Radford University
William H. Washington
Court Martial
William H. Washington was a private in Company D, 102nd U.S. Colored Troops during the Civil War. He was court martialed in November of 1864 in Beaufort, South Carolina. This court martial resulted from actions that took place on or about the 27th of September at Barnwell Plantation, Port Royal Island S.C. Washington was charged with violating the Ninth Article of War by disobeying and threatening to attack his commanding officer. Washington was also charged with theft for stealing whiskey from his commanding officer's room. He was sent to Fort Marion St Augustine, Florida for hard labor and lost his monthly pay during the time of his confinement.
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Transcribed Excerpts
The accused Private William H.
Washington Co "D" 102nd USC Troops was arraigned
on the following Charges and Specifications
Charge First "Violation of the Ninth Article
Of War
Specification In this that Private William
H. Washington of Company "D" 102nd USCT refused
to obey Sergt Dickson of Co "D" USCT after
having been ordered by Sergt Dickson to keep quiet
and stop his noise saying I will be God damned
if I will stop my noise for you or the Lieutenant
either You God damn Son of a bitch you I
will shoot you or words to that effect at the
same time Washington struck Sergt Dickson in
the face with his hand Sergt Dickson then
being in the execution of his office This at
Barnwell Plantation Port Royal Island S. C.
on or about the 27th day of September 1864.
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Change Second "Theft"
Specification for this That Private
William H Washington of Company "D" 102nd USCT
entered the room kept for a Office by the Officers
of Company "D" 102nd USCT and stole some whiskey
therefrom the Officers being out of the room on
duty at the time on which he Washington got
drunk and caused considerable disturbance
in said Company. This as Company Quarters
of Co D 102nd USCT at Barnwell Plantation Port Royal Island
SC on or about the 27th day of September 1864
Testimony of Sergeant Dickson
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Sergeant William Dickson Co D 102nd Regt USC Troops
a witness for the prosecution being duly sworn
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Testified as following -
Question by Judge Advocate - To what Regt and Company
do you belong? -
Answer? : - Company "D" 102 Regt U.S.C Troops
Question by Judge Advocate : - Where were you stationed and
on what duty were you the 27th day of September 64
Answer? :- I was at a place called Barn
wells plantation Port Royal Island SC I was on
Picket duty there with my Company. The accused
Private William H. Washington, was there at the
time also on picket duty. My Business was to
perform the duties of a Sergeant. At nearly
twelve o clock at night on the said 27th day of
September 1864. the 1st Sergt Jesse W Madry
called me out of Bed and told me to help make
the Boys be still and stop making a noise. I
supposed he meant the accused Washington and
Callawy. I got up and went up to the
Room where they were. They were up stairs
The Guard was occupying the big Brick house
called the Barnwell house. I went up to
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Washington, the Accused and said to hire
"Washington stop your noise" If you dont stop
your noise you'll have the Lieutenant in here"
Washington said "I will be the damned if I
will" The light was then blown out by some
of the men. Then they struck a light again and
the Lieutenant came in. Lieutenant Sleight who
was at that time in Command of the Company
ordered the Accused to behave and stop making
a noise. Then the accused spoke up and said
Lieutenant I will mind you. but I ant going
out of this Room - He did not stop his noise
and the Lieutenant ordered him to be tied up
The accused then jumped towards the fire
place, pulled off his Shirt, and said he would
die first before he would go out of the Room.
Then the Lieutenant ordered me to take hold
of the accused, to take him out and to tie him
up. I and an other man took hold of him
and took him down stairs, and tied him up
1st Sergt Madry Co "D" was present when we were
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tieing up the accused. When we were tieing
him up the accused said to me "Dickson as
quick as I get untied I'll shoot you, you
damned son of a Bitch" He did not offer
to strike me during the whole of the affair
When I came up to Washington, the accused at
his room, he seemed to be drunk from the way
he acted in making a noise. He never had
done that way before when he hadn't been
drinking. I did not notice his breath at
that time. He did not stagger around the
Room. He seemed to talk as straight as he
ever did - I only judge from the way he
went on. I had seen him intoxicated before
that time when he made a great deal of
noise. I had seen him drink whiskey and
within an hour or so afterwards. I had seen
him making a great deal of noise or acting
very different from the way he acted when he
had not been drinking. When I went up
to his room as I have testified the Accused
was acting just as he had acted before
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after I had seen him drinking
Question by the Court. - Please state to the Court whether
or not you saw the accused drink any
Whiskey on the Day mentioned and if so where
was he and who was with him if anybody
Answer : - I did not see him drink any
at all that day
Testimony of Sergeant Madry
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1st Sergeant Jesse M. Madry Co "D" 102nd Regt
U.S.C Troops a witness for the prosecution being
duly sworn testified as follows. -
Question by Judge Advocate : - To what Company and
Regiment do you belong
Answer : - Company "D" 102nd Regt U.S.C.T
Question by Judge Advocate : - Where were you stationed
and on what duty were you the night of
September 27th 1864
Answer : - I was on Picket duty at
Barnwell's Plantation Port Royal Islands SC
with my Company Company "D" The accused
Private Washington was there on picket the
Head quarters of the Company were at that
plantation. - Lieutenant Sleight was that
day in Command of the Picket. It was after
Eleven oClock at night that I was ordered
by the Lieutenant to detail some men who
should go and stand guard in the Room
where the accused was up stairs of the Brick
house called the Barnwell house. The Rooms
up stairs were used as Barracks for the men
I went and told Sergeant Dickson to go in with
me and help me stop the fuss meaning by
that to go into the Room where Washington the
Accused was. Dickson and I went into the Room
at once. The accused Washington and Calloway
were quarrelling and each one setting up in
his bed. Their beds were at right angles with
each other. The men were sitting in their beds
with their feet hanging down. The beds were
within four feet of each other. When we went
into the Room both Washington the accused
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and Callaway were holding their muskets.
