Franklin, Tenn.
May 21^st 1864.
To His Excellency
The Governor of the
State of Kentucky.
Sir —

The undersigned petitioners would most resepectfully represent unto your Excellency that some time during the fall of 1863, one James J. Rariden, an enlisted man in the 8^th Regiment of Tennessee V. Cavalry, and formerly a citizen of the state of Indiana, was indicted in the Circuit Court of Knox County, Kentucky, on a charge of having taken, by force, from a citizen of said county, Spiritous Liquor —

The facts in the case as we are informed and believe are as follows — Said James J. Rariden was in charge of a Wagon train going from Cumberland Gap to a point North of Barboursville to meet and lighten a train going to Cumberland Gap — The teamsters had driven all night thro' a cold rain, and ond the morning of the following day stopped their teams and refused to go any further until they got "something to drink," being cold, wet and fatigued,: Said Rariden went to a house near by and offered to buy the liquor, but the lady of the house refused to sell it to him, whereupon, to use

an army phrase, he "pressed it." offering at the sametime to pay for it. which was refused. The Circuit Court of Knox County being in Session at the time, the case was immediately brought before the court, tried and Judgment rendered.

James J. Rariden is a good Soldier, and has been in the service eversince the commencement of the war — He at first enlisted in an Indiana regiment, and served a long time under Genl Lew. Wallace, being at one time his orderly, as we are informed and believe, He is also a nephew of Genl. wallace.

Your petitioners would further represent that, in their opinion, the said Rariden is an honest man. That the crime with which he is charged, is was only an impropriety at most, in the commission of which he was actuated by no other motive than that of serving the best interests of his country.

The premises considered, your petitioners pray that said James J. Rariden be released from prison and permitted to return to his command —

Very Respectfully
Your ob't Serv'ts
F. M. M^cFall, Capt. Co. A. 8^th Tenn. V. C.
C C Kinner Capt Co G 8^th Tenn Cav
John C Moreland Lt. Co. G.
W^m E Cunningham 1^st Lt Co G
T A [BransCom] 2 Liut Co F
J. W. Brady Surg. 8^th Reg, T. Cav.

John C. Bible 2^nd Lieut Co. "A" 8^th Tenn. Cav.
James H, Miller 1st Liut Co "A"
James Jacob M Hendrickson 1^st Lt Co K
W. W. Willis May 8^th Ten Cav^r
John R. Shults 2^nd Liut C^o ,,K,, Tenn Cav

Petitioners 8^th Tenn. Cav. request that James. J. Rariden an enlisted man in the 8^th Tenn. V. Cav. be released from the State Prison of Ky and permitted to return to his command.

The officers whose names are attached to this petition in behalf of J. J. Rariden, are perfectly reliable, and would make no statement they did not believe to be true. If, upon examination of this case, the record bears them out in the statement herein made, I would respectfully suggest that it might be a case wherein Executive Clemency could be properly exercised

Pardon
Granted

11^th July/64