell in with

Goodfellow and they hatched the scheme to sell purloined government property, in the Dodge

City times it was said,” one could buy a tent for 100 sheep pelts.”

Outlaw and killer Sostenes L’ Archeveque having heard of the Casners gold, enlisting the aid of a young Indian boy, Ysabel Gurule, on what he thought was a hunting trip. The unsuspecting Ysabel followed Sostenes to the Casners camp at the first opportunity shot Casner and began hunting for the gold, and when the other brother arrived in camp, he shot him as well, ordering Ysabel to find the Navajo boy and kill him, instead headed for home and told his father what had happened. Word quickly spread throughout the community, reaching the ears of Nicolas Martinez’s brother-in-law of Sostenes who he had earlier warned that if he started any trouble that he would kill him himself.

Sortenes waited in the camp for the Indian boy to return, seeing him approach with two sheep dogs, Sortenes went out to meet the boy. Shoving his six shooter into the belly of the Navajo shortens demanded to know where the Caners had hidden their gold he had thus failed to find. Fearing for his life, the boy told Sostenes where some of the coins were hidden. He knew there were more but he did not know where were the Casners had hidden them. With that, he clubbed the boy to death. He returned to the sheep camp and continued to search for the gold. Weather he found it and re-hid it or never found it is not known.

John and Lewis Casner, who were still prospecting around Silver City, New Mexico, read of the killing of their brother around the first of March and set out toward the Texas Panhandle, Along the way they picked up one H. Harrison, a noted gunman who had ridden with Tom Stockton, at Cimarron New Mexico, john bottoms also from Cimarron but apparently in the area at the time the brothers were killed, joined the Casnere. For some unspecified reason, Bottoms had been initially a suspect by john and Lewis of complicity in the murder, during questioning Bottoms gave the Caners information that cleared him and implicated Phillip J. Goodfellow.

Accounts vary as to whom else made up the rest of the Casners Gang after reaching Texas, but there was at least two others in the unofficial posse. One of these was Texas hard case Edward J. Berry; the other was Leigh Dryer who was in possession of the sheep when John and Lewis arrived from New Mexico.

Also suspect in the murders were the men who had found the camp of the Casners, Frank Mac Nab, Frank Hall and George Black. Only because they were in possession of some of the gold coins the Casners were reported to have had, if this was true then they had to be in cahoots with

Sostenes in some way or they found the gold that Sostenes could not,

Philip J Goodfellow, after the questioning of John Bottoms (who you will remember seems to have implicated Goodfellow) and Leigh Dryer in the murder, now rose to the top of the Caners list another included Juan Tegan, Nicolas Martinez, Felix Gurules, Agopito Nolan and one

Florentine, and Jose Zamora were also on their list. The first man to be dealt with during the reign of terror brought on by the Caners was Nicolas Martinez. The next day the gang found Agapito Nolan and Florentine they were taken to a convenient Chinaberry tree and hung.

John and Lewis Casner and there gang now headed for Goodfellow’s ranch on the Canadian arriving there about the second week of April 1877. However, they found the place deserted. Good fellow had gone to Trinidad, Colorado, 350 miles to the northwest, to restock his supplies and merchandise. The Caner gang settled in to await the wanted man’s return. However, before he reached his ranch Goodfellow received word via courier of the horrible events of the past week and that the Casners were lying in wait for him at his ranch.



As he wrote to Sir Edward Thornton, British Minister to the United States. Goodfellow believed the men

“Were awaiting my return for the purpose of killing me for the complicity in the murder of the two Casner brothers, somewhere the line of New Mexico.” Instead of going to his ranch,

Goodfellow redirected his route to fort Elliot where he was allowed to stay for his protection.



On Friday, April13, 1877, Lieutenant Charles Witherall requested that Goodfellow be allowed to guide his squad of six soldiers and scout T.M. McFadden on a hunt for stolen Government property in the area of Adobe Walls. According to an item in the May 19 times, the property was “guns” which were at the house of one Hurban Lucero. Subsequent events would make it clear that the real reason for an excursion was something very different.



Making camp on the Canadian River near the mouth of the Rio Bonito on April 15. Witherall and Goodfellow left the detachment and went off from the main party, remaining gone all night. Harrison claimed the two went to Goodfellow’s ranch where they made plans to kill John

Bottom because “John Bottom (sic)… was an important witness against Goodfellow in having the Casner brothers murdered.



The following morning, Goodfellow returned to the soldier’s camp carrying an order from Lieutenant Witherall directing Sergeant John Walsh to send three men and McFadden to accompany Goodfellow on an excursion down the Canadian. The detail stopped and questioned several Mexican men at various sheep ranches along the way. Goodfellow, for some reason dressed in a soldier’s Blouse and cap, conversed with the men at each place in Spanish. As none of the detail spoke the language, it was not known what they said. The detail finally came upon a ranch where they found Bottoms, an old Mexican woman, and a man named strong.



According to the depositions of Corporal Charles Ruby and scout McFadden, a pistol packing

Goodfellow rode up between bottoms and the house shouting, “This is one of them.” He pointed to one of the men, the five -foot seven-inch, light complexioned man with a red moustache. He asked the man if he was John Bottoms. The man replied, “That is my name.” Turning in the saddle, the Englishman asked of the soldiers, “You fellows, have you got the handcuffs?”

Finding that none of the men in the detachment had brought the bindings, Goodfellow raised his Westley Richards rifle and shot Bottoms from a distance of five feet setting is clothing on fire.

Bottoms exclaimed “Joe, don’t shoot any more “just as Goodfellow unleashed a second shot.

McFadden reprimanded Goodfellow for the shooting, to which he replied, “I had to do it, and “claiming Bottoms had made a move to reach for a gun. He also claimed that Bottoms had

threatened to kill him at an earlier date.



Back at camp, Corporal Ruby reported the incident to Sergeant Walsh, the detail returned to Fort

Elliot on Saturday April 21, 1877, where Witherall and Goodfellow reported the incident to the

Lieutenants superior, Ohio native Captain Charles W. Hostsenpiller. Goodfellow backed by

Witherall claimed the killing was in self-defense.



Immediately, on inquiry of the events of the 16th was begun depositions were taken by the Board of Officers from the men of the detachment. Goodfellow at his own request was put in the Guardhouse, his reasoning was that there were still men out their wanting to kill him. More likely, since the Board of Officers called the killing a “most-foul and cold- blooded murder,” he was confined in the guardhouse at the order of the board. Goodfellow immediately enlisted the services of local attorney Jesse F. Wycliff.



Captain Hostenpiller, in a letter to the Assistant Adjutant General at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, laid out briefly what had happened, stating that Goodfellow was in the guardhouse, and asked for further instructions. Those instructions came back in a letter from E.R. Platt dated May 4. Platt instructed Hostenpiller to relinquish Goodfellow upon being presented with appropriate papers from the governing civil authorities. Clay County, Texas, Judge W.B. Plemons issued the

warrant for the arrest of Philip J Goodfellow for the murder of John bottoms on, May 7, 1877. That same day Plemons appointed Edward G. Berry, a member of the Casners gang, a special constable to execute the warrant. Berry headed out to Fort Elliot with the warrant and his commission in hand. On May 17, berry made his demand for the prisoner Goodfellow. Officer of the day Lieutenant A.H.M. Taylor released Goodfellow to Berry, a non-commissioned officer, and one teamster, left the post immediately in route to Henrietta, Texas.



