OFFICIAL INTELLIGENCE. The Army. Appointments Confirmed by the Senate. Brigadier-General William T. Sherman, United States Army, Major-General of Volunteers, to be Major-General, August 12, 1864, vice Wool, retired. Brigadier-General George H. Thomas, United States Army, Major-General of Volunteers, to be Major-General, December 15, 1864, vice Frémont, resigned. Brigadier-General Philip H. Sheridan, United States Army, Major-General of Volunteers, to be Major-General, November 8, 1864, vice McClellan, resigned. Major Winfield S. Hancock, Quartermaster United States Army, and Major-General of Volunteers, to be Brigadier-General, August 12, 1864, vice McPherson, deceased. Captain Philip H. Sheridan, Thirteenth United States Infantry, Major-General of Volunteers, to be Brigadier-General, September 20, 1864, vice Sherman, appointed Major-General. Passed Assistant Surgeon Somerset Robinson, to be Surgeon. Captain John L. Broome, to be Major in the Marine Corps. First Lieutenant William H. Parker, to be Captain in the Marine Corps. Second Lieutenant Lewis E. Fagan, to be First Lieutenant in the Marine Corps. Francis N. Harrington, of the District of Columbia, to be Second Lieutenant in the Marine Corps. First Lieutenant John A. Burroughs, to be Captain in the Marine Corps. Second Lieutenants Frederick T. Peet and Edward P. Meeker, to be First Lieutenants. Acting Volunteer Lieutenant William P. Hall, to be Acting Volunteer LieutenantCommander. Acting Masters J. S. Warner, James C. Gibson, George W. Rogers, John Rogers, Henry S. Wetmore, John W. Atkinson, and Peter O'Kell, to be Acting Volunteer Lieutenants for duty on the Mississippi Squadron. Field-Officers' Courts. The following opinion of the Judge-Advocate General of the Army, upon the proceedings under Section 7, Act of Congress approved July 17, 1862, is published for the information of the Army: To the Adjutant-General: WAR DEPARTMENT, The following is respectfully submitted, in reply to the questions suggested by the communication of Major Stickney, 24th Veteran Reserve Corps, and the records accompanying it: The Field-Officers' Court, under the Act of Congress of July 17, 1862, supersedes the Regimental Court in all cases when there is a field officer with the regiment. If there are two such officers present, the order should be issued by the regimental commander; otherwise, by the brigade or next superior commander. The act was intended to provide a means for summary punishment of the lighter grades of offences previously triable by Regimental Courts, and it has not been held to be necessary to make up the records with the formality required in cases tried by court-martial. Though it is preferable to have the record of each case made up separately, it is not considered a fatal irregularity to unite the proceedings in a number of cases, without repeating the order detailing the trying officer in each. The record should show the charge upon which each prisoner was tried, and the plea, finding, and sentence in the case. It is not necessary to spread the evidence upon the record, and therefore it need not be set forth that the prisoner had an opportunity to offer evidence and make a statement. The jurisdiction is confined to cases which were triable before a Regimental Court. The 66th Article of War limits the jurisdiction of Regimental Courts to the trial of offences not capital. The second charge against Private Jolin Reilly is an offence within the 9th Article of War, and should not, therefore, have been the subject of investigation in this proceeding. As, however, the other charge on which the party was tried is one of which the officer clearly had jurisdiction, and as his finding on this will support the sentence, which does not seem at all disproportionate to the offence, it is not recommended that it be disturbed. Dismissals, J. HOLT, For the Week ending December 3, 1864. Lieutenant-Colonel R. S. Donaldson, 50th United States Colored Troops, to date November 26, 1864, for (while in command of a recruiting rendezvous, at Vicksburg, Mississippi) having accepted money from a State Recruiting Agent, by way of gratification, and in consideration of certain certified copies of muster-in rolls, to be furnished said State Agent, such acceptance of money being in violation of the Sixteenth Article of War. Captain Frank T. D. Ketcham, 16th United States Colored Infantry, to date November 25, 1864, for having tendered his resignation, on account of incompetency, while under charges (disobedience of orders, insubordination, appropriating the company funds for his own use and benefit, stealing a horse and equipments, and offering the same for sale, lying, and drunkenness on duty). The following officers, to date October 31, 1864, for the causes mentioned; having been published officially, and failed to appear before the Commission: Disobedience of orders and absence without leave. Captain Theodore Conkey, 3d Wisconsin Cavalry. Absence without leave. Captain Martin H. McChesney, 2d New York Mounted Rifles. First Lieutenant William F. McNamara, 69th Pennsylvania Volunteers. First Lieutenant John E. Gharrett, 1st United States Colored Artillery (heavy), to date November 26, 1864, having tendered his resignation, assigning as a reason therefor a lack of confidence in Colored Troops, and consequent unfitness for holding an appointment in that branch of the service. First Lieutenant Matthew H. Ward, Quartermaster 9th Michigan Cavalry, to date November 30, 1864, for absence without leave. The following officers, to date November 25, 1864, for absenting themselves from their commands in the engagement of October 19, 1864:— Second Lieutenant