MATTHEW DUGGAN
Matthew Duggan
Winifred Law Duggan
(Page 1 of 7)
Matthew Duggan
Court Martial
November 13, 1859 (date of incident)
January 1870 (court proceedings)
Case 1
Proceedings of General Court Martial convened at Jefferson Barracks, MO, by virtue the following special order
Headquarters Department of Missouri
St. Louis, Mo, 8, January 1870
Special Orders
No 6
EXTRACT
1. A General Court Martial is hereby appointed to meet at Jefferson Barracks, MO, on Wednesday the 12th day of January 1870, at 10 o’clock a.m., or as soon thereafter as practicable for the prisoner such persons as may be properly brought before it.
DETAIL FOR THE COURT
Bot. Col. Joseph R. Smith, Major Surgeon, USA Bot. Lieutenant Col Peter C. Hauis, Captain Company of Engineers, 1st Lieut. Michael R. Brown, Comp of Engineers, 2nd Lieut. John Pitman Jr. Ordinance Dept.
2nd Lieut., Richard L. Pixie, Company of Engineer.
JUDGE ADVOCATE
Bot.___and Lt Joseph H. Willard, Corps of Engineer,
No other officers that those above mentioned can be assembled without --------- to the service.
BY command of Major Gen. Schofield
W. G Mitchell
Bot. Col USA. A.A.A. G.
Official
Signed WG Mitchell acting as Adjunct General
(PAGE 2 of 7)
Case 1
Jefferson Barrack, MO.
12 January, 1870
10 ---
The Court met pursuant to the forgoing order. Present, all the members and the Judges advocate.
The Court then proceeded with trial of the sergeant Matthew Duggan of the Comp “E” US Engineers Battalion, who was called before the Court and having heard the order ------it read, was asked if he had any objection to any member mentioned as the detail. He replied in the negative.
The members of the Court were then verbally, duly sworn by the Judge advocate, and the Judge Advocate was sworn by the President of the court. All these oaths were duly administered according to law in the presence of the prisoner. The prisoner Sergeant Matthew Duggan of Comp “E” US Engineer’s Battalion, was they duly arraigned upon the following Charge and Specification.
(Page 3 of 7)
Charge: Drunk on duty in violation of the 45th Article of USA.
Specification: In that Matthew Duggan a Sergeant of Comp. “E” Battalion US Engineers, when on duty as Sergeant of the Post Guard of Jefferson Barracks, MO was found drunk.
This at the Post at Jefferson Barracks, MO, at or before 10:15 PM on the night of the 13th November 1859.
To this charge and specification the prisoner, Sergeant Matthew Duggan, of the Comp “E” US Engineers Battalion as follows:
To the Specification “Guilty”
To the charges “Guilty”
The prosecution acted here Sylvanus A. Beeman, a civilian resident of Jefferson Barracks, MO, was called by the defense to give testimony as to character, and having been duly sworn, testified as follows:
Question by Defense: How long have you been acquainted with the --------before the court and what do you know about him?
Answer: Since the latter part of 1858
(Page 4 of 7)
He was in the 5th U.S. Infantry, Company E. Was soon made a non-commissioned officer, and served as such the remainder of the time I was in the company. For a period of about nine (9) years, he was 1st Sergeant for nearly three years. Bot. Lt. Col. PC Fauis, Capt. Corps Engineers witness for the defense was duly sworn and testified as follows:
Question by Defense. Will you state what you know as to both the character and the service before the Court.
Answer: The character and service for the most of the time that I have known him was first rate. I requested that should be made Corporal; and after I took command of the Company I made him a Sergeant.
His ------having no further testimony to offer executed a written statement to the Court, which is annexed and marked “A”.
The court was then
(Page 5 of 7)
cleared for deliberation and having --------- considered the evidence addressed find the prisoner , Sergeant Matthew Duggan of comp. “E” US Engineer Battalion, of the specification “Guilty”, of the charge “Guilty” and the court do therefore sentence him Sergeant Matthew Duggan of Comp “E” US Engineer Battalion, to be reduced to the grade of private of the 2nd class, and to be confined at hand taken in the charge of the Guard for the period of one (1) month.
