Satterlee Clark to Henry Burbeck

Annapolis 2^nd. Nov^r. 1811
Dear Colonel,
                        Enclosed  I have
the honor to transmit a Copy
of an order lately received from
the Pay Master of the Army, which
I beg you to have the goodness to
make known to the Officers stationed
in the Harbour of New York. –
I arrived here on the 30^th. ult. having
been one day detained at Elkton
by the indisposition of M^rs. Clark.
– During my absence an occurrence
has taken place at the Post, which
has deprived me of the Services of
Sergeant White. – The circumstances
are as follow. Sergeant White was
sent by Lieut. Smith, with a party
of men in the Scow to take a load
of Wood from a Wharf in Town.
John Bowers an Artificer, was one
of the party, and while loading the
wood, he began to speak disrespect=

fully of Sergeant White, addressing him=
self, to a number of the lower class of
citizens who were collected on the Wharf.
he said “he had heard there were Officers
in Hell, and that he had rather serve
under them than under some Non Com=
missioned Officers here” evidently allu=
ding to Sergeant White, who ordered
him to be silent & mind his work,
but Bowers being encouraged by the
Mob, declared he would not be silent,
and continued his insolent & mutinous
behaviour, till at length Sergeant
White struck him with a sitck.
when Bowers immediately seized a
Billet of Wood and aimed a blow
a White, which would probably have
killed him, if it had not been arrested
by one of the men. The Mob taking the
part of Bowers, Sergeant White
was obliged to send to the Fort for a

Guard to rescue him. – Bowers’ head
was cut  by the blow, which White gave
him & the blood flowed pretty freely.
This was sufficient to raise a Hue & Cry
among the rabble. The wife of Bowers
who keeps a Whiskey Shop in Town, and
is one the most infamous creatures
in existence, was supplied with money
and dispatched to the City of Washington.
She probably told a pitiful tale
to the Secy of War, who thereupon sent
an order to Lieut. Smith, a copy of
which I enclose you. –
Respecting this affair sensible men
can form but one opinion. The con=
duct of Bowers was highly mutinous,
and deserved the severst punishment;
that of the Sergeant was perfectly correct,
and he must be supported in it, or there
will be an end to all discipline and
subordination in the Army. –

f a Subaltern, may be permitted to form,
and express an opinion of an act of his
Superiour, I think the decision of the
Secy. of War in this case will be attended
with bad consequences to the Army.
It is well known that the lowest class
of people are opposed to Military es=
tablishments, because they have not
sense enough to discover the necessity and
utility of them, and they are jealous of any
power which is does not immediately flow
from them. They have a particular
dislike to Officers of the Army, and they
seize with avidity every opportunity
to perplex them in the execution of their duty.
In this case they have successfully in=
terfered, and they are elated beyond all
bounds. – The consequence will be
that no Officer, or Non Commissioned
Officer will dare perform his duty,
least he should be degraded. – I am
clearly of opinion that a Sergeant

should not be permitted to strike a

soldier for slight offences. But when
his authority is treated with contempt
it should be followed by immediate
chastisement. –

Bowers has several times been guilty
of mutinous conduct. While under
the command of Capt. Peter at Fort
M^cHenry he was more than once
severely punished for it.
Sergeant White has ever conducte[d]
in the most correct and honorable
manner, and I sincerely hope
you will have justice done
him. He asks nothing but a fair
trial to which he is certainly en=
titled. –

            I am Sir
               very respectfully
                        Your Ob^t Servt
Col. Henry Burbeck            Sat. Clark
                                    Lieut. Art^sts.
                                                D Q M

[enclosure]

            Copy              War Department
                                        Sept^r. 30^th. 1811
Sir
            It has been represented to this Dep^t.
that John Bowers a Soldier, has been beaten
in a cruel manner, on a public wharf, in
the City of Annapolis by Burgess B. White
a Sergeant, both of Captⁿ. Bealls Company,
and now under your command, – you will
immediately examine into this and report
the result to this Dep^t.; in the mean time
let Bowers remain with his family and
suspend White from command, until
further orders
                                    Respectfully
                                    (signed) W. Eustis
Lieu^t. E. Smith
            Annapolis