To James Madison from David Daggett, 26 December 1815
From David Daggett
Washington
Decr. 26. 1815.
4, OClock
Sir.
I have received by the mail of this day a letter inclosing a Petition1 to the President of the United States in behalf of Aaron West, a sergeant in the 6th: Regiment of United States infantry stationed upon Governors Island near NewYork, stating that the Petitioners are apprehensive that as he has been lately tried by a Court martial for desertion, he may be under sentence of death, & praying for a Pardon.2 This letter arrived so late that it occurred to me it might be an interruption to present it to-day. I intend to call to-morrow at an early hour for that purpose. With the highest respect I have the honour to be your obedient servant
David Daggett
RC (DLC). Docketed by JM.
1. Petition not found.
2. West, a native of Tolland, Connecticut, had enlisted for five years in 1812 at the age of twenty-one. Promoted to sergeant in April 1814 and wounded in July of that year, he served as a recruiter in Connecticut in early 1815. On 17 Nov. 1815, however, he was apprehended “about four miles & a half” from Brooklyn, brought back to Governor’s Island, and confined. Charged with disobedience of orders and neglect of duty, quitting his guard, and desertion, West was tried by court-martial at Fort Columbus from 27 to 30 Nov. 1815. He pleaded not guilty but offered no defense beyond emphasizing that he had been drunk at the time of his arrest and had not resisted being taken into custody. He was found guilty and sentenced to be “Shot to Death.” On 3 Jan. 1816 the adjutant general’s office issued an order declaring the sentence to be illegal since it had not specified that two thirds of the court had concurred in it. West was reduced to the ranks and barred from ever serving again “in any honorable capacity.” He was discharged on 15 July 1817 (DNA: RG 94, Registers of Enlistments, 1798–1815, 25:10–11; DNA: RG 153, General Court Martial Case Files, S-47; and DNA: RG 94, General Orders).