Hi Carl,

I've finally managed to get back to the 78th OVI webpage, and I'm glad you chose to post all the documents pertaining to Arthur McCarty's court-martial.  It shows you are not just presenting a white-washed version of history, but a gritty warts-and-all view of our ancestors.  However, in fairness, you should note that Gen. Blair ultimately set aside the verdict and sentence of the court-martial and restored Arthur to duty -- with full rank.  No one really knows why.  (It might have something to do with the fact that Capt. Roberts [Arthur's future brother-in-law] was on Blair's staff at the time...)  But Arthur's "exoneration" should be part of the record as well.

Best regards,

Brad

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Bradley T. Lepper

Curator of Archaeology

Ohio Historical Society

1982 Velma Avenue

Columbus, OH 43211-2497

(614) 297-2642

FAX: (614) 297-2411

Prehistoric Timeline:

Visit the web page of the Friends of America's Past:

(extract)

7. The unexpired portion of the sentence of a General Court Martial, in the case of 1st Sergeant Arthur W. McCarty, Company "E," 78th Ohio Veteran Volunteers, is remitted, and his dishonorable discharge revoked. He will immediately rejoin his regiment for duty. The Quartermaster's Department will furnish the necessary transportation.

E. D. Townsend,

Assistant Adjutant General."

"There is no explanation of the grounds or reason for the decision," says Lepper, who goes on to cite Joseph Glatthaar's   book The March to the Sea and Beyond:

"The corps commander, Maj. Gen. Frank P. Blair, then remitted the jail term, and President Andrew Johnson dismissed the entire sentence and restored McCarty to his previous rank and regiment when he received petitions from officers and men attesting to McCarty's soldierly qualities, a letter from a soldier impugning the character of a witness, and a letter from McCarty that substantially contradicted his testimony at the trial" (pp. 73-74).  [Emphasis mine, CJD]