Radford University
Thomas Johnson Court Martial
Thomas Johnson was a soldier in the 102nd U.S. Colored Troops, Company A during the Civil War. He was Court Martialed in November of 1864 in Beaufort, South Carolina for events that happened on October 19, 1864. He was charged with being absent without leave, during which time he went to a nearby plantation. He threatened Emma Cohen and Lucretia Simmons, residents of the plantation. A couple of other soldiers helped him steal several chickens from the plantation. After leaving a trail of feathers back to their camp, Adam Cohen (Emma's husband) complained to their superiors, leading to the Court Martial. There are testimonies from a couple of Johnson's camp mates as well as the three civilians involved. Johnson was found guilty of absence without leave but not guilty of all other charges. His punishment was $10 taken out of one month's pay.
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Excerpted Transcription
The Court then proceeded to the trial of Private Thomas Johnson, Co. A 102nd Regt. US C. Troops, who was called before the Court and having heard the order appointing the Court and was asked if he had any objection to any Member named in the order – To this he replied in the negative.
The accused having no objection to any of the Members the Charges & Specifications were read by the Judge Advocate for the infor-mation of the Court
The Court was then in the presence of the accused duly sworn by the Judge Advocate & the Judge Advocate was duly sworn by the President
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of the Court also in presence of the accused
The accused was then asked if he desired to introduce Counsel to this he replied in the Negative-
The accused Private Thomas Johnson Co A 102nd Regt USC Troops was arraigned on the following Charges & Specifications
Charge 1st Absence without leave
Specification In this that Private Thomas John son Co A 102nd USC Troops, did leave the quarters and Camp of his Company, taking with him his arms & accoutrements, without leave from Competent authority and did remain absent between the hours of 9 pm & 12 m on the Night of Oct 19th 1864. This at Ladies Island
Charge 2nd Robbery
Specification – In this, that Private Thomas Johnson Co “A” 102nd USCT did in Company with Private Augustus Bullard and Nelson Hardie Co. A 102nd USCT leave the Quarters & Camp of his Company, between the hours of 9pm & 12 m proceed to the house of Adam Cohen (Citizen) and Establishing a Guard at both doors of the House & threatening to shoot the inmates Lucretia Simmons & Emma Cohen did seize and carry away from the premises certain property belon ging to said Adam Cohen (Citizen) this at Ladies Island on or about Oct 19th 1864
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Charge 3rd Threatening to Kill
Specification – In this that Private Thomas Johnson Co A. 102nd USCT did in Compa ny with Private Augustus Bullard and Nelson Hardie threaten to shoot Lucretia Simmons and Emma Cohen while at the House of Adam Cohen (Citizen) between the hours of 9 pm & 12 m on the night of October 19th 64 using at the same time language as follows viz “God damn you I will shoot you, Damn you, if you know what is best for you, you will stay in the house or words to that effect they, Privates Bullard Hardie and Johnson ha-ving their arms and accoutrements with them at the time.
All this at Ladies Island S.C. on or about
October 19th 1864.
To which Charges & Specifications the
Accused pleaded as follows
To the Specification of 1st Charge “Guilty”
Except the words “taking with him his arms and
accoutrements
To the 1st Charge “Not Guilty”
To the Specification 2nd Charge “Not Guilty”
To the 2nd Charge “Not Guilty”
To the Specification of 3rd Charge “Not Guilty”
To the 3rd Charge “Not Guilty”
“A”
State of South Carolina
District of Beaufort
Adam Cohen of Pleasant Point Plantation, Ladies Island being duly sworn says that on the 19th of October last he went to the house of his brother in law Peter Devoe on the said Plantation and that when he was coming out of said house he heard the firing of a musket or rifle apparently but a short distance off and on the said planta tion, than as soon as he had heard the said firing he came right down to his own house, he met his wife Emma Cohen, and his mother, Lucretia Sim mons, who were apparently in great trouble on ac-count of some soldiers who they said had been then at the house abusing them and threatening to shoot them, and deponent say that at the time he left the house, of said brother-in-law, as before mentioned it was between ten and eleven o’clock, and deponent further says, that he went immediately to the hen house where his chickens were kept with a light in his hand, and discovered that eight of the said chickens had been carried away, and their heads left lying on the ground. That on the following morning deponent went to the Headquarters of the Picket, at Brick Yard Plantation, following the track of footsteps marked in the road,
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and that for entire distance feathers were scattered along the road, leading to the said Brick Yard plantation, and deponent further says that deponent’s mother Lucretia Simmons is ill, and unable to attend upon the court.
Sworn befor me this his
11th day of Nov, 1864 Adam Cohen
A.D. Smith [signature] mark
Provost Justice Peace
“B”
State of South Carolina
District of Beaufort
Emma Cohen, being duly sworn says that she resides on Pleasant Point Plantation, Ladies Island, that on the night of the 19th of Octo-ber last, about three or four hours after dark, she was waked by a man in the yard. That she went imme-diately to the front door of hen house, and heard some person apparently in the hen house catching fowls, that without opening the door she called out to them, and said “mind now, and don’t go away with my fowls.” A man outside made answer, and said, “Damn you, if you come out I will shoot you.” Deponent further says that there was no further conversation at that time, and deponent did not go out of the house and did not see the men, but at the same time that deponent went to the door, as aforsaid, deponent’s mother-in-law, Lucretia Simmons, who was in the house at the time went to the window, and having opened the shutter, was met by a man who told her that if she didn’t put her head in back, he would shoot her. This was while the noise was going in at the hen house. And deponent further says that after the said persons had left the premisess he went to the hen house, saw blood and feathers on the door, and the heads of chickens scattered about on the ground
Sworn before me, this
11th day of November, 1864 her
A.D. Smith Emma Cohen
Provt. Justice Peace mark
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The prosecution here closed
The accused having no testimony to offer then presented to the Court the written address hereto appended and marked “C” which was read by the Judge Advocate in his defense-
The Judge Advocate having no reply to make, the case was then submitted to the Court
The Court having maturely considered the Evidence adduced, find the accused Private Thomas Johnson “Co A” 102nd Regt U SC Troops as follows
Of the Specification of the 1st Charge “Guilty”
Except the words “taking with him his arms
and accoutrements”
Of the 1st Charge “Guilty”
Of the Specification of the 2nd Charge “Not Guilty”
Of the Second Charge “Not Guilty”
Of the Specification of the 3rd Charge “Not Guilty”
Of the Third Charge “Not Guilty”
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and the Court so therefore sentence him Private Thomas Johnson Co “A” 102nd Regt USC Troops to forfeit to the United States Ten Dollars ($10) of his monthly pay for one month
Henry L. Chipman
Col. 102nd Regt USCT
A.P. Kectchum President
1st Lieut 56th NYS Vols & A.D.C.
Judge Advocate
Hd Qs Dist of Beaufort
Beaufort SoCA
Nov. 18 1864
The proceedings finding and sentence of the General Court Martial in the case of Private Thomas Johnson Co “A” 102nd Regt
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U.S.C.T are approved and the sentence will be carried into effect accordingly –
R. Saxton
Brig. Genl
Cmdg
“C”
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Statement of Thomas Johnson, prisoner, presented to the Court in his defence-
On the night of the 19th of October, we only went out visiting awhile on the next plantation, where we had been invited to go by some women - I was not away more than an hour
his
Thomas Johnson
Mark
Witness
A.P. Ketchum
1st Lieut 56th N.Y.S. Vols & A.D.C.
Judge Advocate
