Raynor HCA 2014-04
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/1/2014
In late 1862 Union Col. JOSHUA T. OWEN (1821-1887) commander 69th Penn. Vols. and brigadier general who led a brigade at Cold Harbor. Owen almost derailed his military career when stationed at Harper's Ferry, Va. where he became very drunken and verbally abusive to a fellow officer, supposedly offering to sleep with that officer's young daughter! A printed war-date Union General Orders, No. 168, "Headquarters Army of the Potomac, Camp near Knoxville, Md., Oct. 24, 1862 found that, in part: "…on the 4th of October, 1862, the regiment of the accused was encamped near Harper's Ferry…the accused…was then very much intoxicated…he was found late in the afternoon, in the streets of Harper's Ferry, very drunk and engaged in a scandalous quarrel and collision with…Lt. Col. [Dennis O'Kane], by whom he was pulled from his horse and thrown violently to the ground…after dark he was arrested by the provost guard…". Owen was luck as one of the charges, reads, in part: "that Colonel J. T. Owen…did call his Lieutenant Colonel Dennis O'Kane, a 'son of a bitch,' in the presence of his daughter…that he made improper and offensive requests of the young lady…insisting that [she] should sleep in his tent…". But the court was kind and dropped this charge and instead recommended, in part: "All members of the Court present at the finding and sentence recommend a remission of the sentence, 'in consideration of the previous good character of Colonel Owen, and his distinguished services in the present war.' Also included is a war-date clipped signature adding rank as brigadier general "JOHUA T. OWEN." With provenance that the signature was removed from an autograph album sold for the benefit of the Sanitary Commission. Overall in VG condition.
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