Jos. R. Smith
Sergeant, Bat. Col. USA
President
JH Willard
---- Lt. Corps of Engineers
Judge Advocate
(Page 6 of 7)
“A” Statement of Sergeant Matthew Duggan, Company “E”, US Engineer’s Battalion
I would respectfully make to the Court the following statement, hoping that it may have some influence
with regard to the sentence, by the court, in my case.
I enlisted on the 22nd of March 1858, and was transferred from the Gen Service to Company “E”, 5th US Infantry on or around the 26th of August 1858, at which time I joined my company in Utah. I was promoted to corporal on the 9th of October 1859, serving as such until the 18th of January 1862, at which time I was again promoted to the rank of Duty Sergeant serving as such until the 1st of March 1863, where I re-enlisted as Duty Sergeant and continued serving as such until the 22nd of May 1865, when I was made 1st Sergeant of my company, and remained 1st Sergeant until I was discharged on 1st March 1868. I then re-enlisted in Comp. “E” US Engineer Battalion on 17th March 1868. From that time until the present, I would respectfully refer to the court for a history of my conduct to Col. Plehavis US Engineer, ------ the post I served as a non-commissioned officer continuously for over 8 years, which I could not have done if my ------- and standing in my comp. had not been of the best. I lost my 1st discharge and two (2) warrants as a non-commission officer, by an accident at Fort Bascom, NM., on or about the last of August 1865.
Knowing well that the crime for which I am this day arraigned, is one of the most serious that a soldier can commit, and that I will desere sever punishment. I have still hope that the court will take into consideration my long service, and my faithful promise that for the future I will never again commit myself by drinking -------------------- and that the court can be as lenient as possible under the circumstances.
Matthew Duggan
Sergeant Comp. “E” US Engineers Battalion
(Page 7 of 7)
Headquarters Department of the -----
Saint Louis, Missouri, January 19, 1870
The above proceedings, findings and sentence in the case of Sergeant Matthew Duggan, Co. E Battalion of the NY Engineers are approved.
The sentence is confirmed and will be duly executed.
J.M. ---------
Major General commanding
Matthew Duggan
Court Martial
November 13, 1859 (date of incident)
January 1870 (court proceedings)
Case 1
Proceedings of General Court Martial convened at Jefferson Barracks, MO, by virtue the following special order
Headquarters Department of Missouri
St. Louis, Mo, 8, January 1870
Special Orders
No 6
EXTRACT
1. A General Court Martial is hereby appointed to meet at Jefferson Barracks, MO, on Wednesday the 12th day of January 1870, at 10 o’clock a.m., or as soon thereafter as practicable for the prisoner such persons as may be properly brought before it.
DETAIL FOR THE COURT
Bot. Col. Joseph R. Smith, Major Surgeon, USA Bot. Lieutenant Col Peter C. Hauis, Captain Company of Engineers, 1st Lieut. Michael R. Brown, Comp of Engineers, 2nd Lieut. John Pitman Jr. Ordinance Dept.
2nd Lieut., Richard L. Pixie, Company of Engineer.
JUDGE ADVOCATE
Bot.___and Lt Joseph H. Willard, Corps of Engineer,
No other officers that those above mentioned can be assembled without --------- to the service.
BY command of Major Gen. Schofield
W. G Mitchell
Bot. Col USA. A.A.A. G.
Official
Signed WG Mitchell acting as Adjunct General
(PAGE 2 of 7)
Case 1
Jefferson Barrack, MO.
12 January, 1870
10 ---
The Court met pursuant to the forgoing order. Present, all the members and the Judges advocate.
The Court then proceeded with trial of the sergeant Matthew Duggan of the Comp “E” US Engineers Battalion, who was called before the Court and having heard the order ------it read, was asked if he had any objection to any member mentioned as the detail. He replied in the negative.
The members of the Court were then verbally, duly sworn by the Judge advocate, and the Judge Advocate was sworn by the President of the court. All these oaths were duly administered according to law in the presence of the prisoner. The prisoner Sergeant Matthew Duggan of Comp “E” US Engineer’s Battalion, was they duly arraigned upon the following Charge and Specification.
(Page 3 of 7)
Charge: Drunk on duty in violation of the 45th Article of USA.
Specification: In that Matthew Duggan a Sergeant of Comp. “E” Battalion US Engineers, when on duty as Sergeant of the Post Guard of Jefferson Barracks, MO was found drunk.