On the evening of May 18, 1877, between eight and nine pm, ten to twelve disguised men rode into camp. At least one of the vigilantes remained outside the camp as a guard. Ordered to throw down his gun, Constable Berry complied at once. Berry then commanded soldier and teamster to disarm, “which was done” with the escort disarmed; the gang took Goodfellow from the camp leaving a man to guard the detail. Within 45 minutes, the vigilantes returned to the camp took the guard they had left, and disappeared.



Waiting until the next morning, Berry and his escort went out to investigate. Two hundred yard from the camp, the body of Goodfellow was discovered hanging from a tree on the riverbank. Cutting Goodfellow down, the detail headed back to Fort Elliot. No one was ever charged in the murder of Philip Goodfellow. (Philip J Goodfellow was buried at Fort Elliot).



The Casners stayed in Texas where they operated a sheep ranch in Donely County, the reminder of the suspects did not incur the wrath of the Casners that could be proven. The rewards offered were withdrawn.



[From the hanging of Philip Goodfellow by Roger Myers.

Previously published in the spring 2003 issue of the WOLA Journal.]








Court Martial of Lieutenant Charles T. Witherall





General Court-Martial



Order No. 2.

1. Before a General Court-Martial which convened at Fort Lyon, Colorado, September 20, 1877, pursuant to Special Order No. 148, Dated August 16, No 149, dated August 20, and No 175, September 27, 1877, Headquarters Department of the Missouri, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas and of which Colonel C.H. Smith, 19th Infantry, is president, was arranged and tried—



Lieutenant Charles T. Witherall, 19th Infantry.



Charge 1. “Violation of the 60th Article of War.”



Specification— “ In that 1st Lieutenant Charles T. Witherall, 19th Regiment of U.S. Infantry, being on duty as Acting assistant Quartermaster at the post of Fort Elliott, Texas, and having, on or about the 25th day of November, caused a large amount of the property of the United States--furnished and intended for the military service and thereof, and for which he was responsible --to be submitted to an inspector with a view to its condemnation, and the said property having been submitted for the approval and orders this at Fort Elliott, on or about the

17th day of June 1877.



Specification 7th--- “In that 1st Lieutenant Charles T. Witherall, 19th Infantry, that 2d Lieutenant

A.H.M. Taylor, 19th, had stated to him, (Lieutenant Witherall, ) in the presents of corporal

Arthur McKnight, Co, ‘H, ’ s follows,19th Infantry. In substance as follows, namely, that Sergeant Thomas H. Meadow, Co E, 19th infantry, had stolen government wood and sold it to citizens, which statement was false, the said lieutenant Taylor never having made any such statement to the said Lieutenant Witherall. This at Fort Elliot, Texas, on or about 16 June 1877.



Additional Charge---“Conduct unbecoming an Officer and a Gentleman”

Specification 5th---“In that Lieutenant Charles T Witherall, 19TH Infantry, in the presents of the commanding Officer, Captain C. W. Hotsenpiller, 19th Infantry. Did use violent, abusive, threatening, and profane Language toward 2nd Lieutenant A.H.M. Taylor, 19th Infantry, and officer of the day at Fort Elliott, Texas, saying: if you say that I have stolen Government poles, you are a god-dammed liar, and for two cents, I would knock your god-dammed head off. You are a god dammed mean man, and I have a good mind to whip you right here. If I satisfy Captain Hostsenpiller that the poles are mine, I do not care a god dammed whether you are satisfied or not or words to that effect. This at Fort Elliott, Texas, on or about the 15th day of June 1877.



Witherall also charged with bringing the United States into contempt, and to scandalize the

Military Authorities. In a letter written by him to Sir Edward Thornton British Legation in Washington D.C. Regarding one Philip Goodfellow, an alleged British Subject who had sought refuge with the command at Fort Elliott, in the killings of John Bottoms, and releasing him to the

Texas authorities.



Witherall was also charged with deception in accruing a detachment of men for his own






Overall, Witherall was charged in nine counts. Two for conduct unbecoming and seven for other specific charges of theft of Government property. Found Guilty of all charges.



⦁ the Court does sentence him, 1st Lieutenant Charles T. Witherall, 19th Infantry” To be dismissed from the service of the United States.”



⦁ The record of the proceedings of the General Court Martial in the foregoing case of first Lieutenant Charles T. Witherall, 19th Infantry. Having been forwarded to the Secretary of War and by him submitted to the President of the United States for his actions, the following are his orders thereon, viz:



Executive Manson

January 14, 1878 “The forgoing proceedings, finding, and in the case of First Lieutenant Charles T. Witherall, 19th Regiment of Infantry, are approved. The sentence is commuted to Suspension from rank and command, on half pay, for one year.”

⦁ By direction of the Secretary of War, the sentence as mitigated in the case of 1st Lieutenant

Charles T. Witherall, 19th Infantry, will take affect January 31, 1878.



By: Command of General Sherman.

E.D. Townsend

Adjutant General



[Found during a Google books search of A.H.M. Taylor]
















20. stat. L, 145

June 18, 1878



Chap. 263 – An act making appropriations for the support of the army for the fiscal year ending June 13, 1879 for the purposes.

Sec 15. From and after the passage of this act it shall not be lawful to employ any part of the army of the united states, as posse comitatus, or otherwise, for the purpose of executing the laws, except in such cases and under circumstances as such employed of said force may be expressly authorized by the constitution or by act of congress’ and no money appropriated by this act shall be used to pay any of the express incurred in the employment of any troops in violation of this section And any person willfully violating the provisions of this section shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction thereof shall be punished by fine of ten thousand dollars or imprisonment not to exceed two years or both fine and imprisonment.

This section used by the democrats to end federal occupation of the south and ending reconstruction in the south, giving up the Presidency in doing so.

Following the Civil War, the U.S. withdrew federal troops from the southern states as a compromise in one of the most disputed elections in American history. Between Democrat

Samuel J. Tilden of New York and Republican Rutherford B. Hayes of Ohio, Tilden garnered

184 electoral votes and had won the popular votes, To Hayess’165 electoral votes, twenty electoral votes were disputed, if Hays could get those votes, he would be elected president by one electrical vote. Hayes having 185 electoral votes to Tildes 184. Congress struck a deal and resolved the issue by awarded the Presidency to Hayes. In return for southern acquiescence regarding Hayes. Republicans agreed to support the withdrawal of federal troops from former confederate states ending reconstruction. Known as the compromise of 1877, South Carolina, Florida, and Louisiana agreed to certify Rutherford B Hayes as the president in exchange for the removal of federal troops from the south.

[Wikipedia/ posse comitatus.]











A diversion from camp duty





Through the liberality of Congress, the sum of 88,000$ was given to the Naval Observatory for observing the solar eclipse of July 29, 1878. With this money, eight regular parties sent out by the Observatory to stations on the line of central eclipse, these stations extended from Creston, in Wyoming, to Dallas, Texas. Besides these regular parties, several other observers stationed at various points along the line. TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE

Fort Lyon Colorado

July 29, 1878













No 13. Lieutenant Taylor wrote, under the date of July 29, 1878 “the corona was bright silver white; a new silver coined dollar conveys the idea exactly. The lines of light gave the figure as above drawn. The rays were of less degree of brilliance than the corona but a very clear white light fixed in character, and paling to the edges. It was opaque until the limits visible to the eye when it became transparent.

