1^st Page

Savannah Ga. March 18^th 1865.

 

Report of a Board of Survey convened at Savannah Ga. pursuant to the following order,

 

Head Quarters U. S. Forces

Savannah Ga. March 17^th 1865

 

Special Order

            No. 51                         (Extract)

2—A Board of Survey to consist of the following named Officers, will assemble at the Arsenal in this City, at 9 A.M. tomorrow March 18^th, to examine into and report upon the discrepencies said to exist between the Invoices and amount of Ordnance and Ordnance Stores transferred to Lieut. Thomas J. Spencer, Ordnance Officer Military Division of the Mississippi.

 

Detail

 

1—Lt. Col. H. N. Hooper       54^th Mass. Vols.

2—Captain O. H. Marston      14^th N. H. Vols.

3—Captain J. K. Laing           14^th Maine Vols.

 

The Junior member will record this proceedings.

 

                                                                        By Command of

                                                                                    Bvt. Maj. Gen. Grover

                                                                        (Signed)          Edward G. Dike

                                                                                                            A.A.A.Gen.

 

The Board met pursuant to the above order, /

 

2^d

Members present—

                        Lieut. Col. H. N. Hooper        54^th Mass. Vols.

                        Captain O. H. Marston            14^th N. H. Vols.

                        Captain J. K. Laing                 14^th Maine Vols.

 

Lieut. Spencer submitted the report of a previous Board, appended marked A; the business to act upon was before the board is embodied in the endorsment of Major General W. B. Hazen upon the said report submitted. Lieut. Spencer asked for time to furnish further certificates and copies of letters. The Board then adjourned until March 20^th 10 o'clock A.M. to meet at Ordnance Depot.

 

                                                                                                Savannah March 20^th 1865

Board met pursuant to adjournment.

Members present:—

            Lieut. Col. H. N. Hooper        54^th Mass. Vols.

            Captain J. K. Laing                 14^th Maine Vols

apended and mark B is a communication from Cap – stating the cause of his absence.

Lieut. Spencer submitted the following Certificates and Copies of Letters—appended mark C—

 

I certify, on honor, that I have done every thing in my power, to ascertain the exact whereabouts of Lieut. Col. Clark A.A.G., and Chief of Staff to Maj. Gen'l O. O. Howard at the time this ammunition was stored at Kingston Ga., and have addressed to him as indicated, the following letter—having been informed that he was at Memphis Tenn., conducting a branch office of the D. & A. T. Hd. Qrs. I further certify that I have received no answer to the letter quoted, which is a true copy of one sent to Lt. Col. Clark Jan. 25^th '65, /

 

3

(Signed)                                                          Tho^s J. Spencer

                                                                                    Lieut. Comdg. Ord. Depot, M.D.M.

 

                                                                                                Depot Ord. Officer M.D.M.

                                                                                                Savannah Ga. Jan. 25^th 1865.

Lt. Col. Clark

            A.A.G.

                        Memphis Tenn.

                                                Sir;

                                                            When our army passed through Kingston Ga. to Rome Ga. in pursuit of Hood, I left in store at Kingston (100 000) one hundred thousand rounds Elongated Ball Cartridges, Cal. .58, because my teams were unable to carry it and the forage they were receiving at that place. I met you at the time, if you recollect, at the Post Commandant's Head Quarters, and requested you to give the necessary orders in the case, which you did verbally—directing the Post Commandant to instruct his A.Q.M. to receive it for storage. Subsequently the ammunition was shipped to Chattanooga Tenn.; and no efforts of mine have succeeded in tracing it since then. A Board of Survey has exonerated me from all blame and responsibility in the matter, providing I obtain your certificate that you authorized me to store it at Kingston Ga. Without your certificate I will still be responsible for property entirely beyond my control. Please, therefore, sign this accompanying, and send it to my address, viz—Lieut. Tho^s J. Spencer, Comdg, Ord. Depot Savannah Ga.

                                                            Very Respectlully &c.

                                                                        Tho^s J. Spencer, Lieut. Comdg. Ord. Depot

                                                                                                            M.D.M. /

 

4

Copy of certificate enclosed in letter of Jan. 25^th 1865 to Lt. Col. Clark,—

I certify, that, on or about the 12^th day of Oct. 1864, at Kingston Ga., Lt. Tho^s J. Spencer A.O.O. 2^d Div. 15^th A.C., told me it was utterly impossible for his teams to keep pace with the troops, and continue to carry all the ammunition they were loaded with; that many teams had already given out, and some had but three mules left; and he was ordered to load on each team at Kingston Ga., five days forage. He said by leaving 100 000 rounds at Kingston Ga. in store, he thought he could get along; and I therefore directed him to leave one hundred thousand rounds in store at Kingston Ga.

                                                                                    Lt. Co. & Chief of Staff

                                                                                                Dept. & Army Tenn.

I also certify on honor that the following letters were written as indicated, and that replies had been received to some of them.

