From the editor, Don Smith:

It seems that the Confederate Army was awash in politics and intrigue. Officers played favorites and advanced their friends to higher rank. That seems to be what has occurred here. A Captain William Antoine Redditt of Company K, inferior in rank to Captain David W. Self of Company B, was allowed to be examined and promoted to the rank of Major. I am positive that Captain Reditt was a fine young officer. The fact that he was elevated over at least 2 other officers of the Regiment does not lie at his door. There was another Captain of the Regiment who also was senior to Captain Redditt. We see such favoritism in every theater of war from the beginning of time. Captain D. W. Self was reelected by his men May 23, 1862 and should have been allowed to be examined for advancement to Major. Captain Self makes mention of "Col Richardson's statement". It is unknown what was in the statement, but since General Smith sustained him in promoting Capt. Redditt to Major, there must have been some thing derogatory, and I think I know what it was. Captain Self had contracted pneumonia and didn't appear on the field of battle at Shiloh until the second day, as contained in the statement of the Commanding Colonel at that time of the 17^th Louisiana Infantry Regiment, Colonel S. S. Heard. He mentions “My Colonel” and by that he means Colonel Richardson, who later took over the 17^th Regiment from Colonel Heard. It is my believe that Lieutenant General Pemberton  investigated the facts and the result was the promotion of David  W. Self to Major on May 30, 1863, “in the field”.  It didn’t hurt that Major Self was commended for his conduct in action by Brigadier General W. W. Baldwin, commanding the First Brigade. In his report, General Baldwin named Major Self along with 8 other officers and said they “…all merit high commendation for courage…” It is noteworthy to point out that only these 9 officers were named as worthy of commendation among 120 possible officers serving in the 4 regiments in action against the enemy in the environs of Vicksburg during a 2 month period from  May 4, 1863 to July 4, 1863. To read the report written by Brigadier General Baldwin, click next, but remember to click <Back Arrow> to return here: Brig. Gen. Baldwin’s Report 

Major Self’s letter is next and I believe I have read it and typed it correctly. It has been typed line-by-line in the same fashion as the the letter was written. After the next section, you’ll be able to read the actual letter.

Camp 17th La Regiment near Vicksburg, Miss January 30th, 1863

General

          Believing that great injustice has been done to me

by my Colonel I beg to be permitted to ask redress through

you. In replying to my petition of Nov 11th, 1862 you state

that the conduct of the petitioner as stated by Col

Richardson must be considered a waiver of his claim to

promotion & never having had an opportunity to see the state-

ment of Col Rickardson I cannot reply to it but do not

doubt that if the facts had been impartially stated that

my claim to promotion would have been sustained having

been reelected in the reorganization of the regiment as Captain

of Co. B. the Captain of Company A being elected Lt.Col &

certainly was then Senior Captain. Capt Redditt the success-

ful applicant being Captain of Co.K was certainly not

my senior. The decision of the Secretary of War settled

the question of my rank (but not until after Capt. Redditt

had been examined for promotion and assigned to duty

as Major) besides there was one other Captain reelected who

was senior to Major Redditt.

          In regard to my conduct I beg leave to state and am

prepared to substantiate the following facts.

1st - I claimed to be Senior Captain uniformly and remonstrated

with Col Richardson on the subject repeatly.

2nd - I repeatedly asked of Col Richardson (who was one of

the examining committee) to assign me my proper rank (referring

him to an order from the Sec War on the subject) that I might

be examined for promotion and not until I had left for home

on a sick leave did he ever even suggust to me that I

would be permitted to go before the committee for examin-

ation and only then as a junior to Capt Redditt.

3rd - He averred to me that Genl Smith had sustained him in

designating the rank of the Capt. by which Capt. Redditt

was made my Senior thus leaving me in doubt whether I have

a right to be examined for promotion or not until the

decision of the Secty of War as received Nov. 9th.

          If you would favor me with a copy of the statements

made by Col Richardson I have no doubt I could reply

to them satisfactorily.

          I trust sir that you would not knowingly permit an

officer though of inferior rank in the army to be

treated with such great injustice and therefore most

respectfully appeal to you on this subject.

  Lt. Genl                                 )

    J. C. Pemberton                   )     Very Respectfully

  Comd Dept Miss & East,TN )    )    Your Obt. Servant

    Jackson, Miss                        )          D.W. Self

                                                 )     Capt. Com.B. 17th La

                                                )

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