Proceedings of a General Court Martial held at Antwerp on the 9th day of June 1814 by Order of. Lord Lynedoch [a few months before the Battle of Waterloo]

Thomas Graham, Lord Lynedoch; Hugh Halkett [Thomas Keyton]

Published by Antwerp Unpublished Manuscript 1814, 1814

About this Item

[4] An interesting piece of British military history, being the official 4 page report on the Court Martial of Driver Thomas Keyton at Antwerp presided over and signed by both Brigadier General Hugh Halkett who would be in action a few months later at Waterloo and 'approv'd [Lord] Lyndoch Com'r of the forces' in the low countries. The foolscap bifolium is folded down the middle with browning and wear to the top and bottom of the paper with the loss of a couple of words. A docket title appears on the blank verso of the final leaf; the text is written over three pages in a forward sloping professional hand. The account of the court martial begins with the formal warrant and appointment of the President and members of the Court followed by the charge against Thomas Keyton: 'In deserting from his Corps when Stationed at Broceham [?] in or about the 19th of April 1814.' The prisoner pleaded guilty but claimed that his 'Kitt was stolen from him and that he was afraid of being punished and he ran away, he is very sorry for it and he throws himself upon the Mercy of the Court'. The court's decision was to transport Keyton to Australia, or 'beyond the Seas as a Felon for Life'. At the time of this court martial Lynedoch was commanding British forces in the Netherlands as an insurrection started to grow and Napoleonic forces retreated before the final confrontation at Waterloo. Hugh Halkett had a remarkably varied career, ending his professional life commanding a Hanoverian army corps in the Prussian-Danish war of 1848, but is best remembered for capturing the French General Cambronne immediately after Waterloo. Good Please contact Christian White Rare Books Ltd for more information or images of this item. Seller Inventory # 5051

Bibliographic Details

Title: Proceedings of a General Court Martial held ...

Publisher: Antwerp Unpublished Manuscript 1814

Publication Date: 1814

Condition: Good

Signed: Signed by Author(s)