1st Maryland Potomac Home Brigade & 3rd Wisconsin Infantry

Item LTR-9864

Description

Original Civil War soldier's letter. 3 pages, written in period ink. Letter is endorsed by Colonel Thomas Howard Ruger,
Commanding the 3rd Wisconsin Infantry Regiment.


Headquarters, 1st Maryland Regiment Potomac Home Brigade
Camp Worman

December 30th 1861

Major General Banks
Commanding, Division

General,

Enclosed herewith are charges and specifications in the case of Lieutenant Fry of this regiment. And I have the honor to accompany them with the following statement: Since the receipt of directions from Headquarters to present charges and specifications, I have seen Colonel Ruger, Provost Marshal, who was kind enough to express the opinion that Lieutenant Fry’s case was, in his judgement, one capable of great palliation and was not one which ought to dismiss from the service a promising young officer and of the officers of the regiment generally his character for order, good conduct and efficiency and they unite in the strongest evidence in his behalf. My information is that prior to entering the service, Lieutenant Fry had distinguished himself by accompanying into Virginia every expedition which crossed the Potomac River from Sharpsburg to Williamsport, himself manning and leading that which resulted in the capture of Honorable Alexander Boteler, that he is a brave man and likely to make a valuable officer.

Lieutenant Fry’s own statement is that on the evening of Christmas Day, he was accompanying to church some ladies when he was appealed to by a soldier of this regiment being arrested by the Provost Guard, that he had drank enough to confound his sense of propriety and interfered to procure the release of the soldier without the least intention however of improper interference, that he accompanied the Provost Guard to the office of the Provost Guard. And he has no doubt conducted himself in a manner most offensive to his sense of priority, as it doubtless was justly to that of the Provost Marshal. That he doubly mortified at his conduct and does not desire to shrink from a manly and open and unqualified admission of his regret and mortification. That he has already so expressed himself to Colonel Ruger, deeming that due to himself as an officer and a gentleman, as well as to Colonel Ruger and the authority imposed in and exercised by him. That Colonel Ruger was kind enough to intimate that it would be agreeable to him, if to the Commanding General that the case be referred to his further action prior to a reference to Court Marshal.

I beg the General, Commanding to pardon this intrusion on his attention in behalf of a generally meritorious, but on this occasion, unfortunate young officer. I have the honor to be,

Very Respectfully,
Your Obedient Servant,

William Maulsby
Colonel, Commanding
1st Maryland Regiment Potomac Home Brigade


Headquarters City Guard
Office of the Provost Marshal
Frederick, Maryland

December 30th 1861

Major R. Morris Copeland
Assistant Adjutant General

Sir,

I have the honor to state that I think the facts of the case, so far as stated within, are correctly stated. I would respectfully suggest that the good of the service, will in my opinion be as much promoted by a withdrawal of the charges against Lieutenant Fry and a reprimand as by a trial. His conduct was unjustifiable but not as appears to me unpardonable. Colonel Maulsby preferred the charges.

Very Respectfully,
Your Obedient Servant,

Thomas H. Ruger
Colonel, Commanding
3rd Wisconsin Volunteers
Provost Marshal

Headquarters Division at Frederick

December 31st 1861

The endorsement of Colonel Ruger is approved and respectfully submitted to Colonel, Commanding Regiment.

By Command of Major General Banks

R. Morris Copeland
A. A. G.