Ohio.
Washington D. C.June 21" 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 ofJ. 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

(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.