Chapter III: A Regimental Court-Martial

_The little domestic tragedy involving Sergeant Thomas Carlile, his wife, and Ensign Robert Johnson, the first two acts of which transpired in the last chapter, now comes to an end with the utter defeat and humiliation of the poor sergeant._

_Brought to trial on a charge of being disrespectful to an officer, Carlile sought to get his case tried not by a regimental court-martial, but by a general court-martial which would have a larger number of judges, including officers from other units, who would be more likely to judge his case without prejudice. With Ensign Johnson sitting as a member of the court it is not surprising that Carlile's request was denied nor that he was found guilty and reduced to the rank of private._

_Carlile shortly was restored to his sergeant's rating but only after agreeing to take back his faithless wife and writing a letter at Johnson's order in which he abjectly begged forgiveness for daring to suggest that the ensign ought not to sit as a member of the court._

_The record of Carlile's court-martial was stricken from the regimental orderly book, but Morison copied the proceedings as follows:_

_Michilamackinac, February 16th, 1771._

_Proceedings of a Regimental Court Martial, 2d. Battn. 60th Regt. by
order of Capt. Turnbull, Commandant._

_President--Lieut. Christie_

_Prisoner, Sergt. Carlile_

_Ens. Johnstone, member_

_Confined by order of Ens. Strickland for being insolent & behaveing
with Disrespect to him. Ens. Strickland informs the Court that he went
a Carrioling [riding in a cariole, a kind of sleigh] with a Woman
under his Protection (namely Sergt. Carlile's wife and Ens.
Johnstone's whore) [and] that the prisoner came up and wished that the
Carriole, horse and all, might break in & go under the ice, with other
insolent Language._

_The Prisoner being put to defence denys the crime & says he will not
be tryed by a Regimental Courtmartial, but desires a general one, &
objects to Ens. Johnstone, for reasons he now will not mention. The
Court is of oppinion the prisoner is guilty of the crime laid to his
Charge, therefore do sentence him to be reduced and serve as private
in the Ranks._

_Signed/ Lieut. Christie, president_

_Approved, George Turnbull, Commandant._

Febry 1st. 1771. Ens. Johnstone by threats & promises prevailed upon Sergt. Carlile, by frequent tamperings & Solicitations, to take his wife back again. I imagine upon Examination of this accommodation it will appear equally abominable as the original iniquitous & intrigueing proceedings.

The 23d febry 1771. Ensigns Johnstone & Strickland haveing requested of the commanding officer that Thomas Carlile, late Sergt. in generall Armstrong's Company, should be restored, he is therefore restored to his former rank (after signing, I fancy, uncommon preliminarys dictated to him by the Destroyer of his peace and tranquility). He is to be obeyed as such. One infamous restoration indeed when the terms are narrowly scrutinized.

N. B.: That upon the 26th febry. 1771. Capt. Turnbull, Commandant, Issued verbal orders to Sergt. [Mc]Murray of the General's Company to Erase the proceedings of the Regimental Court Martial concerning Sergt. Carlile's tryal out of the Regimental Orderly book, & if he could, would get it Erased out of the orderly book of the Lieut. Colonel's Company also. Accordingly Sergt. McGann of the Colonel's Company did erase it, without any previous notice given to the officer who commanded the Company. As that officer was not a little surprized at such uncommon proceedings, he immediately confined him in the guard-house, who in his own defence told his officer he received positive orders from the acting Sergt. Major so to do, who had told him it was the orders of the day by the commanding officer, Capt. Turnbull. Upon which the officer commanding the Coll's Company sent for the acting Sergt. Major who acknowledged to him he had received orders from the Commanding officer of the Fort to have the tryall of Sergt. Carlile torn out of the Book of both Companies doing duty in Garrison. Upon which Declaration the officer set Sergt. McGann at liberty.

_Michilamackinac, 22d. febry 1771_

_Sir--_

_I hope You will pardon my takeing this Liberty to trouble You, but to
ease my own mind I cannot avoid it, by the instigation of my own
Notions. I was so imprudent to object to Ens. Johnstone's being a
member of my Court Martial, altho' I am now well convinced that his
own Honnour would not allow him to do anything prejudicial to Justice.
The only Excuse I can make to him & Ens. Strickland is that a Woman
who I have the greatest regard for distracted me by her imprudent
behaviour. This, Sir, I hope in some part will Extenuate my Crimes, &
I shall only further beg leave to Observe that Ens. Johnstone has
behaved to me as a good officer, & I have no ground of Complaint
against him, & I am extreamely sorry for, & beg his forgiveness & Ens.
Strickland's for my past behaveour, which I never will be guilty of
again._

_I have the Honnour to be, Sir,_

_Your most Dutifull & humble Servant,_

_Signed--Tho's Carlile, late Sergt._

_To Capt. Turnbull_
_Commanding at Michilamackinac_

_The above is a coppy of a Letter directed to Capt. Turnbull by order of Ens. Johnstone._

_a true Copy_

_Signed/ Tho's McMurray_
_acting Sergt. Major_