Crimes & Punishment
Item
Type
Autograph Letter Signed
Title
Crimes & Punishment
Description
Littlefield discusses several instances when his soldiers have been caught and subjected to court martial or summary punishment.
year created
1799
month created
02
day created
02
author
recipient
in collection
in image
note
Partially illegible.
Cited in McHenry to Hamilton, 03/22/1799.
Cited in McHenry to Hamilton, 03/22/1799.
cited note
Cited document addressed to the War Office
notable person/group
James McHenry
William Littlefield
Daniel Coolbraith
David Hale
Colonel Gates of Boston
John Doyle, a deserter from Fort Mifflin
sentinal sleeping at his post and drunk
notable location
Portland
Boston
notable item/thing
crime
General Court Martial
laws
rights
punishment
misrepresention
guardhouse
fifty lashes on his naked back
prompt punishment
notable phrase
He, Coolbraith, deserted from my Company in the Summer of 96.
document number
1799020240001
page start
1
transcription
Feby 20 1799
Capt Littlefield
Confidential
Sir
I have the honor to enclose you a return of [illegible] for the month of Jany 1799: since which Daniel Coolbrath has joined. He, Coolbraith, deserted from my company in the summer of 96. has lately been apprehended by David Hale at Portland and forwarded to me by Captn Gates of Boston.
As his crime is capital and merits the sentence of a General Court Martial, I will thank you Sir, for orders respecting him - John Doyle, a deserter from Fort Mifflin is here also. In a country like this where every man is, in a degree, acquainted with the Laws and all extremely tenacious of their rights, I have in many instances omitted punishment when it was justly due for the want of a Court Martial. Least any misrepresentation should be made I will take the liberty to inform you that I lately detected a sentinel sleeping on his post and drunk. I ordered him to the Guard House and when sober had fifty
[lashes] laid upon his naked back. This is the only instance where prompt punishment has been indispensible.
Signed
Wm Littlefield
Corp Commdr
Capt Littlefield
Confidential
Sir
I have the honor to enclose you a return of [illegible] for the month of Jany 1799: since which Daniel Coolbrath has joined. He, Coolbraith, deserted from my company in the summer of 96. has lately been apprehended by David Hale at Portland and forwarded to me by Captn Gates of Boston.
As his crime is capital and merits the sentence of a General Court Martial, I will thank you Sir, for orders respecting him - John Doyle, a deserter from Fort Mifflin is here also. In a country like this where every man is, in a degree, acquainted with the Laws and all extremely tenacious of their rights, I have in many instances omitted punishment when it was justly due for the want of a Court Martial. Least any misrepresentation should be made I will take the liberty to inform you that I lately detected a sentinel sleeping on his post and drunk. I ordered him to the Guard House and when sober had fifty
[lashes] laid upon his naked back. This is the only instance where prompt punishment has been indispensible.
Signed
Wm Littlefield
Corp Commdr
Item sets
Document instances
| In image | In source | Location in source | |
|---|---|---|---|
| [view document] (3 pages) | WGM20 (3 pages) | Collection: Alexander Hamilton Papers | R: 15 |
Document names
| Type | Name | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Author | William Littlefield | [unknown] | [n/a] |
| Recipient | James McHenry | [unknown] | [n/a] |