Drummed out in April 1847...who was it?

[jagjetta]

In a letter dated May 2, 1847, Lt.Harrison Daily (Co., I, 3rd Ind.) wrote his father in Charlestown, "We drummed 2 men out of the division the past weekdue for stealing & the other for surrendering himself to the Enemy on the 23 Feby. One belonged to the Arkansas [Mounted Volunteers] & the other to the 2nd Ind."

My question is, who from the 2nd was drummed out in late April? From the AG reports, the following are possibilities:
Pvt. Andrew ROSS, CO. K, discharged April 10 1847
Sgt. Sylvester Riley, Co.I, discharged, no date specified
Pvt. George L. Esque, Co. I, discharged, no date specified
Pvt. James Halcomb, Co. I, discharged, no date specified
Capt. Thomas E. Vanfossen, Co. I, discharged, no date specified
Lt. George Foreman, Co. I, discharged by Court Marital, no date specified

Of these candidates, Lt. Foreman and or Pvt Ross seem the most likely. Can anyone elaborate on these people?

Any ideas on the Rackensacker who was drummed out?

My goal is to figure out who it was that "surrendered himself" to the enemy at BV

Thanks
John A-G

[TRK]

John, have you checked that published roster of Arkansas troops in the Mexican War (can't remember the title)? Seems like that book would have the answer for your Rackensacker.

[TRK]

Executive Document 56, 30th Congress, 1st Session (U.S. Serial Set, No. 518) includes a list of 6 men "captured by" the Mexicans on 23 February 1847 during the Battle of Buena Vista and released the following day, including John Lewellen and Elisha Hain, both privates in the Arkansas regiment. Curiously, neither one is listed (under those spellings or any permutations, as far as I can see) in Desmond Allen's book, Arkansas' Mexican War Soldiers, which seems to have fairly complete rosters of that state's units in the war. So, I wonder if the guy who was drummed out of the Arkansas Regiment was Lewellen or Hain?

[jagjetta]

Tom,
Exec Doc. 60, p. 1183 also lists both Lewellen and Hain as captured and released. It does mention that Lewellen was "slightly wounded" as well. These two guys are prime candidates for being the person who was drummed out. Lewellen was a member of Co. A, Ark. Mtd. Vols.

However, the same document also lists Pvt. Meredith W. Parker, Co. A; Pvt. Josiah Greer or Green, Co. G and
Pvt. Lafayette W. Settle, Co. H, all as missing. I think these guys could also be consider for the not-so-great honor as possibles.

John

[Jim Boylston]

John:
In my never ending search for Crockett documents, I came across a source for a number of court martial records from Tampico, February of 1847, all listed as Tennessee Volunteers:
James Cruse
Joseph Natcher
James Nelson
J. Freeman
Michael Burns
A.B Crook
Don't know if this is of interest to you, but if so, let me know and I'll provide what details I have.
Jim

[TRK]

jagjetta said:

Any ideas on the Rackensacker who was drummed out?

Here's the bum:

"Holland, James C., Private, Co. D, Arkansas Regiment of Mounted Volunteers, enrolled 3 July 1846, Washington, Arkansas; Discharged and drummed out of camp for stealing, 28 April 1847." (Desmond Walls Allen, Arkansas' Mexican War Soldiers. Conway, AR: Arkansas Research, 1988, p. 80)

[jagjetta]

Well done, Tom! That certainly appears to be the Rackensacker!

John

[TRK]

Which leaves the guy who "surrendered himself" to the Mexicans on 2/23. Makes me wonder, if it was a court-martial offense, was there more to it than simply surrendering? I'd love to read the proceedings of that court.