Ancestor: James K. Wells
Descendent: Jana Beth T.
In the final months of the Civil War, James K. Wells had been promoted to 2nd Lieutenant of the 31st Regiment of Indiana Volunteers. Per the journals that I have, James cites that there was some thought by other officers that he was in some way responsible for a lack of discipline and efficiency of the other soldiers under him. He was forced to resign on September 30, 1864. He had already suffered greatly from malaria poisoning and a severe cut to his foot.
After the war was over and around 1880, he took a train to Kansas for a hearing before Judge Hollowell with affidavits of his credibility by the officers who were his superiors during the war. They recanted their thoughts and apologized for thinking anything other than good of him. As a result of these affidavits and his hard work traveling to Kansas from Indiana, his good standing was restored and he was able to receive a monthly pension as a result of his disabilities.
His health was never the same after the war and his family struggled financially because of it. He was a man of upstanding character and that good name was restored to him after his trip to Kansas to prove himself. He was also the author of letters written home during the Civil War about "Copperheads" (Southern sympathizers) from Indiana. He also wrote a book on the History of the 31st Indiana Volunteers that can be found at the Allen County Library in Fort Wayne, Indiana. I have his journals of his life and all of his NARA records.