108th New York Infantry - Murder

Item LTR-532

Description

2 pages, original Civil War soldier's letter written in period ink and war dated.

Headquarters 108th Regiment New York Volunteers
Bolivar Heights

October 1, 1862

Theo. G. Ellis
A.A. General
French Division
General Sumners
Army Corps,

Dear Sir,

For a short time this regiment was stationed near Fort DeKalb, Virginia in General Whipple’s Division. On the 6th September I was ordered to report with my command to General Sumner at Rockville. The regiment left camp on the morning of the 7th and proceeded to Rockville and reported leaving camp stores and a guard at camp near Fort DeKalb. On the evening of the 7th September, Benjamin D. Potter, a private in Company A, who had been left at camp willfully and deliberately shot and killed Levi Lewis, a private in Company H, same regiment. Lewis, at the time, being in faithful discharge of his duty on guard.

Potter is in irons at Fort DeKalb and ought to be tried and hung if guilty and of that there is no doubt.

At the time of this homicide, this regiment was in no brigade or division. I left the camp in command of Captain H. S. Hogoboom of Company B. Soon after the homicide, he handed charges and specifications to General Whipple. Yesterday I received them by mail without note or comment and entered them herewith.

I have the honor to be

Respectfully Your Obedient Servant,

O. H. Palmer
Colonel
108th Regiment
New York Volunteers