Iowa Heritage Digital Collections
State Library of Iowa

39. Gen. Samuel R. Curtis to Lincoln on dismissal of Col. Joseph W. Bell from military service

Title

39. Gen. Samuel R. Curtis to Lincoln on dismissal of Col. Joseph W. Bell from military service

Description

Letter from General Samuel R. Curtis to Abraham Lincoln concerning an unapproved leave of absence taken by Colonel Joseph W. Bell, his acquittal by a court of inquiry, and his reinstatement. December 22, 1862. Copy.

Date

1862-12-22

Contributor

Becki Plunkett and Stephen Vincent

Rights

Copyright State Historical Society of Iowa. Information at http://www.iowahistory.org/libraries/services-and-fees/conditions-for-image-reproductions.html

Digital Reproduction Information

Original scanned at 600 dpi w/ sRGB color space.

Repository

State Historical Society of Iowa, Des Moines

Repository Collection

Special Collections: Samuel R. Curtis Papers

Digital item created

12/17/2008

Transcription

H. Q.s [Headquarters,] Dept. Mo. [Department of Missouri,] St. Louis, Dec. 22, 1862 Lincoln, A. President[,] His Exc[Ellen]cy, Col. Bell was sick and got an informal certificate for leave of absence. It was refused for that reason, but he left Helena without leave. My Asst. Adjt. General heard his excuses. He had managed to get a leave from the Secretary of War dated subsequent to his leaving, thereby conflicting the question so as to justify the reference to a court of inquiry which, under order no[.] 100 [?] current series, was the proper tribunal to determine the sufficiency of his excuses. They decided in his favor and after such submission and acquitted it would seem to me unwise to overrule proceedings so authorized and determined, especially after the proceedings of the court have been approved by the Sec. of War. The muster-out I suppose to have been made without a knowledge of these facts and respectfully recommend that it be rescinded. Very Respectfully[,] Your ob[e]d[ien[t] Serv[an]t, S. R. Curtis[,] Major General