"Nearly four months had passed since the Union defeat at Ball's Bluff. Though it was no Manassas, it had become symbolic of the troubles of the Union army in the east. During the battle, the officer responsible for much of the disaster, Edward Baker, a US Senator playing colonel, was killed. This left a gnawing pain in the stomach of Washington for lack of someone to blame. Eyes quickly turned to the commanding officer, General Charles Stone"
"But then Allen Pinkerton, McClellan's intelligence officer, stepped in. Apparently, a civilian in Leesburg, Virginia made a statement that Stone was indeed disloyal. He was "very popular with the Rebel officers at Leesburg and with all secessionists in that vicinity." He claimed that many of the locals doubted Stone's loyalty to the Union and believed that his conduct at Ball's Bluff proved it. There was also evidence that Stone had returned escaped slaves to the Virginian owners.
When Pinkerton submitted the report to McClellan, the General agreed that it was too important to ignore. That same night, he took it to Secretary Stanton, who again ordered Stone's arrest.
The next day, McClellan composed the order. Through the provost marshal, General George Sykes was verbally ordered to arrest General Stone, an old friend and West Point classmate. Sykes was given no written order, nor was he told the reason for the arrest.
Very early in the morning of this date (around midnight of February 9), Sykes, accompanied by eighteen men from the 3rd US Infantry, arrested Stone as he was entering his room at Willard's Hotel. Sykes suggested that Stone changed into civilian clothes, as he was to be taken to Fort Lafayette in New York Harbor.
"Why, Fort Lafayette is where they send secessionists," replied Stone.
After a few reassuring words to his wife, Stone was escorted to a nearby building where he was kept under guard until morning, when he was taken by train to Fort Lafayette. It would take two days to arrive at the harbor fort"
Full article here
link
Questions:
a) General Stone was put under arrest with the Confederate prisioners?. Or he was in another near site more confortable?
b) Had he a regular trial latter?
c) When he was released?
d) The consensus among historians was that he were inocent?
e) Any book recomendation about this case?.
Thanks in advance for your guidance.
Amicalement
Armand