Callaway had his gun in his in a position to thrust
at Washington and the accused had his gun
in a position to strike Callaway. I thought
the accused was intoxicated at the time. When
I went into the Room I smelled Whiskey. The
General behavior of the accused made me think he
was intoxicated. I never saw him in any diffi
culty except he had been drinking. When I first
went into the Room I ordered the accused to stop
his fuss. The accused replied to me "Go away from
me Madry" The accused then made an attempt
to get off the Bed. The accused did not have
the Bayonet of his musket fixed Sergeant
Dickson took hold of the accused and threw him
on the floor. The light was then put out
as room as a light was struck Dickson had
hold of Washington. When Sergeant Dickson
went into the Room he ordered the accused to
stop his fuss and behave himself. The accused
might have made an answer to Dickson but
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but I do not remember hearing him, here
was so many in the Room and such a noise
being made. The accused was taken down
stairs and tied to a tree by the order of
Lieut Sleight. If the Lieutenant said anything
to the accused before he was taken down stairs
it was no more then to order him to keep
still I do not distinctly remember that at
that time the Lieutenant gave him any orders
I was not present in the Room all the time
the Lieutenant was there, he came in while
I was out getting a light I did not at
that time hear the accused make any
answer to Lieutenant Sleight. After we got
the accused down stairs and were tieing him
to a tree the accused called Sergeant Dickson
"a damned pox marked Son of a Bitch" I do
not remember all he said at that time
he was swearing and going on, I do not
remember exactly the words he used but he
said to Sergeant Dickson, he would have revenge
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--missing-- some time or other Dickson and
the accused were clenched together at the tree and
I heard Dickson tell the accused to stop his biting
him. I did not see the accused strike anybody
during the whole affair that I have testified
about.
Testimony of Private Thomas Tennet
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Private Thomas Tennet Co "D" 102nd Regt.
U.S.C Troops - a witness for the prosecution being
duly sworn testified as follows.
Question by Judge Advocate :- To what Company and Re-
giment do you belong?
Answer :- Company "D" 102nd Regt U.S.C Troops
Question by the Judge Advocate :- Do you know the accused
Private William H. Washington?
Answer : Yes Sir
Question by the Judge Advocate: State whether or not you
were one of the Guards that brought the accused
to the Beaufort jail on or about the 28th day
of September 1864
Answer :Yes Sir
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Question by Judge Advocate :- Who else accompanied you
at the time?
Answer :- Stepny Green Private Com
pany "D" James Doyle private Company "D"
Wilson Walker Private Company D and Corporal
Miles Co "D"
Question by Judge Advocate :- What conversation took
place at that time, when you were all present
Answer :- Washington the accused
said to myself and James Doyle that there
would not have been anything of it if Cal
laway has not gone and got it for him I
suppose the accused meant he wouldn't have got
drunk
Question by the Court :- Had you not at the
time been talking to the accused about the
affair that took place at Barnwell Planta
tion, with regards to the accused getting drunk
Answer :- Yes Sir
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Question by the Court :- Did you see the accused
at any time on the 27 day of September
last and if so was he drunk at the time
Answer :- Yes Sir he was a little
high
Question by the Court :- Did you hear the accused
make any threat of what he would do to
Seargeant Dickson at some future time
Answer :- I heard him say he would
kill Sergeant Dickson if he didnt let go of
him
Question by the Court :- Did you see the accused
strike or use any violence towards Sergeant
Dickson?
Answer :- Yes Sir he struck at him
and tried to get away from him but Sergeant
Dickson had him and he couldnt get
away
Question by the Court :- you have stated in your
testimony that the accused told you there
would not have been anything of it if the
Corporal had not given it to him. Please
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state to the Court what you mean by the
word it in the latter case?
