 Headquarters Provost Marshal and Board of Enrollment [sic] of the District of Columbia
W1292 TO DR. CALVIN BROOKS MCQUESTEN from Headquarters Provost Marshal and Board of Enrollment of the District of Columbia
Jan 28 1865
To: Dr. Calvin Brooks McQuesten, No. 105 East 27th New York
From:
C.B. McQuesten Esq.
No. 105 East 27 th Street
New York
Sir:
I have the honor to state that the records of this office show that on August 25th 1864, Enoch Rector was accepted and mustered into the U.S. Navy for the term of three years as a substitute for C.B. McQuesten. I cannot however, issue a duplicate certificate of exemption.
Your name is erased from the enrolment lists of this District, by reason of having furnished a substitute.
I am, Sir, Very Respectfully
Your Obedient Servant
Jas. R. O'Beirne1
Major [22?] [VRC?] and Acting Provost Marshal of the District of Columbia
1 James Rowan O'Beirne was born in 1844 at Ballagh, County Roscommon, Ireland, and enrolled in Federal service April 17, 1861, to serve one month. He mustered in as private, Co. I, 7th New York Militia, on April 26, 1861. He mustered out with his company, June 3, 1861, at New York City.
Not content with this slight service, he enrolled again at Washington, D.C., to serve two years and mustered in as a private Co. C, 37th New York Volunteer Infantry, The Irish Rifles. He was enrolled as a second lieutenant on July 9, 1861; as first lieutenant on Aug. 9, 1861; and as captain on Nov. 4, 1861. He was wounded in action at the Battle of Chancellorsville, May 3, 1863. He mustered out with his company at New York City on June 22, 1863.
O'Beirne was commissioned a captain in the U.S. Veteran Reserve Corps on July 24, 1863, and was promoted to major in the 22nd VRC on May 12, 1864. He was brevetted lieutenant colonel, colonel and brigadier general of volunteers Sept. 26, 1865, for "gallant, distinguished and meritorious service" during the war.
He was last Provost Marshal of the District of Columbia and was active in the pursuit and capture of John Wilkes Booth after the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln.
General O'Beirne mustered out Jan. 30, 1866. Many years later, he was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for having "gallantly maintained the line of battle until ordered to fall back" at Fair Oaks, Va., May 31-June 1, 1862.
James Rowan O'Beirne died Feb. 18, 1917.
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