The Missouri in the Civil War Message Board - Archive

Re: Allen and Keith
In Response To: Re: Allen and Keith ()

While Keith and Allen were good at having others stretch hemp, they would not do so themselves.
Though Colonel of the regiment, Allen was not officially in charged for that day. He was never court-martialed and never received any punishment by the military. He was under suspension at the time, for reporting some soldiers present who were not and some other charges. However by the summer of 63 he was in trouble for other charges. He had a substitute racket going, whether as broker between buyer and substitutes or extorting money from men he threatened to draft is not clear. What is clear is that Allen made a profit of over 20,000 dollars a tidy profit at this time. He was court-martialed and sentenced to suspension without pay for six months. Which didn't hurt him monetarily at all. This was the same sentenced he had received previously. His suspension didn't hamper him much, he stayed with the remnants of his unit after the main body had been surrendered at the Cumberland. On June 3 1864 he resigned and headed to Arkansas. Years later he would return to Marshall NC.

Though Governor Vance wanted James Keith for murder(s). Keith managed to get himself court-martialed and found guilty of an unspecified offense and allowed to resign. Though there was an investigation of murder against him, Keith was not held by the Army and allowed to flee. Vance however would not let matters rest and sought to bring Keith under civilian prosecution. At last after the war, Union soldiers would capture Keith and take him to Marshall to await his punishment. The state legislature of 66-67 passed an act granting "full and complete amnesty, pardon and discharge to all officers and soldiers of either Union or Confederate who under orders committed any homicide, felonies or misdemeanors." Keith however stayed in jail as no one sued out the writ of habeas corpus to free him under the amnesty act. When brought to trial the amnesty act as applied to him was argued to be null and void under a state constitutional convention. On the night of February 21 1869 a few days before his legal vindication by the state supreme court, Keith escaped prison. For two years authorities ordered his arrest. On June 26, 1871 the state dropped it's prosecution. Keith is also belived to have fled and settled in Arkansas. Unlike his friend Allen, he did not see fit to return to NC.

Oh yes, Lawrence Allen would later write a book entitled "Partisan Campaigns of Colonel Lawrence M. Allen Commanding the 64th Regiment, North Carolina Troops, During the Late Civil War. Valiant Deeds of Heroic Patriotism, Self Sacrifices For The Southern Cause. His Rapid Promotion. Terrific Contests with the Notorious Bushwhacker Kirk. Duel in Defense of the honor of Southern Womanhood." I wonder if the book was as long as the title?

James Turchin.

Messages In This Thread

Guerillas, Partisans, Irregulars, etc.
Re: Guerillas, Partisans, Irregulars, etc.
Re: Guerillas, Partisans, Irregulars, etc.
Re: Guerillas, Partisans, Irregulars, etc.
Off subject.
Re: Off subject.
Re: Guerillas, Partisans, Irregulars, etc.
Re: Guerillas, Partisans, Irregulars, etc.
Re: Guerillas, Partisans, Irregulars, etc.
Re: Guerillas, Partisans, Irregulars, etc.
I`m interested in Guerillas in MO & KY *NM*
Re: I`m interested in Guerillas in MO & KY
Thanks Skip *NM*
Re: Guerillas, Partisans, Irregulars, etc.
Let's do it again
Re: Guerillas, Partisans, Irregulars, etc.
Guerillas, Partisans, Irregulars, etc.
Re: Guerillas, Partisans, Irregulars, etc.
Re: Guerillas, Partisans, Irregulars, etc.
Re: Allen and Keith
Re: Allen and Keith
Re: Allen and Keith
Re: Allen and Keith
Re: Allen and Keith
Re: Allen and Keith
Col John T Coffee
Correction !
Re: Guerillas, Partisans, Irregulars, etc.
Re: Guerillas, Partisans, Irregulars, etc.
YES ! *NM*
Touchy subject......but YES..!!!!!!
Re: Touchy subject......but YES..!!!!!!
Re: Touchy subject......but YES..!!!!!!
Re: Touchy subject......but YES..!!!!!!
Re: Guerillas, Partisans, Irregulars, etc.
Re: Guerillas, Partisans, Irregulars, etc.
Re: Guerillas, Partisans, Irregulars, etc.
Re: Guerillas, Partisans, Irregulars, etc.
Re: Guerillas, Partisans, Irregulars, etc.
Re: Guerillas, Partisans, Irregulars, etc.
Re: Guerillas, Partisans, Irregulars, etc.
Re: Guerillas, Partisans, Irregulars, etc.
Re: Guerillas, Partisans, Irregulars, etc.
Re: Guerillas, Partisans, Irregulars, etc.
Re: Guerillas, Partisans, Irregulars, etc.