Head Quarters 1^st Reg'm't NYV

Bealeton. August 24^th 1862

Hon Edwin M. Stanton

Secretary of War

Washington

                                               

Sir,

          My Reg'm't attached to Gen'l Birney's Brigade, Gen'l Kearney's Division, and Gen'l Heintzleman's Corps d'Armee, Army of the Potomac, left Yorktown the 20^th Inst. for Alexandria and at once proceeded to the front. Before arriving at Yorktown Col. Garrett Dyckman had been placed under arrest, and had marched to the point of embarkation of the P at the rear of the Reg'm't. He then left the Reg'm't & went to Newport News, thus and has not reported since thus he not alone has broken his arrest but is at present a deserter. Major James T. Clancy was tried by General Court Martial on the 21^st July and has ever since been under arrest awaiting sentence. He left the Reg'm't at Alexandria, and has not reported since, thus he too not alone has broken his arrest, but is at present a deserter. Capt. / W^m L. Coles Co. C. deserted at Alexandria

Act'g Adjt Charles W Wright 2^nd Lieut Co. G.

W^m T Allen 2^d Lieut Col F.

George W Duncan 1^st Lieut Co. E.

all deserted at Alexandria, and have failed to report since. Before As these Officers understood that I had given strict orders that not one should absent himself from his Company without permission, that the Reg'm't was As the desertion of these Officers at the moment of reaching Alexandria was directly against my orders, as it left their companies in each case totally without command, and at a time when their services were most needed, as they knew the Reg'm't was ordered to proceed at once to the point where fighting was going on, and as all of them have proved themselves to be worthless Officers if not cowards I respectfully ask that they be at once dishonorably dismissed the Service of the U.S. The exactions of service in the field do does not permit of charges & Court Martials, and it is / absolutely necessary for the good of the public service that these Officers position these Officers have disgraced be filled at once

 

Willards Hotel                       

Washington Sept. 17^th 1862

c/o Birney ADC

            Brig Gen'l Birney

                                   

Sir

            The Document inclosed addressed to the Sec'y of War I had written roughly just at the moment of my being placed under arrest by you and the chances of war have prevented my sending it it before. If you would be kind enough to forward it, with this explanation of its back date, it may yet benefit the public service.

                                                                                   

Very Respectfully

Yr. Obt. S'vt

 J. Fred. Pierson

Lt. Col. 1^st Reg'm't NYV 

 

[endorsement]

Copy of my

letter to the Sec'y

of War of

Augt. 24^th 1862

through Gen'l

Birney &c

 

August 24, 1862.

SOURCES