1829 FORTRESS MONROE VA LETTER - MAJ. KIRBY - GREAT CONTENT RE AN ARMY DESERTER
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:147118 |
2+ pg. letter, approx. 7-7/8" x 9-3/4", dated at Fortress Monroe, Va., Sept. 20, 1829, from Maj. R.M. Kirby, to Maj. M. Mason, Commanding at Camp Washington near Alexandria, D.C.Stampless folded letter has manuscript "On Public Service", but no postmarks. The writer of this letter, R.M. Kirby, of the First U.S. Artillery, was brevetted Captain in 1814 for Bravery at Fort Erie in the War of 1812; later brevetted Major; Served in the Black Hawk War in 1832, and the Florida Seminole... War, 1836-1838. The letter is to Major Milo Mason, graduated from West Point in 1808; Served in the War of 1812, as Lt., and Aide-de-Camp to Brig. Gen. Cushing, 1814-1815 and to Brig. Gen. Porter, 1815-1816; Quartermaster General of the Southern Division, commanded by Major General Andrew Jackson, 1818-1820; Recruiting Service, 1820-1921; Garrison duty at Ft. Sullivan, Maine (1821-1823); Fort Independence, Mass., (1823); Ft. Columbus, N.Y. (1823-1824); Fortress Monroe, Va., (1824-1826); Ft. Wolcott, R.I. (1826-1827), Ft. Washington, Md. (1827-1835), and Washington Arsenal, D.C. (1835-1837); Died in Washington, D.C., 1837. Great content, concerning a deserter from Maj. Mason's command, who may be the same man that Major Mason just enlisted as a Sgt. at Fortress Monroe, under a different name. Mason wants to be sure that he isn't being hoodwinked, to avoid disgracing the man in case he is innocent, so he asks Mason to send a man down to Fortress Monroe to see if he can identify him before any accusations are made.The letter reads: "My dear Major, I have this morning seen the advertisement for your friend William H. French, & regret to say that it has given me strong suspicion that Joel W. Jones, whom I enlisted on the 11th Inst. is the same man. Jones arrived here in the Baltimore Steam boat in the garb of a gentleman, dressed in a fashionable black coat & pantaloons, black silk stock, genteel hat, &c. - called upon Col. Walback, & stated that he had been at Washington soliciting a commission in the Army upon recommendations which he produced - they were letters from Genl. Brady, Capt. Ransom, Adjt. Clitz, my brother the Pay Master, & many others. From these letters it appeared that he was discharged last Spring from Capt. Ransom's Compy, 2d Inf. at Sackets Harbor - that he was orderly Sergt. of the Company. He also showed a line from the President to the Secy of War, & one from the latter to Genl. Macomb, on the subject of his appointment. Jones says that the latter defeated it, & that he was again driven to enlist, & that pride prevented his returning to his former friends at S.H. [Sackets Harbor], as after his discharge, he had associated with them upon terms of equality.There is something singular, if not incredible in all this - but his address & acquaintance with duty was such, & my want of N.C. [Non Commissioned] Officers such, that I was induced to appointment him Sergt. with a view of making him my orderly. The sight of your advertisement has raised so many probabilities of his being your pet (as he answers the description) that I wish the fact to be ascertained before I am further taken in. But as Jones may be what he represents, I much prefer that a scoundrel should escape, rather than that an innocent man should be degraded & disgraced by an arrest upon suspicion. I have therefore concluded to keep private your hand bill, & to suggest & request that [you] would send down by the return Steam boat on Wednesday, a trusty N.C. Officer, or other suitable person, that this man, if he is French, alias Thompson, may be identified. That Jones may be useful hereafter, if he is innocent, I should regret that he should learn that he has been suspected, & I therefore wish you would so arrange that the man who comes for him, may not know more than that he is sent here to look for your deserter, with advice to call on me. Jones has a strong resemblance to McIntyre, particularly when you are addressing him & his eyes are upon you. Please make my best regards to Mrs. Mason, to whom as well as yourself, Mrs. K. desires her particular remembrance. In haste, Yours truly, R. M. Mason"Fine-Very Fine.
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