William B. Reynolds was born in Illinois, appointed to the United States Military Academy from Illinois, attending the academy from July 1, 1841 to January 20, 1842. He served as 2nd Lieutenant 16 Infantry from December 1847 to his honorable mustering out August 1848. In 1855 he served as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 6th Infantry, and was cashiered from Fort Laramie May 1856. A letter from Captain William Hoffman follows: Head Qrs. Fort Laramie, N.T. December 12th 1855 Captain I have the honor to enclose herewith the resignation of 2d Lieut. W. B. Reynolds of the 6th Inft. As he has given a very biased view of the circumstances which induced him to take this step, I deem it necessary to detail the facts briefly. During his first tour of duty as officer of the day at this post, Lieut Reynolds was very perceptibly intoxicated, but I permitted myself to believe that the novelty of his position had let him to indulge unusually, and observing during the day that the excitement was passing off, and hoping serious consequences he had exposed himself to, of which he must have been conscious, would deter him from again erring in the same manner, I overlooked the offence. A few days after, I observed that he was again under the influence of liquor when on duty. On the 17th August, when officer of the day after dark, he was drunk, and to avoid any mistake I sent for Asst. Surg. Getty to notice his condition, but in the mean time Lieut. Reynolds had disappeared and could not be found at the post, nor at the Dragoon camp in the vicinity. After tattoo the Corporal of the Guard found him asleep on a bed near the Sutler’s store. I sent the Officer who had been detailed in his place as officer of the day, to wake him up and arrest him, and also to notice his condition. He reported to me that it was with some difficulty he awoke Lt. R., but he could not say whether he was drunk or not. In these several instances I am well convinced of the drunkenness of Lieut. Reynolds, though it is possible they might not all have been established before a Court Martial. So grave an offence, so often repeated, could not be lightly passed over, and through an excess of clemency, I consented to receive his pledge as a guarantee that discipline would not be again so outraged, and on it I released him from arrest. I exacted nothing from him, he knew the alternative, and after deliberating and consulting his friends he took that course which seemed to him best. Since his arrest he has sent me word by the Post Adjutant, who informed officially of the cause of arrest, that he now regrets that he did not pledge himself to total abstinence from all kinds of intoxicating liquors. At the interview which Lieut. Reynolds refers to in the postscript of his letter, which was granted at his request I called his attention to what I conceived to be the objectionable features of his letter, and on his saying that he would withdraw it, I told him he could do so if he pleased and after reconsidering it, he could send it in, in its present shape, or with any modification he might think advisable, but unless some change was made, I could not forward it without unfavourable comment. There are other minor inaccuracies which I do not deem it necessary to notice, except that since the 1st Inst. I have been daily expecting an Express from Fort Pierre which I intended to send back immediately, and the charges to which Lt. r. refers were left incomplete, as I wished to give him all the time possible to decide on his course. As he considers his resignation as extorted from him by an illegal obligation required of him by me, I respectfully leave it to the pleasure of the General whether to accept it, or to order his trial on the charges which I have the honor to enclose herewith. I enclose herewith Lieut. Reynolds letter of the 21st Aug. on which he was released from arrest. Very Respectfully Your Obt. Servt. (Sigd) Wm. Hoffman Maj & Bvt Lt Col 6th Inf Comdg [To] Capt. A. Pleasonton Actg. Asst. Adjt. Genl. Hd. Qrs. Sioux Exp. Fort Pierre N.T.
Posted on: Fri, 18 Apr 2014 15:24:55 +0000
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