On Trial in the Mexican War

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/30/2019

Unusual Manuscript Document addressed “Mr. President and Gentleman of the Court”, 3pp. quarto, and reads in part: “I have been arraigned before you upon a charge of which has been characterized as one of the most serious an officer can be guilty of. I shall not attempt in my defence to depreciate the the gravity of the offence – nor do I hope to persuade you that one wrong having been committed, another would make a right. My sole object has been to establish the fact that the order I am charged with having disobeyed was in violation of the regulatory of the Quarter Master Dept. the usage of the service and an essential prerogative of an officer charged with those duties and that a right has been invaded involving the best interests of the service and that dignity and individual reponsibilty which should attach to every officer. …. Col. Bomford that hw had refused to give me the order in writing, to relieve me from the pecuniary responsibility involved in the employment of a notorious gambler and swindler. My entire innocence of any intention to commit a breach of discipline. In these I trust you will find a justification of my conduct. … to ask yourselves the simple question “What would have been my course under similar circumstances?” I have an abiding confidence in the justice of your decision – and with the following lette from Major Babbt, the Chief of the Dept. in which I have been sending I will leave my case in your hands. Both Major Babbit(t) and Col. [James] Bomford served in the Mexican War. The light blue paper does have minor clean tears. The manuscript does have cross-outs and edits,

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