Answer :- I think he meant Whiskey
Testimony of Private James Doyle
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Private James Doyle Co "D" 102nd Regt U.S.C Troops
a Witness for the prosecution being duly sworn
testified as follows.
Question by Judge Advocate :- To what Regiment and
Company do you belong?
Answer :- Company "D" 102nd Regiment
U.S.C. Troops
Question by Judge Advocate :- Were you one of the Guard
who accompanied the accused Wm. H Washington
to Jail on the 28th of September 1864?
Answer :- Yes Sir
Question by Judge Advocate :- State what if anything
the accused than said when you were al-
together, with regards to the offence for which
he was arrested
Answer :- After we started from
our Barracks the accused said he was sick
and tired, that he had told the Lieutenant
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before he stated that he couldnt go. Then
afterwards he began to say that he had
nothing against the Guard that was co
ming with him. He didnt say anything
about how he got the liquor Except when
he and I were walking alone away from
the rest of the Guard
Testimony of 2nd Lieutenant William Sleight
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2nd Lieutenant William E. Sleight Co "D" 102nd
Regiment U.S.C Troops - a witness for the
prosecution being duly sworn testified as follows
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Question by Judge Advocate :- With what company and
Regiment are you connected?
Answer :- Company "D" 102nd Regt U.S.C Troops
Question by Judge Advocate : Where were you stationed on
the night of the 27th of September 1864?
Answer :- At Barnwell Plantation
Port Royal Island S.C. The Head quarters
of the Company was then at the Brick House
on that plantation. I was at that house
on Picket duty that night - the Accused
William H Washington was there also at that
time. On the said night of September 27th
after taps at the quarters, the said Brick house
I heard Washington, the Accused cursing and
swearing around the quarters making a noise
This was between ten and twelve oclock
at night. I found the accused away from
his quarters, which was a small room up
stairs used as Barracks for the men. I ordered
the accused to go to his quarters. He then
went to his Room cursing and swearing
as he went out, and after he got to his Room
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he still kept up his cursing and swearing
I could hear his voice from an adjourning
room I ordered Sergeants Dickson and
Madry, to take out the accused and tie
him up. Sergeants Madry and Dickson
then entered the room of the accused. I
entered soon afterwards, and found the ac-
cused cursing and swearing. I ordered the
accused to go out of the room. He answered
"I will be damned if I will. I will die here in
the Room before I will go out" or words to
that effect. I then ordered Sergeant Dickson
to take the accused out of the Room. I was
in Command of the Company at the time
Just before Sergeant Dickson got the ac
cused out of the Room, the accused said
to Sergeant Dickson "Sergeant Dickson
you damned black Son of a bitch I will
shoot you as soon as I get loose -"
the Accused repeated the same words se
veral time to Sergeant Dickson while he
was taking him out and tieing him up
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to the tree. In the Room of the accused
I saw the accused strike at Sergeant Dickson
but I cannot say whether he hit him or
not. I did not see him strike Sergeant
Dickson, that I could swear to but I saw
him strike at him
Question by Judge Advocate :- What was the physical
condition of the accused on the night of
September 27th 1864 during the affair which
you have testified about?
Answer :- He was drunk just drunk enough
to be ugly. I smelled liquor in his Room
from his appearance I should judge
that he was drunk I have seen him
before when he was drunk and had
Whiskey in the Canteen. He acted then the
same way pretty much as he did the night
of September 27th.
Testimony of Corporal Charles Miles
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Corporal Charles Miles Co "D" 102nd Regt
U.S.C. Troops a Witness for the prosecution
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Being duly sworn testified as follows
Question by Judge Advocate: To what Company and Re
giment do you belong?
Answer : Company "D" 102nd Regt U.S.C
Troops
Question by Judge Advocate :- Were you in Company with
the accused Private Washington on the 28th of
September last?
Answer :- Yes Sir
Question by Judge Advocate :- Please state what there occured
Answer :- The accused said to me in
presence of James Doyle Co "D" that Leroy Carra
way was the occasion of his being in the fix
he was in. That is all he said on that subject
in my presence. The accused did not at any
other time say anything to me when others
were present in regards to the same subject.
Letter from William H. Washington
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"B"
Address of the prisoner William H. Washington
The whiskey that I got from Corpl Leroy Calla
way for. He told me that he had some whiskey that
he would sell me, and then he went and got a
pint cup full and he called me out on the stoop
and I gave him a dollar and a half for it I
drank nearly half of it, and he drank some of it.
I suppose I finished it, but I was too drunk to
know about anything else I always tried to do
the duty of a soldier when I was sober
William H. Washington [Signature]
