It had been a frigid Christmas day in 1829 when group of armed Privates from Company G assembled outside their commanding officer’s quarters. Lt. Ephriam Kirby Smith had just angrily hauled their comrade, Pvt. Levi Stephens, into his quarter’s to flog the soldier for sharing whiskey with his friends at Fort Mackinac. This consumption of alcohol had simply been a way to celebrate the lonely holiday and feel warmth as they were missing their families. Unfortunately Lt. Smith had been known for being strict with his rules and aggressive with his punishments.

Hearing the commotion, Lt. Smith returned outside, armed with a sword. According to testimony,
Lt. Smith had ordered the assembly of 10-20 men back to their bunks. These soldiers, full of
whiskey-confidence, had refused. They demanded the return of Pvt. Stephens, who had supplied
their holiday indulgence.

Lt. Smith stood firmly, resolved to physically punish Pvt. Stephens for bringing alcohol into the Fort. The soldiers again requested the release of their comrade. Words were exchanged. Tensions grew . . .

With aggression three men, armed with bayonets, charged Lt. Smith. Lt. Smith managed to stave off the first blows with his sword and inflicted a head wound on Pvt. Gretzler before his sword was damaged. Looking at his broken sword and then to the tense crowd, Lt. Smith retreated indoors to find another weapon.

With rising anger and breathless worry, Lt. Smith had called to the guards and fellow Lieutenants Lynde and Sibly about the mutinous uprising taking place outside. When the band of leaders and guards had rushed onto the parade grounds to investigate, they only saw were footprints in the snow. The soldiers had returned to their barracks.

With growing resentment, Lt. Smith wasn’t about to wait for official court proceedings, he had taken matters into his own hands and had the guards arrest the three soldiers who’d attacked him. Privates Genury, Urquardt and even Gretzler, who had a head wound, were taken into custody. Each man was then miserably flogged by Lt. Ephriam Kirby Smith along with Private Levi Stephens, the whiskey provider.

The Privates’ Mutiny Trial

The sum of seven Privates were put on trial for mutiny: Pvt. Eddo, Pvt. Urquardt, Pvt. Genury,
Pvt. Gretzler, Pvt. Shearer, Pvt. Francis and Pvt. Peter White. Every one of the men had been found guilty.

Private Gretzler, the soldier with the head wound inflicted by Lt. Smith, had defended himself by explaining, “The group was there to get their rights back, and though a soldier did not have many, he had to protect those (rights) he had.”

Private Charles Eddo had testified about numerous beatings at the hands of Lt. Smith. Private Eddo had reported how he had once begged Lt. Smith not to kill him as he was being beaten with a club. Laced with anger, Lt. Smith had said, “You damned son of a bitch, I’ll kill you.”

Many other stories of abuse came to light during the mutiny trial. This caused the Fort Mackinac commander, Lieutenant Colonel Enos Cutler, to raise his brow in concern and begin taking notes about the behaviors described.

Six Privates had received the harshest of punishments. Besides having 4/5 of their pay forfeited and their heads shaved, the half dozen were sentenced to hard labor. Each had been fixed with a ball and chain until the end of their enlistments.

Peter White’s sentence was less harsh. His hard labor term had been set to last six months. When he wasn’t working he was kept in solitary confinement in the guard house.

Court Martial Proceedings For Lieutenant Ephriam Kirby Smith

Hearing the Privates’ testimonies about the abusive treatment, Lieutenant Colonel Enos Cutler, commander of Fort Mackinac, began Court Martial proceedings for Lt. Ephriam Kirby Smith in August 1830.

Lt. Smith faced six separate charges of unlawfully flogging of soldiers which had taken place before and after the Christmas Day Mutiny. These actions had been viewed as, “illegal, arbitrary and unmilitary conduct.”

Lt. Ephriam Kirby Smith had been found guilt and was discharged from the military. President Andrew Jackson, who had approved Lt. Smith’s dismissal, weighed his opinion “(An) officer who inflicts corporal punishment whilst in the heat of passion…renders himself doubly obnoxious to the charge of arbitrary conduct.”

Sentences Reversed

With Lieutenant Ephriam Kirby Smith being found guilty, the sentences of the Privates had been reversed. They were released from hard labor and their pay was restored.

Lieutenant Ephriam Kirby Smith Returns

Corruption has a long history. With family and political influence Lt. Ephriam Kirby Smith had been able to return to the military two years later as a Captain. He had led troops in the Mexican-American War where he had sustained a mortal wound at the battle of Molino del Rey in 1847.

Christmas in the Military Then and Now

Being on deployment at the holidays can be tough for anyone in the miliary along with their families.
Just before Christmas in 1991 I had received a call from Chuck who had been stationed at Fort Benning. He was being deployed on an Army mission, but couldn’t tell me where or when he’d return to base.

After I’d hung up my Dad and I found ourselves in the living room under the glow of the Christmas tree. He openly had shared a memory from his Christmas when he’d been stationed in St. Louis. “I was laying on top of my bunk and the Bing Crosby song, ‘I’ll Be Home For Christmas’ came on the radio.” His eyes glistened, “I had tears running down my face, missing my family, knowing I wouldn’t be home that year.” Soon, both our eyes filled with emotion, hoping for Chuck’s safe return.

Chuck’s father, Nile Hayden, had spent time stationed in Greenland, Alaska and the upper peninsula of Michigan during his career in the Air Force. Many of their holidays had been spent apart.

My hope is that our military members and their families find some peace this holiday season. Through these trials hopefully we will become stronger and appreciate our connections with our families and friends.

Merry Christmas!

Thank you for joining us as we peered “behind the curtain” of Fort Mackinac and this saga in history. Enjoy the video in the link below. Merry Christmas!

Related Links:

Restless Viking’s YouTube video

Restless Viking merchandise is available!

Resources:

Mackinac Historic State Parks website