Comments: I have the pleasure of forwarding herewith the sketches of the naked eye sketches of the corona made by Lieutenants Hewitt, Taylor and corporal Martindale, of the Nineteenth

Infantry.



J.R. Eastman

Professor of Mathematics U.S.N.







Some of the day- to- day business of the Sustenance Department





Fort Lyon Colorado

November 9, 1878



To Captain C.B. Hall

First lieutenant and R.O. 19th infantry

Present

Captain: There can be no question but that the enlisted man would welcome a change in the present issue of the Army shirt of your circular letter concerning i.e. ‘blue flannel’ upon inquiring I find that they would like it to good material double maternal and with wide collar. The present shirt issued is objectionable because of the collar, which cuts and is unsightly and uncomfortable about the neck, and if not made wider be taken off altogether and a narrow formed substituted.

I have the honor to be Captain

Very respectfully

Your obedient servant

A.H.M. Taylor 1st Lieutenant 19th Infantry.












Fort Levenworth Kansas






In February of 1879-January 1881, Alexander is stationed at Fort Leavenworth

Kansas, and is promoted to First Lieutenant. The actions of the Indian war’s having been reduced to patrolling the small number who might leave the reservation and keeping Hunters, loggers, and “boomers” from encroachment into Indian lands. All major engagements had ceased. Between 1879 and 1881, Alexander spreads his duty as part of the Quartermaster Dept. between Fort Leavenworth, Baxter Springs Kansas, and the Quapaw Indian agency in Indian

Territory.









Quapaw Indian Agency



The Quapaw is from whom this agency was named, numbering about 200; only 35 of them are on the reservation of some 56,685 acres, the remaining having joined the Osage. I understand they are desirous of returning to their old homes, claiming that the Osage do not tread them well and that they are not doing so good there, but are much worse off financially than when they left here. Those that remained have kept their children in school, and seem to appreciate the in former years. A question must be duly considered what is best to do with the Quapaw’s. I am fearful, wherever they are, they will not improve rapidly; but their children should be kept in school by all means, and a large part of their large and valuable reservation should be sold and the money used to secure their advancement they are all in favor of this, and the department would do well to consider the matter.

.











Fort Ringgold Texas

December 1881- May



In the fall of 1881, the Regiment was transferred To the Department of Texas. The Colonel,

Major, Headquarters, and Companies B.C.D.E.G. and K took station at Fort Brown, November 7. The Lieutenant Colonel and Companies H and I went to Fort Ringgold and Companies A and F to Fort McIntosh.

From 1881-1886, will be the longest time Alexander will spend in one place since his involvement with the military in 1861. After all the research we have done over the years has produced little information concerning his wife Albertine. We know that she was with

Alexander at Fort Brenham Texas in 1866-68. Their first child, Ida Died of scarlet fever in November of 1868, in March of 1870 a son Norris was born in Washington D.C. and died in July which prompted Alexander’s resignation from the service in 1870. Their only surviving child

Johanna (whom my wife is named after) was born on October 21, 1878 in Washington D.C.







Early in the summer of 1882 rumors afloat, that yellow fever existed in the city of Matamoras, Mexico which is on the Rio Grande, just opposite fort brown and Brownsville. The doctors of the two cities were divided in their opinion. Some claimed from the first appearance of the disease that it was yellow fever, but the greater number claimed that it was not. Brownsville did not quarantine against Matamoras until August. By then the fever had already crossed the river and was in Texas.

Steps were immediately taken to get the command out of the post, as there were several cases of fever in it. There was not tent age for the whole command, and captain Wetherill volunteered to remain in the post with the company (C). This company and troop I, 8th Calvary, Captain Hennie has remained in the garrison. The Headquarters, band and five companies moved about fourteen miles down the river and went into camp, where they remained until fall, without a single case of fever.

In the garrison, every precaution was taken to keep the infection away from the non-infected. There were not many cases among the solders in barrack, the greater number occurred among the families and civil employees of the post. Captain Wethertills family was the first one invaded.

His son and only child died, also his servant. He and his wife both had the fever, but recovered. Captain Leyster’s family all had it accept Mrs. Leyster. W.C. Gorgas, the assistant to the post surgeon, hade a severe case, but Lieutenant T.W. Wendie, 19th Infantry, was the only officer to fall victim.









The evening Light

May 12. 1882



Military Orders

Headquarters Department of Texas

San Antonio May 12, 1882 Major J.G.C. Lee, Quartermaster U.S. Army having reported at these Headquarters in accordance with paragraph N, special order No. 84 current series, from the

Adjutant Generals office, is announced as chief

Quartermaster of the Department; to relieve Major W.B. Hughes, Quartermaster United States

Army, that he may meet the requirements of so much of the same order as refers to him.



Special Order, No. 19



First Lieutenant: A.H.M. Taylor, 19th Infantry, will report to the commanding officer of the Prison at Fort Brown, Texas for special service.

The Leavenworth military prison having been designated, by proper authority, as the place of confinement for the following named prisoners.

George Gilbert late private troop F, 8th Cavalry. James H. Grim late private company 20th

Infantry. Rufus Bowman, late private company E 19th Infantry, the commanding officer Fort Brown, Texas, will forward them under charge of First Lieutenant A.H.M. Taylor, 19th Infantry, with a suitable guard to their destination.

The prisoners, and all papers in their cases required by paragraph 939, Army regulations, will be turned over to the commanding officer of said prison, by Lieutenant Taylor, who will forward receipt for the same direct to these Headquarters.

The quartermaster’s department will supply travel rations, and funds for the purchase of hot coffee, In accordance with the requirements of general order No. 73 series of 1881 from the

Adjutant Generals office.

After completion of the duty, Lieutenant Taylor will return to his station.

Recruits George B. Turnley, and James Meillery, enlisted by recruiting officer at San Antonio,

Texas, is assigned: the former to company “A” and the latter to company “B,” 22nd Infantry.

By order of Brigadier General :






THOMAS M. VINCENT





Supreme Court in general term-Chief Justice: Cartier and Justice Olin and Wyllie.

The following gentlemen filed their applications for admission to the Bar: Charles E. Hovey,

Frank G Newland, A.H.M. Taylor, Frances C. Bowen, Horace B. Beinney, and John B Sweat. The court appointed Messes, Kennedy, and Stanton ND Mussey as a permanent committee to consider all such applications. The Court adjourned until this morning at 10 o’clock, (October 26, 1869) two months before he resigned in 1870.

[Daly National Intelligencer and Washington Express]



Alexander never mentions in his records if he was accepted to the bar, but here is a reference that he acted as Judge Advocate in this trial in 1885.










Galveston Daley News

February 22, 1885

Military Notes



A general court martial is appointed to meet at Fort Ringgold on the 23 instant for the trial of such persons as may be properly brought before it. Details of the court: Captain E.H. Liscum, Nineteenth Infantry; Captain J.H. Bartholf, assistant Surgeon: Captain J.M. Repes, Eighth Cavalry: First Lieutenant: J.G. Leefe, Nineteenth Infantry First Lieutenant R.J. Rechardson, assistant Surgeon; First Lieutenant A.W. Thurston, Sixteenth Infantry: Second Lieutenant S. L’H, Slocam, Eighth Cavalry; First Lieutenant A.H.M. Taylor, Nineteenth Infantry, judge advocate.

