HISTORY

The Strange Case of Captain Rupes

There is no question that American commanders had difficulties with the various state militia units. Massachusetts and Connecticut refused to muster their militia units . . . as federalist states they were opposed to the war and were looking for way to be effectively neutral, but the western states like Ohio were eager to turn out their militias, but that presented another set of problems.

Take for example the case of Captain Rupes. Elected as a captain by his company of Ohio militia, he was then court marshaled, found guilty, and was removed from the regiment (about the same as a dishonorable discharge today). He then volunteered as a private in the same unit, was paid the bounty for joining up and was promptly elected captain of the same company!