Intercession for A Brother Convicted of Conduct Unbecoming an Officer
Item
Type
Autograph Letter Signed
Title
Intercession for A Brother Convicted of Conduct Unbecoming an Officer
Description
Simmons writes on behalf of his brother, a cavalry lieutenant who has been convicted by a court martial of some unspecified excess. Simmons believes that his brother has been unfairly targeted by enemies in the army, and further that the court martial was improperly conducted (being many months after the fact, and far from the scene of the alleged infraction), not allowing the defense time to call its witnesses. Professes that his brother was misled by inexperience and youth into "excesses," would be ruined by the execution of the sentence, and would prove himself valuable if allowed to continue -- submits as evidence the younger Simmons' good conduct since the incident, including his excellent discharge of the duties of paymaster. Asks for Adams' forgiveness on this issue, to preserve his brother's and family's honor and relieve them of worry.
year created
1800
month created
09
day created
08
author
sent from location
City of Washington
recipient
sent to location
Braintree
in collection
in image
notable person/group
John Adams
William Simmons
brother
Secretary of War
witnesses
aged mother
sisters and brothers
notable location
Braintree
City of Washington
frontier
Tennessee
Philadelphia
notable item/thing
service
lieutenant
cavalry
excess
arrest and trial
court martial
disadvantageous situation
acts
evidence
defense
court
suspension of the trial
utter ruin
pardon
appointment
public monies
accounts
future conduct
disgrace
document number
1800090821201
page start
1
Item sets
Transcribe this document
Document instances
| In image | In source | Location in source | |
|---|---|---|---|
| [view document] (7 pages) | IDR15 (7 pages) | Collection: John Adams Papers | R: 398 |
Document names
| Type | Name | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Author | William Simmons | City of Washington | [n/a] |
| Recipient | John Adams | Braintree | [n/a] |