[Galveston Daily News]





Wealth of West Texas

MAGNIFICENT SHOWING MADE AT

SAN ANTONIO

The Fair Grows better and more attractive as it draws to a close—what was Said, Done, and Seen

Yesterday

--------





San Antonio, Texas. Nov 14. 1889. -- It was Terry’s rangers’ day. The survivors of that gallant

THE MILITARY FEATURE body of confederates were given the freedom of the grounds and spent the day. They were everywhere met by hearty handshakes and were shown the thousand things in sight. They made neither formal entry nor parade of any kind; being seemingly anxious to avoid any display and leaving there record to speak for them. They were to have been addressed By Judge Gustave Cook, but press of business prevented. They will probably be spoken to to-morrow by Dr L. M.

Swearingen, ex state health officer.








Of the Fair has been a magnificent success. At 1 o’clock to-day in the arena in front of the grandstand six companies of the Nineteenth Infantry, U.S.A. executed a magnificent drill. They were commanded by Captain J.H. Bradford, who was assisted by Captain Charles B. Hall, First Lieutenant A.H.M. Taylor, and Lieutenants Frances H. French, H.L. Roberts, Chas Fowler Second Lieutenant Frank McIntyre, W. Wilder, and Regimental Adjutant C.C. Hewitt. The magnificent movement was heartily applauded by 6,000 people who filled the grand Stand and paddock and lined the track five deep down the quarter stretch.









Alexander’s efficiency report.

Post

San Antonio Texas

May 1, 1890





To the Adjutant General of the Army



In the line of Military duty



Sir: I have the honor to report I have given attention to the following special subjects:

In the line of the military profession.



Military Justice, company administration, tactical and rifle fire, schools.



⦁ Profession or specific study other than military.

Law and commercial.



⦁ Foreign Language. None



⦁ Other special courses of reading study or investigation.

Indian Affairs.



⦁ Business training if any:



Yes, a through one: Grocery, drugs, and dry goods, competent bookkeeping and commercial reports in New York City.



For the past sixteen years in company and post duty, my military history is already on file in your office, extending from my recruitment serve in New York City from April 1861 in service in the 9th N.Y.S.M. (83RD N.Y. Infantry) to service in the A.G.O. . War Department where I received a most complete and through training in everything pertaining to the duty and work of that office. Commissioned as an officer I have performed the duties of an adjutant General of a regiment and of the 5th military district in 1866-67&68. Then acting as chief commissary of sustenance of a regiment. As regimental quartermaster of the Seventeenth Infantry and in fact have in fact performed about every duty of detail, which the military service offers including that of Assistant Acting General Officer. Your office has abundant testimony on file as to the manner in which these military duties and how they were discharges.

A.H.M. Taylor

1st Lieutenant 19th U.S. Army.





(Commanding Officers report under G.O. 41, A.G.O.., 1890.)







Post of San Antonio, Texas

May 1st, 1890

Efficiency report of A.H.M. Taylor, First Lieutenant 19th Infantry

⦁ Present duty. On duty with company

⦁ Professional ability, stating everything affecting favorably or otherwise the practical efficiency of the officer. Very good

⦁ Attention to duty. Excellent

⦁ General conduct and habits. Excellent

⦁ The condition and discipline of men under his command. Excellent

⦁ His care and attention to their welfare. Excellent

⦁ Any peculiar fitness or marked ability for collage, recruiting, or other detail. None

⦁ Whether any important duty has devolved upon him, and how he has performed the same.

Nothing special is known of.



⦁ Weather he has shown any desire to go beyond the ordinary routine of his duty, and if so in what direction of work, study or investigation, and to what extent. None

Remarks. Have known him about sixteen years

Respectfully submitted



C.H. Smith Colonel 19th Infantry,

Commanding Post.









From January 1889 to May of 1890 the Nineteenth Infantry was in preparation to move to Fort Wayne Detroit Michigan to replace the 23 Infantry who were to be sent to Texas, in May 1890 the Band and companies A, E, G, H, I, K, 19TH Infantry remained at San Antonio until May 8th, 1890, performed the usual duties. On that day under provisions of G.O. 220 D AGO. They left the post at San Antonio at 5: 30 pm, and marched to the iron town & Great Northern R.R. at San Antonio a distance of three miles.

Arrived at Texarkana Texas at 1:30 May 9, 1890 when it left via the Iron Mountain Railroad for

St Louis, Mo, arriving there at 7 pm May 11, 1890. Left St Louis same via/Chicago and Alton R.R. AT 9 PM and arrived Chicago at 7 am May 12.

1st Lieutenant A.H.M. Taylor was granted a seven day leave to enable him to accompany the remains of his wife who died aboard the train near Texarkana, Texas. May 10, 1890. He left the train at, Little Rock Arkansas at 11 pm May 10. 1890



Orders Headquarters 19th Infantry

Little Rock. Arkansas in route to Fort Wayne,Michigan







By order of Colonel Chasity

WANTS SOILDERS,

And in the Endeavor to Procure them will open a recruiting station in Jackson. Charles H. Ruhl, proprietor of the commercial hotel is in receipt of a command of Fort Wayne near Detroit in which the latter desires to obtain quarters for a party of Army Officers, who are to be sent here with the view of establishing a United States Army recruiting station. About a year since a party of officers, conducting a recruiting office, occupied quarters at Commercial, and the fine treatment accorded them created such an impression on the commandant of the fort that he was desirous of opening in the same hostelry. Mr Ruhl has made all the arrangements necessary for the accommodations of the officers, who are expected to arrive from Detroit to day. The party will consist of ;

A.H.M Taylor, Corporalies, and Allington , who have arranged to remain.in Jackson about three weeks.








EFFICIENCY REPORT IN CASE OF

1st Lieutenant A.H.M. Taylor

19th Infantry

Place----Fort Wayne, Mich.

Date December 31, 1891

Summary of report

Special subjects studied---- Administrative and training men active field service

Tried by common sense method



Languages---None



Business training----Through knowledge of bookkeeping in all the branches

Remarks---states subjects on which he is thoroughly conversant-Law

Commanding Officers Report under A.G. 41 A.G.O. 1890

Post –Fort Wayne, Michigan

January 14, 1892





Efficiency report of ---1st Lieutenant A.H.M. Taylor 19th Infantry

State of Health---Good Eyesight---Normal If fit for active duty---yes

⦁ Present Duty----On Duty with Company H



⦁ Married or single----Widower



⦁ Professional zeal and ability, stating everything affecting favorably or otherwise the practical effect of the officer----very good 4. Attention to duty---- Excellent

⦁ General conduct and habits---- very good

⦁ The condition and discipline of men under his command----Excellent

⦁ His care and attention to their welfare—Excellent

⦁ Capacity for command----Very good

⦁ Scientific attainments---- None

⦁ Prominent talents, characteristics, and acquirements----A thorough knowledge of bookkeeping

And a capacity for the care and handling of troops

⦁ Any peculiar fitness or marked ability for collage, recruiting, or other detail----Fitted for collage or recruitment duty,

Recruitment duty

⦁ Whether any special duty has devolved upon him, and how he has performed the same

Unknown

⦁ Whether he has shone any desire to go beyond the ordinary routine of his duty, and if so in what

Direction--- Has devoted considerable attention to at whatever the duties

⦁ Remarks---Has devoted considerable attention to law and the care and command of troops. An –Effective Officer.