 

                                                                                    Depot Ord. Office M.D.M.

                                                                                                Savannah Ga. Jan. 25^th 1865

Lt. Col. T. G. Baylor

            Chief of Ord. M.D.M.

                                    Sir:—

                                                Just previous to tearing up the railroad and starting for Savannah Ga., all the Ord. and Ord. stores at Kingston Ga., were shipped to Chattanooga Tenn. I understand that you have a memoranda of the articles &c. Will /

 

5

you please tell me whether or not you know what became of One hundred thousand rounds of E.B. Cartidges, for which I am responsible, and which I left there for want of transportation. I can learn nothing of them from any source. I stored them with Lt. E. Solf, Post A.Q.M., while we were in pursuit of Hood. If they were sent to Mechadis, please let me have the date and I will forward Invoices.

                                                                        Very Respectfully

                                                                                    Your Ob't Servant

                                                (Signed)                                  Tho^s J. Spencer

                                                                                                Lieut. Comdg Ord. Depot

                                                                                                                        M.D.M.

P.S. Please direct the officer at the Chattanooga Ord. Depot, to receive the surplus stores and material for which I am responsible, and send the order to me, that I may transmit it with the Invoices.

The stores referred to as surplus, were sent to Chattanooga from Lafayette, while our army was pursuing Hood.

                                                (Signed)                      T.J.S.

                                                                        Depot Ord. Office M.D.M.

                                                                                    Savannah Ga. Jan. 10^th 1865

 

Sergt. John Burbank

            Ord. Sergt. 2^nd Div. 15^th A.C.

                                    Chattanooga Tenn.

                                                                                                            What have you

done with the tools, stores and materials, which were sent in your charge from Lafayette Ala. to Chattanooga Tenn.? Why have you not /

 

6

written to me about these stores &c? I directed you to try and turn them in to the Ord. Depot at Chattanooga, before the Army left Atlanta—did you thus try? Send me a long letter with full particulars, telling how you are getting along. Make your affidavit before the Provost Marshall, about what has become of the tools, stores &c., and mention the name of every tool, and the amount of every article, number &c. in the affidavit; then send me two copies of it without fail. I need them immediately so as to make out my return.

                                                            Very Respectfully

                                                                        Your Ob't Servant

                                                (Signed)                      Tho^s J. Spencer

                                                                                    Lieut. Comdg. Ord. Depot.

                                                                                                            M.D.M.

 

                                                                                    Depot Ord. Office M.D.M.

                                                                                                Savannah Ga. Jan. 15^th 1865

Capt. J. S. Pinkerton

            47^th O.V.V.I.

                        Chattanooga Tenn.

                                                Sir:

                                                            Please inform me of what you know of the whereabouts of Sergt. Jno. Burbank, who is on duty in the Ord. Dept of this Div. (2^d Div. 15^th A.C.). He has all of my tools, several stands of small arms, many spare parts &c.&c.&c. for which I am responsible; and can learn nothing of his whereabouts. He with several others was sent in charge of these things to Chattanooga, from Lafayette Ala. while our Army was pursuing /

 

7

Hood. Any information sent to my present address, will be gratefully received.

                                                                        Very Respectfully &c.

                                                (Signed)                      Thos. J. Spencer

                                                                                                Lieut. Comdg. Ord. Depot

                                                                                                                        M.D.M.

 

I certify on honor that after a careful inventory of property, for which I was responsible, I find that the following articles were sent to Chattanooga Tenn. in charge of Sergt. Burbank, 83^d Ind. Inft'y Vols., in addition to those mentioned in my certificate submitted to the Board of Survey, appointed by Brig. Gen'l W. B. Hazen, Comdg. 2^d Div. 15^th A.C. I further certify that the Inventory and examination of books was made at the earliest opportunity, and that the information mentioned could not have been ascertained at any date previous to the assembling of the Board of Survey referred to; and I further certify that the object in calling that Board at that time, was to enable me to complete my returns before the Army moved again.

                                                (Signed)          Thos J. Spencer

                                                                        Lieut. Comdg. Ord. Depot

                                                                                    Mil. Div. Miss.

Articles referred to

in above certificate—

 

25 Upper band springs for S.R.M. Cal. .58 /

 

Board met pursuant to adjournment.

Members present—

            Lt. Col. H. N. Hooper             54^th Mass. Vols.

            Capt. J. K. Laing                     14^th Maine Vols.

 

Harry A. Hazell Private Co. "G" 55^th Ill. Vols. detached as clerk in Ord. Depot, being duly sworn, deposes and says, he knows the facts concerning the Ordnance above mentioned, and the course pursued by Lt. Spencer to comply with indorsment of previous Board.

Question—

            State what you know about letters sent by Lt. Spencer concerning Ordnance and Ord. Stores which were forwarded from Ordnance Train at Lafayette, by Lt. Spencer during the month of October 1864.

