<title type="main">J. M. Hewitt, Report Edition created from new transcripts of this manuscript. Initial upload of this work's facsimile images and metadata to FromThePage for editing Kentucky Historical Society Digital Collections Administrator of the CWGK Migration transcription project on FromThePage Kentucky Historical Society Digital Collections Kentucky Historical Society Digital Collections made 5 edits between June 22, 2025 and June 22, 2025. Dynamic TEI export from FromThePage (version 22.10)

This image and transcription is publicly accessible. The image appears courtesy of the repository named in the Source Description. The transcription and annotation were undertaken by Kentucky Historical Society staff, volunteers, and interns. If referencing this document title, accession number, and permanent URL.

 November 11, 2025 Kentucky Department of Military Affairs Union Artillery, Navy and Marines Primary Source Documents ; Misc U.S.C.T. Primary Source Documents KYR-0002-038-0023 Box 14, Folder BTRY B - 1st REGT LIGHT ARTILLERY 2nd BTRY HISTORY

Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky 1863-11-18 Report English Version 1 of page "8": Changes to page transcript. Version 0 of page "8": Empty transcript -- probably initial upload of page facsimile. Version 0 of page "7": Empty transcript -- probably initial upload of page facsimile. Version 0 of page "6": Empty transcript -- probably initial upload of page facsimile. Version 0 of page "5": Empty transcript -- probably initial upload of page facsimile. Version 1 of page "4": Changes to page transcript. Version 0 of page "4": Empty transcript -- probably initial upload of page facsimile. Version 1 of page "3": Changes to page transcript. Version 1 of page "2": Changes to page transcript. Version 0 of page "3": Empty transcript -- probably initial upload of page facsimile. Version 1 of page "1": Changes to page transcript. Version 0 of page "2": Empty transcript -- probably initial upload of page facsimile. Version 0 of page "1": Empty transcript -- probably initial upload of page facsimile.
1

Louisville Ky November 18th/63 Genl

I respectfully call your attention to the subjoined communication.

J W Walls a private in my company claims the Rank of 1st Lieut and has at this time a commission duly signed, from the department of this state

He has certified on honor to the Dept of the Cumberland, in which I have been serving since its Organization, that such is the fact; and that he was mustered the 12th day of August (1861) at camp Dick Robinson Ky, as first Lieut of Company (D) "3 Ky Regt Inft Coln Bramlette)' by Genl Nelson. That he was afterwards Mustered by Genl Thomas at the same camp on the 8th Oct 1861, as 1st Lieut of Company (D) 3d Ky Regt Infty &c

To all of this I enter a positivedenial, and ask, that this commission he now holds hearing date Augt 12th 1861 be recalled; and for these reasons.

1st At the mustering in of the 3d Ky Regt Coln ^Bramlett^ Comd The rolls now in your Office of Comp (D) said Regt will show that J, W Walls was mustered as a private, & not as Lieutenant as he asserts.

2d That G W Nell as first Lieutenant, & myself as Captain, were the only Officers, so mustered.

2

3d That at the date of said muster my company was short of the number, to entitle me to more than one Lieutenant.

4th That Company (D) was mustered as an Infantry organization, and hence was not entitled to but one 1stLieut even if full to the maximum.

5th I positively assert that he never was a Lieut in my company, though he acted, as such for a few weeks. In order to secure the best ability of my command, I would, and did appoint some member to discharge the duties of some office to be filled, when if on trial, they proved competent, I would recommend them as suitable, if not, I would return them to the ranks, and in this way all my officers have been commissioned.

Mr Walls was thus tested and in every regard proved himself unfit for the service, nor can he at this date, drill a gun Squad.

6th Every Officer and private in my command will testify to the fact of his never having been mustered as a Lieut and to his utter, incapacity to fill such an office.

He has always been mustered as a private, and without objection, been paid as such up to January 1863, when for the first time he claimed to be a Lieutenant

3

His commission was issued in this way.

In January 1862, Lieutenant Ellsworth, was making out the pay Rolls of the Company; for the term ending Debr 31st 1861. John Vanwinkle Esqr. obtained or Rather made a coppy of said rolls for the Deartment at Frankfort. On these rolls J W Walls, A, A, Ellsworth & H M Turner, appear as acting Lieutenants. Neither of them were Lieutenants by election until after the second of January, when Ellsworth was duly elected, Jr First and H M Turner, senior second Lieutenant while J W Walls was left in the rank

Each of the three had served two months or so, as acting Lieutenants. When the rolls were coppied by Mr Vanwinkle the remarks explaining the status of the three were not appendid, the rolls were not complete. From this roll or leased on this incomplete roll, the commissions were issued, to all three, in the case of Ellsworth & Turner, right, but not in the case of Walls, as the company had selected another in his place. In all our Ky Military organizations, the men by vote elected their commissioned Officers, in the first instance. I was so elected & all the

4

Lieutenants. Govenor Bramlett, who was in command of the Regiment at the time of its being mustered in, and when it was paid off, can testify to the fact that Walls was a private, though he claims to have been mustered as a Lieutenant at the organization of the Company. I have been once Court Marshalled on the charge of withholding his Commission, but the mustering officer decided that Wall was but a private, and he was ordered to the ranks. Since the Removal of Genl Rosecrans, & consequent changes in departments, the matter has again been Revived, greatly to my detriment. I therefore ask the Department to recall the commission issued to J W Walls, it having been issued by error. There are other facts that I could give, but these will I think satisfy you that my request is right.

Respectfully J M Hewett Captain 2d Ky Battery Light Artillery

5
6
7
8

Frankfort Jany 25th/64

John Walls was never a Lt while under my command. The statements of Capt Hewett up to the time of the Co being detached as an Artillery Co. in Decr 1861, are correct. When the Co. was detached by order of Genl Buell, I was permitted to raise a Company to fill the place which I did in a few days while at Columbia in Der 1861. Walls was no Lt & his Commission must be a fraud & should be revoked

Tho E Bramlette

In obedience to the above Order -- the commission of 1st Lieut. issued to private John Walls must be revoked

John Boyle Adjt Gen of Ky

2 Batty

Lieut Walls

Com. revoked Jany. 25. 1864

1. 2.