Joseph Holt to Edwin M. Stanton

Accession Number

KYR-0001-004-0941

Document Genre

Correspondence

Repository

Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives

Collection

Office of the Governor, Thomas E. Bramlette: Governor's official correspondence file, petitions for pardons, remissions, and respites 1863-1867

Item Location

BR10-447 to BR10-448

Place of Creation

Washington, District of Columbia

Date of Creation

21 June 1864

Dates Mentioned

1864-06-21

1864-06-27

1864-08-13

1864-08-16

Ohio.
Washington D. C. June 21" 1864

James C. Wetmore O. S. M Agent.

Refers application for the release of Lt Buffum sentenced to 3 years imprisonment for larceny of a pair of boots.

War Department
Adjt Genl Office
June 27^th 1864

Respectfully referred to the Judge Advocate Genl. for report.

By order of the Secretary of War
(signed) Thos M. Vincent.
Asst. Adjt Genl.

Bureau of Military Justice
August 13^th 1864.

Respectfully submitted to the Sec^ty of War, in connection with the letter of J. R. Dupuy Esq^r Commonwealth's Attorney. This letter together with those of Mr. Pittinger & Mrs. Buffum furnishes the only information I have been enabled to obtain, in reference to the offence of late Lieut Buffum notwithstanding the emphatic assertion of M^r. Dupuy, that there were no mitigating circumstances in the case, it is at least possible if not probable that as urged by his wife & M^r Pittinger, the crime was committed while the Prisoner was under the influence of liquor That a soldier capabale of such patriotic daring as he had previously

displayed, should with a sword at his side & a commission in his pocket, be capable while in his senses of so petty a theft as this, can scarcely be believed Lt Buffum, while a private soldier, as a member of the expedition organized by Gen Mitchell for cutting the eney's communications, rendered most important services to the government, and rendered them under cirucmstances of extreme peril & prolonged suffering For this he received a medal of honor from the Sercretary of War & a Commission from the Governor of Ohio. His release from his present humiliating confinement

would seem to be but a just appreciation of these services. -- It is therefore recommended that upon this ground the Governor of Kentucky be requested to pardon him.

(signed) J. Holt
Judge Advocate Genl.
Respectfully submitted to the Secretary of War.
(signed) U. A. Nichols
Asst Adjt Genl.

A. G. Office
Aug^st 16^th 1864.

Civil War Governors of Kentucky is always evolving. Help us improve the edition by suggesting a correction or addition to this record.

Suggest a correction