Answer—

            Lt. Spencer sent a letter to Lt. Col. Clark A.A.G. Hd. Qrs. D.N.A.T. on the 25^th day of January 1865 in reference to getting a certificate ordering Lt. T. J. Spencer to leave in store at Kingston Ga. (100 000) one hundred thousand  rounds E. B. Cartridges Cal. .58. There was also a certificate made and sent, in the letter to Lt. Col. Clark, to sign; showing that Lt. Spencer was ordered by him to store the (100 000) one hundred thousand rounds cartridges. There was also letters sent to Lt. Col. T. G. Baylor Chief of Ord. M.D.M. on or about the 25^th day of Jan. 1865. Lt. Spencer hearing that he had a memoranda of the Stores shipped from Kingston Ga. to Chattanooga Tenn. wished him to send to send him an order / for the Ordnance Officer at Chattanooga Tenn. to receive the Stores sent from Kingston Ga. so that he could send it with his Invoices to the Ordnance Officer at Chattanooga.

He also wrote to Sergt. John Burbank Co. "I" 83^d Ohio Ind Vols., acting Ord. Sergt. 2^d Div. 15^th A.C. to ascertain what he had done with tools, stores, and materials sent back in his charge from Lafayette Ala. to Chattanooga Tenn.—telling him to make his affidavit before the Provost Marshall telling what he had done with them, to name all tools, and amount of every article, and to send one or duplicate copies of the affidavits, so that he could make his Returns. Also states that Lt. Spencer wrote Capt. Pinkerton 47^th Ohio V.V.I. on or about the 10^th January 1865, to find out the whereabouts of Sergt. John Burbank, Acting Ord. Sergt.

Question.—

            What do you know about any Ordnance and Ord. Stores that have been missing since the previous Board of Survey.

Answer.—

            Two or three days previous to closing the O. Office at East Point Ga. consequent upon marching, an amount of spare parts was received and placed in the Ord. Train with the spare parts. When it was found necessary to leave a part of the train, that part containing spare parts was left. The Ord. Office was not again opened till we reached Savannah and then owing to presure of business in supplying troops about to move, there was not time to examine back papers—thus the / Invoices of spare parts, left at Lafayette Ga., to be forwarded to Chattanooga, Tenn. were not noticed till after a Board of Survey was convened to act upon Ord. & Ord. Stores left at Lafayette and Kingston. To the best of my recollection the spare parts above alluded to as not acted upon by the first Board of Survey, called for by Lt. Spencer at Savannah, is as herein set forth

 

After a careful investigation examination of the papers presented before the Board, and the evidence given, we find that Lt. Spencer has used all proper means to obtain Lt. Col. Clark's certificate, and to procure Receipts for the property sent back to Chattanooga, in compliance with indorsement of Maj. Gen. W.B. Hazen, on Report of previous Board,—and the following additional property—viz.—

 

25 Upper band springs for S.R.M.Cal. .58

25 Middle band springs          Ditto

25 Lower band springs

25 Bases                                  Ditto

25   "   Screws                         "

25 1^st sight leafs                      "

25 2^d   "           "                      "

38 Cones                                 "

25 Guard screws                     "

25 Joint           "                      "

25 Triggers                             "

16 Tumblers                            "

25        "          screws             "

25 Front sights                        " /

105 Vent Screws

4 Bars wrought steel

                                    was disposed of by Lt. T. J. Spencer, Comdg. Ord. Depot, Mil. Div. Miss., in accordance with proper orders from his Commanding Officer, and that he has used all proper means to procure Receipts for the property, and has failed so to do.

 

In view of the facts set forth, we respectfully recommend that Lt. T. J. Spencer, Commanding Ord. Depot Mil. Div. Miss., be relieved from all responsibility of property contained in Report appended, marked A; also the property above enumerated. /

 

                                                                                    Head Quarters U. S. Forces

                                                                                                Savannah March 31^st 1865

Special Order

            No. 65             "Extract"

                                    2. The Board convened by Special Order No. 51 from these Headquarters will re-convene to reconsider its action

It will be guided by the endorsement from Headquarters Department of the South and by Paragraph 1019 Army Regulations.

                                                                        By command of

                                                                        Brevet Maj. Gen. Grover

                                                (Signed)                      Edward G. Dike, A.A.Gen'l.

 

                                                                                                Savannah Ga. April 6^th 1865

The Board re-convened pursuant to the above order.

Members present—

            Capt. O. H. Marston               14^th N.H. Vols.

            Capt. J. K. Laing                     14^th Me. Vols.

            Lt. Col. H. N. Hooper             54^th Mass. Vols. ordered away with his Regt.

The Board revised the testimony, and from the evidence obtained would most respectfully re-recommend that Lt. T. J. Spencer Comdg. Ord. Depot. Mil. Div. Miss. be relieved from all responsibility of property contained in Report appended, marked A, also the property enumerated in this Report; and further the Board from all the evidence taken they are unable to fix the responsibility on any party or person

SOURCES