Respectfully submitted. Charles A. Wikoff, 19th Infantry

Lieutenant Colonel 19th Infantry

“COMPANY DISCIPLINE”



In the spring of 1892, Captain Taylor had an article published in the Monthly Review of Military and Naval Affairs titled "Company Discipline.” This article dealing with Officers of the U.S. Army and their men, it probably did not go over very well amongst his Commanding Officers, he wrote:



Another measure of recent introduction into our service, supposed to bring the men favorably under the captain's influence, because of inducement to remain more in camp or garrison, is the present canteen system at posts. What is this institution but one of licensed idleness, with the attraction of beer, cards, dice, billiards, and other kindred solicitations to extravagance and dissipation? Can it possibly aid company discipline? If it is not an. aid, then it must be a hindrance; and if a hindrance, then it is an evil; and if an evil, can we reach any other conviction than that it should be promptly suppressed.

The young recruit, fresh from the rural district, of whom we hope so much from his enlistment, is met on the threshold of his military life with the invitation to waste his money, become a beer-drinker, a card-player, a dice-thrower, and an idler of his time. We may, and doubtless will, return him to civil life, if we limit him to but one enlistment, as now proposed, enfeebled in body, weakened in mind, and morals tainted, the end a ruined manhood.

Eliminate the bar from the canteen, and the business becomes a pecuniary loss and the enterprise a failure. It is the sale of beer that attracts the soldier. You say we can give the soldier twice as much beer for his money as he could get in outside saloons; what does this result in, but that the soldier drinks at least twice as much beer as he would if obliged to have recourse to those saloons. As we look at it, the canteen supplies facilities to ruin a man more cheaply and rapidly: and its inevitable result must be to spread "intemperance" throughout the army.

It is unfortunate that we are committed to a scheme so objectionable and dangerous in character, under guise of pecuniary advantage to the soldier, and the deception that the canteen is a place of innocent recreation, of healthful amusement, and of useful entertainment.

The captain who does his duty must oppose this system, which destroys true discipline and effectually prevents the formation of those traits which make men strong in physical grace, mental achievement, and moral power.

Can we escape the conclusion that the sooner we displace the canteen by the reading-room, the library, the gymnasium where calisthenics under a competent professor is taught, the whole at the expense of the government, and stop further traffic in the soldiers' pay, the better for the efficiency and reputation of the service?

At the present time, and in the future with still greater demands, the captain of a company has and will have exacting work before him of the gravest responsibility. Not alone to prepare his men for possible war service by a suitable disciplinary training, but he must instill into their minds those sentiments of duty and honor that through life will successfully resist the allurements of vice and effectually check any disposition to aid propositions which menace free institutions or covertly or actively question the authority of the government. I Success in this is the only company discipline that is worth striving after. Success in this is a wreath of laurel bound around the brow of the captain, whose work, protecting in peace, is the Nation's defense in War.

By mid-November, those same Commanding Officers ordered Captain Taylor before a retirement board at Columbus Barracks, Ohio, because of his failing eyesight."

On November 1st 1892, this letter was sent to the Regimental Adjutant of the nineteenth. Why didn’t the Army just ask him to retire without going thru two retirement board hearings and coming away with the same results?

Because they thought they the board would find him incapacitated.







Fort Brady. Michigan

November 1, 1892

To the regimental Adjutant 19th Infantry



Sir I have the honor to state that my defective eyesight, brought on by many years of service and the great amount of clerical labor performed. I am obliged to ask, that the regimental

Commander will take the necessary action, in my appearance before a retiring board, as I believe I had rather retire from active service, and give my place to a younger man, who does not labor under the infirmities here in explained

I have the honor to be

Very respectfully

Your obedient servant

Captian

Captain 19th Infantry A.H.M. Taylor



Testimony of the retirement board at Columbus Barracks

December 5, 1892

10:00 am



The Board met pursuant to the forgoing orders.



PRESENT

Colonel Simon Snyder, 19th Infantry

Major William E. Waters, Surgeon

Major Augustus A. DeLaffre, Surgeon

Captain Walter T. Soggan, 10th Infantry



First Lieutenant Harry L. Bailey. 21st Infantry. Recorder



Captain Henry O.S. Heist and, 11th Infantry

Also present was Captain Alexander H.M. Taylor 19th Infantry, who appeared before the board pursuant to S. O. No. 271 paragraph 2 Headquarters of the army, A.G.O. Washington Nov 18,

1892





The recorder then read the orders appointing the board, and Captain Taylor was asked whether he had, any objections to any member named therein to which he replied in the negative.

The members of the board present of the board were then severely, duly sworn according to law by the recorder, and the recorder was then duly sworn by the president of the board, all of which oaths were administrated in the presents of Captain A.H.M. Taylor 19th Infantry.

Captain Taylor was duly sworn as a witness in his own behalf and testified as follows.

Question by Board—please state to the board your military history with such remarks as you may desire to make.

Answer—I have prepared a brief written statement of my military history, which I here submit in answer to the question.

Captain Taylor read the statement to the board. (The statement is hereto appended marked “B”)

Question by Board—do you consider yourself physically qualified to perform the duties of an Army Officer?

Answer: I consider the use of glasses a disqualification and I have to use glasses constantly. Outside of that, I am able to perform any duties of an officer in way of enduring hardships and exposure.

Question by Board—do you have to use glasses for long distances?

Answer—I have not used them for long distance, but I find after examination by an occultist that I will have to do so, and that is probably, a mistake I have made. I have used them only for reading and writing. I was examined yesterday afternoon in Columbus Ohio, yesterday afternoon by Doctor Clark.

Question by Board— when did you last qualify as a sharpshooter?

Answer--- I think in 1889. I did not shoot last year, being on recruiting duty

Question by Board--- Have you noticed any appreciable difference in vision for remote objects since you last Qualified as a marksman?

Answer--- I have not had any special reason to notice that. I do not know how it would be. I can see across the street all right and, short distances. The specialist says I should put on my street glasses.

Question by Board--- Please state your age.

Answer---Fifty-two years. My total number of years that would count for retirement is slightly under 27.

My total number of years for the government is 30 (thirty). I include in the latter duty as a clerk in the Adjutant Generals Office.

Captain Taylor had no further testimony to give.

Major William E Waters. Surgeon U.S.A. A medical officer of the board, was duly sworn as a witness in this case and testified as follows

Question by the Board—State whether you have made a mental and physical examination of

Captain Taylor and if so please state to the board, the results of that examination

Answer—I have made a careful physical examination of Captain Taylor. And the results of that examination are stated in a report which I have signed, jointly with Surgeon DeLaffre, and which I here submit. The report was read to the board by the recorder, and is hereto appended, marked ‘’A’’.

Question by Board--- did you find any other mental or physical ailments that might disqualify Captain Taylor from performing the duty of an officer?

Answer---I did not, and in connection with the examination I tested his hearing particularly, as that was referred to as a purposive disqualification by the regimental commander and found it to be normal.

Captain Taylor declined to cross-examination.

Major Augustus A, DeLaffre—Surgeon U.S.A. a medical officer of the board was duly sworn as a witness in this case and testifies as follows.

Question by Board—State whether you have made a mental and physical examination of Captain

A.H.M. Taylor 19th Infantry and if so please state to the board the results of said examination

Answer--- I have examined Captain Taylor physically and the only defect I find is defective vision in both eyes.

Question by board--- Is the defective vision such as may disqualify him from the performance of duty as an Army officer.

Answer--- It is not, in my opinion.

