Hon E. M Stanton

 

James T. Clancy was appointed Major of the First Reg'm't N.Y.V. Sept. 10. 1862. He at once began a career of dissipation and riot, regardless of self-respect or shame. Associating with himself Capt Coles and a few disaffected and dissolute Officers he established and favored petty cliques and parties, and fomented and encouraged every mutinous and insubordinate spirit existing in the Reg'm't. But his evil influence did not stop here, by inviting the privates of the Reg'm't into his quarters to partake of liquors &c and by many underhanded measures of a like character he caused to appear among them a general tone of affrontery and insubordination. At Newport News Va. he fought several (three) duels in one weeks time, all growing out of drunken quarrels while indulging in his almost nightly orgies. In Novb 1861 I was sent to New York on the Recruiting Service, and returned in April 1862. Upon re-joining my Reg'm't at Newport News Va I found an alarming state of feuds, and bickerings to exist in it, and could easily trace the whole to the machinations and conduct of Major Clancy. I at once prepared charges against him, but they were not accepted or forwarded by Col. Dyckman who tacitly countenanced his actions. The Reg'm't soon after left to join the Army of the Potomac. While at Harrison's Landing the conduct of Major Clancy was ungentlemanly, and disgraceful in the highest degree. Most of the time in a semi-intoxicated state, even Col. Dyckman his somewhat confrere was obliged to prefer charges against him. He was tried on three charges the 24^th July, by a G.C.M. of which / Gen'l Birney was President and Captain W^m C. S. Taylor 20^th Indiana Vols. Judge Advocate. He remained under arrest from this date to the date of his dismissal from the service, Oct. 14^th 1862. During this time his conduct was scandalous in the extreme. He broke his arrest on the 22^d of August '62 by leaving the Reg'm't on its way through Alexandria to Warrenton Junction and for two weeks led a life of disgrace and drunkenness at Alexandria and Washington. He was again at this time tried by a G.C.M. for this offence, but owing to imperfect charges and evidence, escaped with little punishment, the President of the Court Col. de Trobriand 55^th N.Y.V. afterwards telling me that had the whole evidence appeared he would have been cashiered. Charges again for "Conduct unbecoming an Officer and a Gentleman" were about to be preferred when he was dismissed. I append several certificates of Officers given on honor, as to his conduct &c during the time of his arrest. I also accompany this with a Protest against his restoration, signed by every officer but of my command, and these papers will substantiate the statements I make herein. Major Clancy has never participated but in one engagement with the Reg'm't and this time at Glendale, he disappeared suddenly and did not rejoin the Reg'm't for two days after, and then upon the James River. Since the absence from the Reg'm't of this man & the others dismissed at the same time the tone & discipline of my command has improved greatly, and a perfect feeling of brotherhood and unanimity exists. The moment of his / restoration to the Reg'm't will commence anew all the old troubles and demoralizing influences. I therefore, in view of these facts, do entreat and protest against his being thrust again upon the Reg'm't. Special Order N^o 400 dated Washington A.G.O. Dec'b. 18. 1862 restores him to his old position if this vacancy has not been filled. I claim that it has been filled. Upon being made Colonel of the Reg'm't in Nov'b last, I took the first opportunity to write to Gov. E. D. Morgan at Albany N.Y. recommending Ebenezer Van Tuyl Capt. and Francis Leland Capt. to fill respectively the positions of Lt. Col. & Major. I feel assured that these commissions have not reached me yet through irregularity of mail, that they have been sent I know from a letter rec'd from New York stating that the person had had them in his hands. The Officer has been Acting Major ever since Major Clancy's dismissal, and has been treated and considered by all as Major. Upon this base I claim that no vacancy exists for the restoration of Major Clancy, but if otherwise ruled, I respectfully entreat that the order replacing him, be revoked, and this alone for the future of my Reg'm't and the consequent good of the service                                    

J. Fred. Pierson

                                                                                               

Col. Command'g

1^st Reg'm't N.Y.V. Infy

 

[endorsements]

 

Copy of letter to the                                        

Sec. of War about                                           

the restoration of Mr.                                      

James T Clancy to                                          

his former position                                         

December 27. 1862                                         

                              

 H'dq'rtr's 3^d Corps

Dec'b. 29. 1862

Approved, recommended

And respectfully

Geo. Stoneman

Brig Gen'l

   Command'g

 

H'dqrtr's 3^d Brigade                                     

1^st Div. 3^d Corps

Dec. 29 1862

I would respectfully

recommend that the

wishes of Col. Pierson in

relation to this officer be

complied with. I consider

it for the interest of the

service that the Colonel be

sustained. His Reg'm't is

one of the best, made so

from one of the most

demoralized I have ever

seen, solely by his exertions

(signd) H. G. Berry

            Brig. Genl Vols

 

H'dq'rtr's 1^st Div 3^d Corps

Dec'b. 29. 1862

Approved

            D. B. Birney

            Brig-Gen'l

            Command'g

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