But, I’m curious to find out if you know of any supporting documentation concerning Leeper’s short career as District Provost Marshall. On July 7, 1863 the current Asst. Provost Marshall, C. R. Peck, writes a letter to Col. James O. Broadhead asking to be relieved from the Provost Marshall duties and recommending Captain William T. Leeper for the position.
Then I find an undated letter signed by Carroll R. Peck, and about 64 other signatories, requesting Col. Broadhead to reinstate Leeper to the Dist. Provost Marshall position.
My first question is; are there any “official” records of Leeper being made PM or of Col. Broadhead dismissing him from the position?
Further, in Leeper’s service record file I find that from Feb. to July, 1863, he is listed as “Present”. An entry for August states the he was “Absent, Prov Marsh, S. E. MO”. Then, Sept. to Nov. listed as “Present” and in December it says he was “Present Comdg Post”.
My second question; was he only in the position of PM during the month of August?
The only item I could find in the OR concerning Leeper and his PM duties was a January 13, 1864 communication with Gen. Fisk. In this document Leeper is letting the General know that he would like to “return” to the Provost position at Pilot Knob just because the Col (Col. Broadhead) relieved me like he did. I don’t have the exact quote in front of me, and if you need the citation I’ll have to get it from my computer at home tonight.
My third question and least important; if Leeper had such a good relationship with CR Peck while Peck was PM and was PM himself for a short time, could this be why Sam Hildebrand was calling everyone “Leeper’s men”?
Jim Morris