Captain Taylor declined to cross-examine the witness.



The recorder then read to the board in presents of Captain Taylor the documents hereto appended marked, ‘’D’’ ‘’E’’ ‘’F’’ ‘’G’’ ‘’C’’. Furnished from the Adjutant Generals Office.

Captain Taylor had no correction to make nor further testimony to offer.

The board was then cleared and closed for consideration, and after mature deliberation upon the evidence, adduced Finds that Captain Alexander H.M. Taylor, 19th Infantry, U.S. Army, is not incapacitated for active service, and is of the opinion that no further action is necessary.

Simon Snyder 19th Infantry

Commanding

Is the real reason for this attempt to have Captain Taylor retired strictly a personal one bourn by other Officers who seek higher rank and Captain Taylor is in the way.

1893 Letter from company officers

We, the officers of the 19th Infantry, having been asked to give our opinion from our own experience with Captain A.H.M. Taylor’s 19th Infantry, as to his mental condition, believe that

Captain Taylor’s mental condition unfits him to properly perform his duties. For at least two years back he has been gradually losing his memory, that he does not have the power of concentration his mind on any subject, that he is rambling and at times incoherent in his conversation and in many respects is irrational and ill balanced to a notable degree and that and to such an extent as to unfit him for the duties of an officer, which condition of mind has been noticed by us while serving at the post we believe him to be suffering from a species of mental paralysis or paresis and that in many respects he does not seem to be a responsible person, and we are convinced that Captain Taylor is a fit subject for retirement .



Sometime in 1890 The Captain, after arriving at Fort Wayne decided he needed to hire a Formatted: Normal, Space After: 0 pt, No widow/orphan

control, Don't adjust space between Latin and Asian text, D housekeeper. The young Minnie Muth who had been married to Corporal Isaacs at the age of sixteen, when he was transferred from Detroit, he told her he would send for her when he was settled. She never heard from him again. After a year in the Captain employ they were married

and she accompanied him to Fort Brady in the Upper Peninsula.

































































































STATE of MICHIGAN

COUNTY of Wayne No 11797





⦁ Full name of bridegroom - Alexander H.M. Taylor



⦁ Residence at time of Marriage - Detroit Mich.



⦁ Age - 52

Color - White

⦁ Birthplace - England



⦁ Occupation - Soldier

⦁ Full name of Bride- Wilhelmina Glenn

Maiden name if a widow - Wilhelmina Mooth

⦁ Residence at time of Marriage – Detroit Michigan

⦁ Age- 18

Color - White

⦁ Birthplace. - Michigan

The above named were joined in matrimony, - at Detroit

By me, this 11th—Day of August-----A.D. 1892.



In presence

Jon H Harvey-------------of –Detroit Michigan

John Marshall------------of- Detroit Mich ( Signed ) James Phelam, Justice



A man of fifty-two with a wife of eighteen would not garner much attention in today’s society but at Fort Wayne in the 1890s, it was not acceptable for a Captain to marry beneath him, who had been see talking to a lowly street car conductor, (who would become his son- in- law). Not to mention that the Captain had a fourteen-year-old daughter who had been living with her grandparents in Washington and would eventually move home with her father and with a step - mother who was only four years older.





It was reported in the New York Times:

"Captain Taylor's fellow officers are indignant over his marriage some time ago to a grass widow named Minnie Mooth, who for some time had been engaged as a domestic in the captain's bachelor home. The wives of the other officers at Fort Wayne insist that they cannot associate with the lady without compromising all well-defined rules of propriety. "

The following article printed in the Morning World Herald January 31, 1893 is only one of at least ten other columns in various newspapers from Chicago to Wisconsin, New York and Washington, not to mention Detroit and Sault Saint Marie where Fort Brady is located.







UNBECOMEING AN OFFICER

-------



The cause of the court - martial at

Detroit, Mich., Jan 31, --- It was learned Yesterday that the court martial which has been ordered to be held at Fort Wayne will Be for the trial of Alexander H.M. -Taylor of The

Nineteenth Infantry for “conduct unbecoming an officer.” The facts in the case are:





[Morning World-Herald]













Minnie’s Divorce decree



STATE OF MICHIGAN



The Circuit Court for the County of Wayne

IN CHANCERY



MINNIE E. GLENN.



COMPLAINANT-Vs-

FRANK E., GLENN.



DEFENDANT



Present, the Honorable. Henry N. Brevoort, Circuit Judge



At a session of said court, held at the court house in the city of Detroit, in said County, on the nineteenth day of July in the year one thousand eight hundred and ninety- two.

This cause having been brought on to be heard upon the bill of complaint filed therein, taken as confessed by the defendant and the proof having been taken in open court in accordance with an order here to fore entered in this cause, to take the proofs of the material facts charged in said Bill of Complaint in open court, on reading the bill of Complaint, and hearing the proofs taken as aforesaid, from which it satisfactorily appears to this court that the material facts charged in such Bill of Complaint are true, and that the defendant Frank E. Glenn has been guilty of the several acts of desertion therein charged.

On motion of William B. Jackson, of counsel for said complaint, it is ordered, Adjudged and decreed, and this court by virtue of the authority therein vested, and pursuance of the statutes in such case made and provided, forth order, adjudge and decreed that the marriage between the said complainant, Minnie E. Glenn and the said defendant, Frank E. Glenn be dissolved and the same is hereby dissolved, accordingly. And the said parties are, and each of them is free of the obligation therefore.



This letter sent to the Adjutant General and Alexander’s lawyer is to try to reach an out of a court settlement. What Alexander got in return is not known, if anything, but he would remain on the retired list for almost another year and at full pay, it seems like this could be the way out for both parties.

On Feb 4, this letter was sent to the Adjutant General of the Army and to the Advocate of the defense:

Headquarters Nineteenth Infantry, Fort Wayne Detroit, Michigan. Respectfully forward to the Assistant Adjutant General. Department of Missouri. If it be possible to retire Captain Taylor instead of bringing him before the General Court Martial to convene at this post on the 7th instant and thus avoid the terrible scandal that must result from this trial, I believe the service will be infinitely more benefitted than if the trial should even result in his conviction.

Colonel Simon Snider

Nineteenth Infantry, Commanding Regiment







However, whoever a man chooses as his wife regardless her station is not a court-martial offence, it became necessary to order another examination by a retirement board but to be held at Fort Wayne, Detroit not at Columbus Barracks Ohio. The purpose of this retirement board would be to find Alexander mentally incompetent. What fifty- three old year man in his right mind would marry an eighteen-year-old woman?



I have transcribed the minutes of the first retirement board hearing, it was a total of four pages.









Alexander Statement at the Retirement Hearing

Fort Wayne, Michigan

February 10, 1893



To the members of the examination board

Present

Sir: pursuant to instructions

I have the honor to state very briefly my military record.

I have served almost entirely the military branch of the Government loyally and faithfully to the best of my ability since April 1861. I have held almost every position of trust from Adjutant General to a department to a duty officer with a company. All of the usual staff positions I have filled and I have discharged large sums of public funds and handled great quantizes of military stores and property. In all of these positions I have held, I can safely and respectfully say, that my superiors have never questioned my ability or my integrity. My years of service are on file at the war department that it is unnecessary for me to say anything further. Testaments and certificates are there from Generals, Sheridan, Howard, Pope, McDowell, Hartstuff, Griffin, Miegs, Tomlan, Vincent, and a great many other distinguish Officers, besides testimonials from distinguish men who knew me or of me as to my character and service to the government, amongst which will appear the names of the war generals

And later testimonials from my first regiment the 17st Infantry, and following on to the time of my promotion to be a Captain by letters and testimonials of a Commendation nature.



