Letter from Major Gist to the Maryland Council of Safety

v5:1085

Annapolis, April 26, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: Agreeable to your instructions, I am now to make application to you to appoint a General Court-Martial, for the trial of Christian Castler, a soldier in Captain Ramsay' s Company, who is charged with attempting to shoot a non-commissioned officer, who commanded a party on duty, of which Castler was one; the particular circumstances being regularly inquired into by a Court appointed for that purpose, who found him guilty of the charge, and are of opinion that a General Court-Martial, appointed by the commanding officer, is not competent to pass sentence on the prisoner for so capital a crime, and beg leave to refer him to a superior court, to be tried for his life.

I am, with much respect, gentlemen, your most humble servant,

M˙ GIST.

To the Honourable the Council of Safety of Maryland.