DON'T SHOOT THAT BOY! ABRAHAM LINCOLN AND MILTARY JUSTICE

from my historical reading (and sorting thru some boxes in the garage...), I don't know if he is related, Thomas Bryant is such a common name, and this is a name in our genealogy....but I don't know about Lawrence County.....

Thomas Bryant of Lawrence County, Missouri would've fought for the rebels at Prairie Grove but he had the measles. When he was captured and tried in October, 1863, he was charged with violating his oath by joining "Colonel Mitchell's Regiment of Guerrillas." He pled guilty to all of the charges, but objected to the word "Guerrilla." He was convicted and sentenced to prison during the war. Nicolay wrote, "Sentence approved. FEbruary 9, 1864." The "A. Lincoln" is smeared, but still clearly readable.

Footnote RG 153, MM 1006