Starting in the service as a soldier of volunteers, I have used my present position and I trust those who know me best will say I have earned all I have received. I am willing to abide by the judgment of the President as to the fidelity of my past service to the government

. Be respectfully submitted A.H.M. Taylor Captain 19th Infantry



General Miles Calls Halt—a Mysterious Delay

Detroit, Mich., Feb. 8---The Fifteen gorgeously attired army officers who gathered about the big drum stove in the library building at Fort Wayne to try Captain Alexander H.M. Taylor on charges of conduct unbecoming an officer, were treated to a good deal of surprise. At the very outset, they were instructed to delay the trial, and back of this order was a sensational rumor. At eleven o’clock the august court seated itself at a long table each member taking a chair, the read the following telegram: location of which was decided by the occupants rank---Colonel, Majors, Captain’s And Lieutenants all in proper order. The roll was called and when all were seated, Lieutenant Swift

Chicago—you are hereby ordered to discontinue the court-martial of Captain A.H.M.

Taylor until further orders. You will remain in session in the meantime.



Nelson A. Miles

Major General U.S.A.





The court thereupon adjourned. The real purpose of the postponement is known only to General Miles, but the officers of composing the court are well satisfied as to the cause, it is declared. It is said that a charge has been filed with the department commander stating that Captain Taylor is mentally incompetent, and he is therefore not responsible for his acts. In that case, he may never come to trial. If the commanding Officer is convinced that such is the case Captain Taylor will be disposed of by the retiring board.

[Oshkosh Daly Feb 8, 1893]

February 7, 1893

The following order has been received from the War Department:

War Department, Washington, February 7, 1893.

By direction of the President Captain Alexander H.M. Taylor, Nineteenth Infantry will report in person on February 8, 1893 to Colonel James F. Wade, Fifth Cavalry, and President of the Army retirement board ordered to convene on that date at Fort Wayne, Michigan, for examination by the board.

Stephen B. Elkin, Secretary of War















Chicago, Illinois

Telegram

Official Business



Chicago Illinois, Feb 13, 1893

Adjutant General U.S.A

Washington D.C.



Please inform me by telegram if the action of the retirement board in the case of Alexander H.M. Taylor, Nineteenth Infantry has or will be approved if so we will order the court martial to adjourn. Nelson A. Miles, Major General commanding





ANSWER: Captain Taylor was found permanently incapacitated by the retirement board at Fort Wayne Michigan, and of disability incidental to the service. The proceedings of the board were read here this morning and have been referred to the Surgeon General.

A.G.O FEB 13, 1893 Submit to Major General Miles.











THE DAILY INTER OCEAN

Court- martial Disbands

Captain Taylor Still under Arrest Pending

Order from General Miles.



Detroit Michigan, Feb. 13, the general court-martial that was to try Captain Taylor

At Fort, Wayne has been disbanded and the members have returned to their stations. Colonel B.

J. Irwing, medical director of the department, has also left for Chicago and it may be accepted for a fact that Captain Taylor will be retired or granted leave to await retirement. He is still at the post and has not been released from arrest. Instructions for that must come from General Miles, the department commander.

[Daily-inter Ocean]







Facts Related to the case of Captain A.H.M. Taylor, 19th Infantry

Captain Taylor has been examined by a retirement board and has been pronounced by it incapacitated for active service. The proceedings of the board have been approved at the War Department and Captain Taylor has been ordered to his home to await retirement, there are at least three vacancies on the retired list and it is submitted that Captain Taylor should be retired for the following reasons.

Captain Taylor is now drawing full pay for duty, which is being performed by others and is barring the advancement of next in line of the promotion in his Regiment. Lieutenant W.P.

Evans, who is an Officer of nearly fifteen years standing.

Lieutenant Evans was kept out of his promotion to the grade of 1st Lieutenant for four years by an officer who was incapacitated for duty but will be carried on the rolls of the regiment, the Nineteenth Infantry. During this time, more than sixty of Lieutenant Evans juniors were promoted over him in other Regiments. If the retirement is now made, Lieutenant Evans will thereby recover the portion of which he was deprived in his first promotion. already Lieutenant

Evans’s juniors are being promoted to the grade of Captain, and Officers who are his juniors by length of service and original rank stand first for promotion in four of the Infantry’s regiments, and four in the cavalry. Whatever of rank this officer loses in his promotion to Captaincy, he loses beyond hope of recovery and to prevent such further loss of rank on his part the retirement of Captain Taylor and the subsequent promotion of Lieutenant Evans, are asked for.

Very respectfully

Left by representative, Stone from Kentucky



WAR DEPARTMENT

Adjutant Generals Office

Washington D.C. July 31, 1893







Mr. John S. Castleman.

Louisville, Kentucky.



Sir:



A.H.M. Taylor, 19th Infantry, be retired from active service, in order that 1st Lieutenant William P. Evans, of that Regiment may be promoted. The acting Secretary of war directs me to inform you that it is the policy of the war department in retiring Captains whose separation from the active list will result in the promotion of the first Lieutenant who has served the longest. In addition, that the retirement of Captain Taylor would not be in harmony of this policy, as Lieutenant Evans has not served as long as a number of Lieutenants, in other regiments in which there is a Captain who is eligible for retirement.

Very respectfully

E.D. Townsend

Adjutant General





Even though the second retirement board had found him incapacitated, Alexander had yet to be retired from the Army and was drawing full pay. The reasons for this is Army regulations, as stated in the letter, and Lieutenant Evans thought that his promotion was being effected by

Alexander’s not being retired.

There is a possibility that Alexander was offered a plea deal to accepting the decision of the Retirement Board, and the court- martial would be dismissed. In addition, save his family from any embarrassments it might cause. In 1904, Alexander was promoted to Major on retirement.





Detroit Free Press

June 5th, 1894

MURDEROUS ASSAULT -Would – be robber attacked Captain Alexander H.M. Taylor last night

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Captain Alexander H.M. Taylor, U.S.A., Residing at 265 Twenty- First Street, was a victim of a murderous assault last night, and it was only by his grit and promptness of action saves his life.

Shortly after 9o’clock, he went to the barn in the rear of his residence to lock the door for the night. The door swings in and as he reached to draw it toward him, a man sprang at him with an uplifted club. It was quite dark at the time, but the Captain managed to see the man’s shadow as the latter aimed a blow at him. He quickly threw his head to one side and he received a glancing blow on the top of his head. Captain Taylor staggered back into the yard but his eyes were so blinded by blood that he could hardly see. The man quickly followed and struck at him a second time and the Captain threw up his arms and caught the blow on his wrist and hands. The assailant made a third attempt to fell him, but the blows missed intended mark and the man turned and fled from the yard. Making his way into the house, Captain Taylor informed his family of what had occurred, and Doctor Campbell was called for. The doctor found a deep cut on top of his head, about two inches long and his left arm and wrist were terribly swollen, butt his injuries are in no way dangerous.

An examination of the barn showed that the man was bent on robbery. The lock on a trunk containing clothing had been pried off, but the burglar had no time to take anything. The only description Captain Taylor can give of his assailant is that he was a small well – built man, dressed in light clothing and a slouch hat.





