| SENATE 41TH
CONGRESS, 2nd Session
RESOLUTIONS
of THE LEGISLATURE OF IOWA Such
legislation as will set aside the verdict of the military court in the
case of William B Critchfield and Henry C Anderson, late soldiers of
the Thirteenth Iowa infantry, upon a charge of absence without leave,
and that they be allowed their pay and allowances forfeited by reason
of such decision. April 18, 1870 – Referred to the Committee on Military Affairs and ordered to be printed. JOINT RESOLUTION of the general assembly of the State of Iowa, for the relief of William B Critchfield and Henry C Anderson, late soldiers of the Thirteenth Iowa Infantry. Whereas William B Critchfield and Henry C Anderson, privates of Company C Thirteenth regiment Iowa volunteer infantry, were, on or about the 3d day of April, 1863, granted a leave of absence to go from their regiment to Providence, Louisiana, which was near by, and during their absence were captured by Adams's confederate cavalry, and taken prisoners of war to Vicksburg, and there confined in a military prison until their subsequent removal to the prisons at Richmond, Virginia where they were exchanged and returned to their regiment at Black River, Mississippi, for duty, on the 16h day of October, 1863; and Whereas after the return of said soldiers to their regiment, after said exchange, they were arrested by the authority of the United States, and tried and convicted by a military court, upon a charge of "absence with out leave," and, as a penalty, said court ordered the forfeiture of all pay and allowances there were due said soldiers from the government of the United States; and Whereas William B Critchfield, on the 1st day of January, 1864, re-enlisted as a veteran in said regiment, and was on the 16th day of January, 1864, promoted to first sergeant of Company C Fifty-first regiment of United States colored infantry volunteers, and on the 8th day of November, 1866, was again promoted to the office of first lieutenant of Company F of said regiment, where he served his country with fidelity and bravery until he was honorably discharged from the service on the 16th day of June, 1866, a period, in all, of nearly five years, during which time he was always prompt and ready, and ever found where duty called him, battling for his country and his country's cause; and Whereas Henry C Anderson, on the 1st day of January, 1864, re-enlisted as a corporal and veteran in the Thirteenth regiment of Iowa volunteer infantry and served faithfully and honorably, and with bravery and promptness discharged the duties incumbent upon him as a soldier, until he was wounded at Atlanta, which rendered him wholly unfit for further military duty, when he was honorably discharged from the service on the 23d day of May, 1865, and is now a pensioner of the United States, caused by said wounds. While the said Henry C Anerson was serving his country he had the highest testimonials of honesty, and fought bravely in the defense of his country, and for the preservation of its flag in the siege of Vicksburg, and in the battles of Shiloh, Corinth, luka, and Atlanta, where he was wounded; and Whereas this general assembly of the State of Iowa is of the opinion that great injustice has been done to said soldiers by the findings and sentences of said military court, and that the same were erroneous and unwarrantable, and that the said findings and sentences therein should be reversed, and said soldiers be allowed all pay and allowances taken from them by reason of the same: Therefore, Be it resolved by the general assembly of the State of Iowa, That we hereby request and instruct our senators and representatives in Congress to secure such legislation as will set aside that verdict of said military court, and secure to said William B Critchfield and Henry C Anderson all pay and allowances from the general government forfeited by reason of said decision; and that the secretary of state be instructed to forward a copy of this resolution to each of our senators and representatives in Congress. Approved April 5, 1870. I hereby certify that the foregoing is a true and correct copy of the original resolution on file in my office. ED. WRIGHT, Secretary of State |