6th New York Cavalry & 17th Pennsylvania Cavalry - NEW

Item DOC-12061

Description

Original 3 page Civil War document written in period ink

Headquarters, 2nd Brigade
1st Cavalry Division
February 29, 1864.
 
Official
W.H. Hill
Assistant Adjutant General
 
The military commission, after thoroughly investigating the aforesaid case and after mature deliberation submit the following that 1^st Lieutenant W. A. Park was in Washington D,.C. on the 16^th day of November 1863 without proper authority under the following circumstances.
 
On the 15th of November, 1863, and prior to this time, Lieutenant Parke had been and was very ill. He had made application for a leave of absence, accompanied by the certificate of his regimental surgeon. This being returned disapproved, he then made application, accompanied by a surgeon's certificate, to be sent to hospital, which was returned with endorsement recommending him to be sent to the Cavalry Corps Hospital then at Warrenton Junction. With this recommendation, he started November 15th, 1863, for the Cavalry Corps Hospital. He arrived at Warrenton Junction in the night, which was a cold in 1881, he made diligent inquiry for the hospital of officers there stationed, but owing to the fact that the hospital had but lately been established, he was unable to find it. Under these circumstances, knowing that if he remained there without cover all night, he would place his life in jeopardy, and also being ignorant of the rules and procedure necessary to be observed by persons in a position like himself, he resolved upon going to Washington, thinking that the order ordering him to Cavalry Corps Hospital was sufficient to gain him admittance to any army hospital. 
 
On arriving at Washington, he immediately reported himself to Dr. Abbott, the medical director, who told him that he could not receive him, but that he must return to the Cavalry Corps Hospital at Warrenton Junction, being present in Washington only about 10 hours. Shortly afterwards, he was returned to the hospital, Georgetown, DC, by special order number 303, Headquarters Army of the Potomac.
 
To sum up, he went to Washington through ignorance and to save life furthermore, this commission takes the liberty to state that Lieutenant W. A. Parke, 6th New York Cavalry, has been in active service in the field for more than two years, that none have a better record, and the commission would respectfully recommend that the case be dismissed, as his service as a cavalry officer is invaluable to the United States service. 
 
We have the honor Sir, 
to be very respectfully,
your obedient servant
 
D. Snively
Lieutenant, 17^th Pennsylvania Cavalry