Two days after the assault on Captain Taylor, this message was received at the 19th Infantry

Headquarters









Special orders, Headquarters of the army,

Adjutant Generals Office

Washington, June 7, 1894



Extract



* * * *

The following order has been received from the War Department

Captain Alexander H.M. Taylor, 19th Infantry, having been found by an Army

Retirement Board incapacitated for active service on account of disability

Incident to the service, is, by direction of the President, retired from active

Service this date, under the provisions of section 1251, Revised Statutes

JOSEPH B. DOE.

Acting Secretary of War



By COMMAND of Major General Schofield:

Thomas A. Vincent

Acting Adjutant



However, being the Soldier that he had become It was obvious that he intended to stay as close to the Military as he could. The following rejection of an act written by him speaks for itself.



War Department

Washing D.C. December 27, 1895

Captain Alexander H.M. Taylor,

U.S. Army,

No 601 Baker Street

Detroit, Michigan.



Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 17th instant, enclosing a draft of a bill to authorize the assignment of retired officers of the Army and Navy to duty in the public departments, etc., and requesting that it be submitted to congress, and to inform you that the

Secretary of War does not deem it advisable to formulate a bill of this character in time of peace.

Very respectfully

Mailed December 27, 1895 Assistant Adjutant General.













Apparently, the government was not too worried about the following international disagreement between the U.S. and Great Britain known as the Venezuela Boundary Dispute of 1895.



Volunteers for the prospective war with Great Brittan Washington D.C. Dec 17, 1895

OFFERS HIS SERVICE James Mulray late 6th N.Y. Arty



At Baltimore Maryland

William H. Seaton student at Seaton Hall Collage applies for commission U.S. Army in impending war with Great Britain. Recorded A.G.O. Dec 20, 1895.



No 1 Henry D Cahiers No 25 Wells Sponable

No 2 A.H.M. Taylor No 26 William Abbott

No 3 W.H.S. Wood No 27 Fred a Churchill

No 4 S.J. McBride No 28 J.H. Belmont, Commanding No 5 Fritz L. Schmidt Jr First Indiana Rifles of Baltimore

Maryland

No 6 J, Summers Rogers No 29 Thomas T. Taylor

Michigan Military Academy No 30 Clement Story

Orchard Lake No 31 J.S. Kennedy

No 7 New Jersey Mud Hens No 32 Alfred Ludwig

No 8 Judge Thomas R.M. Cullage No 33 W.G. Whitefield

No 9 Joseph G. Marshall No 34 Robert H Grisham and others

No 10 Dr Philip Rounberger No 35 John Davis (Colonel)

No 11 W.E. Hutchinson No 36 Harry B Miller

No 12 John H Marshall No 37 O.J. Crawford

Post 180 G.A.R. Union Town P.A. No E.R. Clerige

No 13 E.P. Hall No 39 Wm. A. Brewer

No 14 Wm F Brewster No 40 Wm. A. Ogden

No 15 F.J Foster No 41 Clayton H Buell N.Y.

No 16 W.L. Cabell No 42 Geo. N. Hildt

U.C. Veterans 50,000 confederate veterans No 43 J.M. Curtis

No 17 R.S. Willie No 44 J.E. Wilson

No 18 W.N. Monroe No 45 Jasper M Kennard

No 19 N.J. Jordan No 46 Andrew Himile

No 20 Rudolph Kessler No 47 James B. Steadman

No 21 Henry N Barth GA.A.R. Post Salinas City California.

No 22 Henry R Adams U.S.A. Retired

Late Lieutenant 25th Infantry No 24 W.W. Chapel

No 23 Major A. R. Kauffman

I have included this list just in the off chance a family member might be interested in your own family history. Good luck. I know you will at least look.





Again in 1899 (war with Spain)

Captain. A.H.M. Taylor U.S. Army – retired.

245 24th St.

Detroit Mich.

Sir:

Referring to your communication of the seventh, instant I have the honor to inform you that it not be practicable to make use of your services for recruitment duty, Very Respectfully. Assistant Adjutant General









.

WASHINGTON

September 1,1908

The Quartermaster General of the Army



Sir:



The secretary of War directs that a campaign badge, engraved and numbered serially as indicated below, be furnished to the following named Officers:



Name and present rank Highest rank and organization Serial No

1031

During badge earning period

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Alexander A.H.M. Taylor, Major 2nd Lieutenant, 19th

United States Army. Retired. United States Infantry

-

Adjutant General

This badge was for the action at Sappi Creek







A CONVERSATION WITH HELEN WISE

With Joann Pezzullo

Helen Wise Stone was Alexander Grand- Daughter, born in Detroit in 1897 died in 1990 Question: what was he like?

He was a man who respected woman he would never sit down before the ladies, and he would bawl my father out, about fixing the loose plank on the wooden sidewalk. He liked his coffee he always had a pot on the stove all the time, if you came to visit he would always offer anybody a cup of coffee.

Question: Did he ever talk about the civil war? Not to me but he did to my mother. He was a very nice person; you would think he would like tea being an Englishman and all. I was proud of his being a Major and, serving in the Army and all.

My mother told me his wife was real mean to her, she would throw her clothes out the door, scream, and yell at her. Alexander said that he thought she needed to find a place to board. Alexander arranged for her to board with his sister in-law Luella Wise where Johanna worked in their general store.



Alexander passed away in December of 1912, and is buried at Woodmere Cemetery in Detroit.

Minnie shows up in 1927, requesting a widow’s pension from her marriage to Alexander. Helen said that she received 25-30 a month pension, but was not sure of the exact amount. According to Helen, Minnie’s new husband was a shiftless person and had Minnie sell her home and when all the money was gone, he left her.



Helen would not say anything bad about anyone; a very respectful person who’s moral up bringing was common for the times.

She even had trouble repeating things other people told her about Minnie. Minnie’s sister Gussie on the other hand did not feel that way, saying that she was a “no good tramp” and did not want anything to do with her.



Sometime later Minnie fell on hard times, and became forced to ask relatives for a place to live, her sister said absolute not. Minnie was sick with diabetes and needed special care. After her sister refused, she asked Helen if she could stay with her, Helen asked her husband Claude what he thought, and they agreed to help.



Minnie’s diabetes seemed to be under control with Helens constant attention, but Helen was pregnant and could not keep up with all the things to do, fearing she might have problems with her pregnancy she turned to Minnie’s sister who again refused to help. Knowing Helen, I have no doubt that it was something, she did not want to do but it became necessary to have her sent to the hospital for care. Minnie’s Diabetes became worse and Helen had to make a decision, I know this was so hard for her to do, was to send Minnie to St Mary’s hospital in Detroit.



Michigan National Guard



Detroit, Mich. Jan. 3, 1913

From 1st lieutenant. J.H. Russell, 1st Infantry. Mich. National Guard.

To: The Adjutant General of the Army

Subject: Death of Major Alexander H.M. Taylor, retired.

Replying to your letter of December 30th, beg to advised that Major Taylor’s death was

caused by dysentery. J.H. Russell

1st Lieutenant of Infantry. Michigan National Guard.



Minnie passed away June 2, 1949 THE END

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About Me Joanne Pezzullo I am an avid researcher of my mothers and fathers ancestors and I particularly enjoy Melungeon research and I truly enjoy helping people with their research. If you need some help drop me a line, always glad to help if I can. joannepezzullo@aol.com View my complete profile

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