Wednesday, March 21, 2012

David Hunt - One Of The Mutineers

PHILIP PIPKIN - A TENNESSEE MILITIAMAN by Lt Col William Philip Pipkin, told of the trial in Mobile, Alabama, of the deserters and mutineers. A letter to Major General Andrew Jackson dated September 4, 1814, addressed the issue.
The regiment was assembled at Fort Jackson and departed 11 November for the Fort Pierce and Fort Montgomery areas. On 27 November the regiment was ordered to Mobile for the trial of the alleged deserters and mutineers.
Muster roll.., of Pipkin's regiment, including David Hunt, a subject of the Mobile, Alabama, trial (court martial).


Fort Jackson 4th September 1814
Majr Genl Jackson
                  Sir:

I also enclose you a copy of charges exhibited against David Hunt a private in Capt. Mebane's company. Understanding that the law requires a General Court Martial in capital cases, would therefore wish you to convene one as soon as possible, hoping that an early example may have the desired effect of preventing a farther progress of mutiny.
A Congressional resolution proposed in the aftermath of the trial and executions (also found here):


1. Resolved...[soldiers] of the First Regiment of West Tennessee Militia, commanded by Colonel Philip Pipkin, who were tried, sentenced, and executed, in pursuance of the proceedings of a Court Martial, convened, and holden at Mobile, by order of Major General Andrew Jackson, on the 5th day of December, 1814— were tried, sentenced, and executed, in contravention of their rights as citizens of the United States, and in derogation of the Constitution and laws of the land.

Mutiny details from the Nile's Register which published the Adjutant General's General Order dated January 22, 1815, from the Headquarters of the Seventh Military District, regarding the trials, including that of David Hunt.



More Congressional analysis of the mutineers and their punishments here.

The surname Hunt in Tennessee and also in Huntsville, Alabama, is of interest to me.

No comments: