John Francis Ritter of Pennsylvania graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1856 and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the 5th U.S. Infantry. He served in Utah and New Mexico, and after the start of the Civil War was transferred to the 15th U.S. Infantry. He fought at the 1862 Battle of Glorietta Pass, New Mexico, in command of an ad-hoc artillery battery, and was given a promotion to brevet major.

Ritter then joined the 1st Missouri Cavalry on June 18, 1862, and was mustered into service as colonel of the regiment on August 9, 1862.

Ritter was tried by court martial in July 1863 for “conduct to the prejudice of good order and military discipline,” “conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman,” “neglect of duty,” and “lying out of his quarters and camp, without leave from his superior officers.” Ritter was accused of wishing he had gone south and joined the Confederacy, and opposing the enlistment of African-Americans and the Emancipation Proclamation. Although found guilty on two of the four charges and sentenced to forfeit six months pay, General Stephen A. Hurlbut disapproved the findings and sentence and returned Ritter to duty.

On December 2, 1864, Ritter submitted his resignation as colonel, citing the fact that he wished to return to his infantry regiment and that, for poltical reasons, the 1st Missouri Cavalry had not been given its full complement of officers.

Following the Civil War, he resumed his service as an officer in the Regular Army and died on August 1, 1872, at Catskill, New York, at the age of 37.

Carte-de-Visite by W. L. Germon’s, Philadelphia, Pa.

Image Courtesy Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield; WICR 11735