Tom - KB9ENSMay 4, 2024

Some Citizen Archivist work now done!

I fully transcribed the 1808 Court Martial record of Captain Winfield Scott who was accused of Mutiny etc for saying about his General:

"if he went into action under the command of General Wilkinson, he would carry two pistols, one for his enemy and one for his General."

and "that he never saw but two traitors General Wilkinson and Burr, and that General Wilkinson was a liar and a scoundrel."

Full record:
https://catalog.archives.gov/id/56213990
#CitizenArchivist
1/n

National Archives NextGen Catalog

The online portal to the records held at the National Archives, and information about those records.

Show threadTom - KB9ENS

He was also charged with stealing money from his men, but here's the mutiny at the second charge.

"Charge 2d For conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman and for mutiny.
Specification_ In threatening the life of his commanding officer at Petersburg, in Virginia, sometime in the months of August or September 1808 by saying that if he went into action under the command of General Wilkinson, he would carry two pistols, one for his enemy and one for his General."

#Mutiny
#WinfieldScott
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May 4, 2024 at 8:46pmWeb
Show threadTom - KB9ENSMay 4, 2024
"In saying between the 1st of December and 1st of January, 1809_10 at a public table in Washington, that he never saw but two traitors General Wilkinson and Burr, and that General Wilkinson was a liar and a scoundrel."
#CourtMartial
#WinfieldScott
#AaronBurr
#history
#CitizenArchivist
Show threadTom - KB9ENSMay 4, 2024

It was a mixed result, but he was guilty of some of it...

"Sentence.
The Court, after mature deliberation on the testimony adduced, find the prisoner, Captain W. Scott, Guilty of the 1st Specification of the 1st Charge, and pronounce his conduct unofficerlike."

#WinfieldScott
#CourtMartial

Show threadTom - KB9ENSMay 4, 2024

And then the court suspends him for 12 Months!!!

"The Court finds the prisoner Guilty of the 1st specification of the additional charge, but Not Guilty of the 2d specification, and are of the opinion his conduct is unofficerlike_ and sentence him to be suspended from all rank, pay and emolument, for the space of twelve months. But the Court have no hesitation in acquitting the prisoner of all fraudulent intentions, in detaining the pay of his men. "
#Guilty
#CourtMartial
#WinfieldScott

Show threadTom - KB9ENSMay 4, 2024

Anyway... Scott survives to fight another day, ultimately becomes the preeminent US military officer of his day and Wilkinson dies obscurely as minister to Mexico

This transcription took me a while as this is a side hobby and I don't dedicate much time to it, but now it's out there on the National Archives catalog for anyone to find and read. Total of ~37 pages of handwritten text to type up. I did skip the last two pages which I think are Scott's pay records.
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