While digging through a box of my old research material, I ran across this correspondence which I transcribed several years ago. It concerns the killing of Pvt. John Powell, Co. C, 2nd Arkansas Cavalry, by a provost guard at Brookhaven, Mississippi, on June 3, 1863. Private Powell appears to have been a bit of a hothead, having been court-martialed a year earlier for an assault upon the regimental chaplain, with the intention of shooting him, and was sentenced to wear a ball and chain for fifteen days and stoppage of all pay and allowances for thirty days. I don't think he liked officers very much.
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Head Quarters, Brookhaven, June 4, 1863.
Gen. Joseph E. Johnston, commanding Western Department.
The undersigned, Commandant of the Post and Provost Marshal, would respectfully make the following report.
On yesterday, the 3rd day of June 1863, a soldier by the name Powell, belonging to Co. C, Second Arkansas Cavalry, who was at this place upon furlough, and in accordance with our orders, it being necessary that we should have horses for the use of the government for couriers, &c., men belonging to this post examined the horse belonging to said Powell in order to impress the said horse. But upon his producing his papers as a member of the army, the impressment was not made. The said Powell seemed very much dissatisfied and used abusive language respecting the officers of the Post during the day. Towards evening a dispatch was received from Col. Brook, your Adjutant General, wishing to know what authority the Provost Marshal had to impress the said Powell’s horse. Lt. Younkin, the Provost Marshal, immediately went to Powell and told him that he had telegraphed a misstatement of the facts, and requested him to go with him to the telegraph office and correct his statement, to which request he assented, and started to the telegraph office with Lt. Younkin, distance about 100 yeards. When about 15 or 20 steps of the office, Lt. Younkin being in advance some 4 or 6 feet, Powell shot at Lt. Younkin and missed him. He shot again the second time, and then the ball passing through Lt. Younkin’s shoulder, at which time Lt. Younkin turned and fired two shots at Powell, who retreated. His shots not taking effect, Powell got his horse and came back to the telegraph office where Lt. Younkin was, and in the mean time the Commandant of the Post ordered his guard to arrest the said Powell. In attempting to arrest him, he declaring he would kill any person trying to arrest him, and not stopping when halted, the guard fired and killed Powell instantly.
Powell said to the town marshal, Mr. J. H. Williamson, that he put his horse in the livery stable to get a chance to kill the Provost Marshal, Lt. Younkin, and that he would kill him.
A Jury of Inquest was held on the body of Powell by the civil authorities, who returned a verdict exonerating the military authorities from all blame.
We the officers deeming it necessary that we should make a report of the matter, we have made this statement of facts.
Respectfully submitted,
R. S. CARTER,
Maj. Commanding Post.
S. W. YOUNKIN,
Lieut. & Provost Marshal.