This at the Post at Jefferson Barracks, MO, at or before 10:15 PM on the night of the 13th November 1859.
To this charge and specification the prisoner, Sergeant Matthew Duggan, of the Comp “E” US Engineers Battalion as follows:
To the Specification “Guilty”
To the charges “Guilty”
The prosecution acted here Sylvanus A. Beeman, a civilian resident of Jefferson Barracks, MO, was called by the defense to give testimony as to character, and having been duly sworn, testified as follows:
Question by Defense: How long have you been acquainted with the --------before the court and what do you know about him?
Answer: Since the latter part of 1858
(Page 4 of 7)
He was in the 5th U.S. Infantry, Company E. Was soon made a non-commissioned officer, and served as such the remainder of the time I was in the company. For a period of about nine (9) years, he was 1st Sergeant for nearly three years. Bot. Lt. Col. PC Fauis, Capt. Corps Engineers witness for the defense was duly sworn and testified as follows:
Question by Defense. Will you state what you know as to both the character and the service before the Court.
Answer: The character and service for the most of the time that I have known him was first rate. I requested that should be made Corporal; and after I took command of the Company I made him a Sergeant.
His ------having no further testimony to offer executed a written statement to the Court, which is annexed and marked “A”.
The court was then
(Page 5 of 7)
cleared for deliberation and having --------- considered the evidence addressed find the prisoner , Sergeant Matthew Duggan of comp. “E” US Engineer Battalion, of the specification “Guilty”, of the charge “Guilty” and the court do therefore sentence him Sergeant Matthew Duggan of Comp “E” US Engineer Battalion, to be reduced to the grade of private of the 2nd class, and to be confined at hand taken in the charge of the Guard for the period of one (1) month.
Jos. R. Smith
Sergeant, Bat. Col. USA
President
JH Willard
---- Lt. Corps of Engineers
Judge Advocate
(Page 6 of 7)
“A” Statement of Sergeant Matthew Duggan, Company “E”, US Engineer’s Battalion
I would respectfully make to the Court the following statement, hoping that it may have some influence
with regard to the sentence, by the court, in my case.
I enlisted on the 22nd of March 1858, and was transferred from the Gen Service to Company “E”, 5th US Infantry on or around the 26th of August 1858, at which time I joined my company in Utah. I was promoted to corporal on the 9th of October 1859, serving as such until the 18th of January 1862, at which time I was again promoted to the rank of Duty Sergeant serving as such until the 1st of March 1863, where I re-enlisted as Duty Sergeant and continued serving as such until the 22nd of May 1865, when I was made 1st Sergeant of my company, and remained 1st Sergeant until I was discharged on 1st March 1868. I then re-enlisted in Comp. “E” US Engineer Battalion on 17th March 1868. From that time until the present, I would respectfully refer to the court for a history of my conduct to Col. Plehavis US Engineer, ------ the post I served as a non-commissioned officer continuously for over 8 years, which I could not have done if my ------- and standing in my comp. had not been of the best. I lost my 1st discharge and two (2) warrants as a non-commission officer, by an accident at Fort Bascom, NM., on or about the last of August 1865.
Knowing well that the crime for which I am this day arraigned, is one of the most serious that a soldier can commit, and that I will desere sever punishment. I have still hope that the court will take into consideration my long service, and my faithful promise that for the future I will never again commit myself by drinking -------------------- and that the court can be as lenient as possible under the circumstances.
Matthew Duggan
Sergeant Comp. “E” US Engineers Battalion
(Page 7 of 7)
Headquarters Department of the -----
Saint Louis, Missouri, January 19, 1870
The above proceedings, findings and sentence in the case of Sergeant Matthew Duggan, Co. E Battalion of the NY Engineers are approved.
The sentence is confirmed and will be duly executed.
J.M. ---------
Major General commanding
Matthew Duggan was court martialed a second time in1869 while at Jefferson Barracks in Missouri. Again the reason was for drinking on the job. However this time he didn't get off as easy as the first time. I found the actual hand written court transcripts at the National Archives in Washington DC and a report of the Adjutant General recounting the proceedings. Below is a slide show of them. Under the slide show, because they are hard to read, I typed them up so it is easier for you to read.
http://clickserve.cc-dt.com/link/tplclick?lid=41000000029953452&pubid=21000000000250976
