Samuel E Huyck letter dated 17 November 1865

Betty-Lu Burton

Dear Myrtle is doing a Wednesday morning HOA (hangout on air) on the Quick Lessons of Elizabeth Shown Mills. I know I have not done many of these lessons, but I need to just do what I can and keep plugging along. This week is:
Elizabeth Shown Mills, “QuickLesson 5: Analyzing Records,” Evidence Explained: Historical Analysis, Citation & Source Usage(https://www.evidenceexplained.com/content/quicklesson-5-analyzing-records : accessed 30 Sept 2015).   

Last week was on records from the National Archives of the United States. So this week I will analyze a record I received from NARA.

In my 2great-grandfather Samuel E. Huyck there is a letter that he wrote. I will be looking at this letter.
A copy of the letter follows my analyst of the record.
Although the letter itself does not provide a lot of genealogical information, it does tell us something about Samuel E Huyck. He had very good handwriting. It appears he was well educated by the spelling found in the letter. Even by today's standard he had a good command of spelling and the use of language.
He was discharged on June 2nd 1865, and then arrested at home on the 15 September. He was charged with taking a blanket from the Hospital at camp Dennison. He had been a patient at the Hospital, thus giving another set of records that we might want to look at; Civil War medical records.
He was imprisoned at Relton Barracks in Cincinnati. He felt he was wrongfully imprisoned and he is requesting help. He did not receive a speedy trial and is asking Major General Cose for help in either receiving a trial or being release.
He also shows concern for his family.
So even though we do not find out much genealogical information about Samuel E Huyck, we did find out something about him. He is educated, was wounded, was discharged 2 June 1865, and he had concerned for his family. 

Samuel E. Huyck, letter dated 17 November 1865 from Camp Chase, Ohio to Major General Cose, Commanding District: compiled Military Records (Enlisted, Private, Company E, 38 Regiment, Ohio Volunteer, Infantry) Military Records obtained from NARA, Washington D.C.: copy of records in possession of Betty-Lu Baker Burton

            Camp Chase Ohio

                                                            November 17th 1865

                        Major General Cose

                        Commanding District

General!

                                     I most respectfully

tender this my humble application to

You with the view to draw Your kind

attention to my case.  ~~~~

                     After being honorably

Discharged from the service of the U.S.

on June 2nd 1865 I suddenly was

arrested at home on the 15th of September

by ordre of Brevel Lind Colenel M Dermont

and charged with stealing a Goverment

blanket from the Hospital at Camp

Dennison, where I was a patient suffering

under the effects of wounds received

at the battle of Jonesboro Ga. 1st day

of September 1864.

               I was then forwarded

to Relton Barrarks Cincinnati and

kept in close confinement from there

sent to this Post ,, Guardhouse and

my confinement continnued, without

me ever having received neither a trial

nor a hearing.

               My property being

destroyed by conlfagration lately and

in consequence thereof my family cast

into the world home and penniless

they depending upon my support, while

I am confined under false charges

[page 2]

without there being  hope of ever being

released and restored to liberty and a

suffering family, I most heartly and

respectfully request You Sir to interceed

in my affairs and either order my

trial to come on or be released

     Hoping soon to learn from You

                 I remain Sir

             Very respectfully

             Your obeient servant

                   S.E. Huyck citizen

             of Williams County

                            Ohio

                 Prisoner

[On Bottom and sideways]

Camp Chase Ohio                           Hd. Qrs. Dist. of Ohio

Nov 17 1865                                     Columbus Ohio 21st 65

___________                                 _____________________

Huyck S E                                     Respectfully referal to

Citizen                                           comdy. Offical of Camp

___________                               Chase O. to know whether

Makes application                          Charges have been made

to be released from                        against this man. and

confinement                                   for all the raeonl (?) then

_____________                           is against him.

                                                            By Command of

                                                            Maj Genl. J D Cox

                                                            M C Wilkinson           

                                                            Capt A D C     

Mastering Genealogical Proof Chapter 5

Thomas W. Jones, Mastering Genealogical Proof (Arlington, Virginia: National Genealogical Society, 2013). [Book available from the publisher at http://www.ngsgenealogy.org/r/mastering_genealogical_proof , also available
in Kindle format through Amazon.com]

Chapter 5
GPS Element 3: Analysis and Correlation

This chapter has to do with Analyzing a record to determine how accurate it is. It also has to do with compering two or more records to come up with a conclusion.

Analyzing: There are two things you need to consider when analyzing a record: 1) What kind of a record is it? and 2) What kind of information is given?

What kind of a record is it helps determine whether you need to look further or not. A record can be:

1. Original, meaning that the record is at its earliest state. This may be the actual record or an unaltered copy of the actual record.
2. Derivative, meaning it can be an index, abstract, transcription or some other form of the original record, but it is not in the original form. You should try and locate the original if at all possible because a derivative record has a chance of having errors and may also contain additional information.
3. Authored work, meaning a compilation of information some one has gathered and put together. The work may or may not contain source citations. If the work has no source citations than its accuracy is questionable.

What kind of information is given?

1. Primary is where the person giving the information is not only a witness, but also the record was made at or near the time of the event. This is the most accurate, but you need to consider the length of time between when the event occurred and when it was recorded.
2. Secondary is also referred to as hearsay. It is when someone who was not at the event is providing the information. A person giving his birth date is secondary, because he was to young to know the date. The person is going by what he was told by those who were present for his birth.
3. Indeterminate is where you do not know who gave the information like in an obituary and census.

My biggest challenge analyzing a record is that I look at the whole record instead of just looking for one piece of information. For example a death certificate can have direct and indirect information and it can also contain both primary and secondary information. So I have problems when analyzing the record on how to separate these things out.

Correlation is where you compare and contrast all the records you have found for one event. Dr Jones gives several examples of ways you can correlate records.

1. Use a table
2. Make a list
3. Make a timetable
4. Draw a map