J. C. Burbridge, 10th West Virginia Volunteers. Second Lieutenant William G. W. Price, 15th West Virginia Volunteers. Second Lieutenant Albert Weber, 7th Regiment Veteran Reserve Corps, to date November 25, 1864, with loss of all pay and allowances, for fraudulently drawing two months' pay while absent without leave. Second Lieutenant Obed Enson, 3d Colorado Cavalry, to date November 26, 1864, for disobedience of orders, drunkenness, dishonesty, and utter worthlessness as an officer. Second Lieutenant J. P. Robertson, 8th Missouri State Militia Cavalry, to date November 26, 1864. Second Lieutenant John C. Taggert, 69th Pennsylvania Volunteers, to date April 19, 1864, for absence without leave. For the Week ending December 10, 1864. Lieutenant-Colonel Napoleon B. Knight, 1st Delaware Cavalry, to date December 2, 1864, for disobedience of orders, neglect of duty, and incompetency. Captain F. L. Taylor, 34th New Jersey Volunteers, to date December 2, 1864, for having tendered his resignation on a frivolous pretext. Captain Henry G. Beschioff, 41st Missouri Volunteers, to date December 8, 1864, for gross neglect of duty, in allowing certain prisoners of war, under his charge, to escape. Assistant Surgeon William Crouse, 38th United States Colored Troops, to date September 21, 1864, for drunkenness and neglect of duty. First Lieutenant R. F. Chesebro, Quartermaster 38th Indiana Volunteers, to date August 21, 1864, for absence without leave. First Lieutenant George P. Sanford, 13th United States Infantry, to date December 7, 1864. Second Lieutenant Edward F. Nixon, 7th Pennsylvania Cavalry, to date December 7, 1864, for his disgraceful conduct in surrendering the block-houses under his charge to the rebel forces under Forrest, October 1, 1864. For the Week ending December 17, 1864. Captain August Gudath, 178th New York Volunteers, to date December 15, 1864, for absence without leave, and worthlessness. First Lieutenant Edgar M. Blanche, 5th Massachusetts Colored Cavalry, to date December 15, 1864, for absence without leave. First Lieutenant Samuel Fessenden, Quartermaster 7th Rhode Island Volunteers, to date December 13, 1864, for having on five several occasions been so drunk as to render him unfit for duty, conduct unbecoming an officer and gentleman, disrespect to his superior officers, and repeated disobedience of orders. First Lieutenant John Beadle, 108th New York Volunteers, to date November 21, 1864, for absence without leave, having been published officially, and failed to appear before the Commission. Lieutenant Homer L. Wells, 2d Mississippi Colored Infantry Volunteers, to date August 22, 1864. Second Lieutenant Hoyt Palmer, 10th Regiment Veteran Reserve Corps, to date December 14, 1864, for drunkenness.. Second Lieutenant N. M. Rust, 4th United States Colored Troops, to date November 23, 1864, having been reported for cowardly desertion of his command, in the face of the enemy. The following officers, to date November 14, 1864, for the causes mentioned, having been published officially, and failed to appear before the Commission:— Chaplain David Hodson, 89th Indiana Volunteers, for absence without leave, and offering a bribe to the Surgeon in charge of Officers' Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, to procure him a leave of absence. First Lieutenant Thomas Oliver, 51st New York Volunteers, for absence without leave and disobedience of orders. For the Week ending December 24, 1864. Lieutenant-Colonel John Bowles, 1st Kansas Colored Volunteers, to date December 17, 1864, for neglect of duty, in not rendering the reports required by paragraph 468, of the Army Regulations; absence without leave, and repeated disobedience of War Department orders, directing him to join his regiment. Captain W. Angelo Powell, Company A, 1st West Virginia Veteran Cavalry, to date December 17, 1864, for absence without leave, disobedience of orders, and wanton neglect of Government property. Captain John A. P. Fleming, 54th Illinois Volunteers, to date December 22, 1864, for inefficiency, worthlessness, and neglect of duty. Captain H. F. Crossman, 2d Battalion Veteran Reserve Corps, to date December 21, 1864. First Lieutenant Robert Sims, Battery B, 1st New Jersey Artillery, to date November 28, 1864, for absence without leave, having been published officially, and failed to appear before the Commission. The following officers, to date November 28, 1864, for the causes mentioned, having been published officially, and failed to appear before the Commission: Absence without leave. Captain John McMenamin, 13th New York Cavalry. Second Lieutenant George H. Bartram, 183d Pennsylvania Volunteers. First Lieutenant Allen E. Ellsworth, 118th Illinois Volunteers. First Lieutenant Charles Green, 1st Missouri Light Artillery, to date December 22, 1864, for worthlessness, and habitual neglect of duty. Lieutenant Clarence R. Smith, 1st Arkansas Volunteers, to date December 22, 1864, for conduct unbecoming an officer and gentleman, habitual drunkenness, and maliciously circulating false reports derogatory to the character of the officers of his regiment, and the enlisted men belonging to his company, and for inefficiency and incompetency in the performance of his official duties. For the Week ending December 31, 1864. Major Lymon W. Brown, 11th Missouri Cavalry, to date December 24, 1864, for falsely certifying that a quantity of salt, which he drew from the Subsistence Department, was for his own use, whereas the same was intended for sale, and was so sold, to persons "outside of the lines," in violation of General Orders and trade regulations; and for preferring false charges against the commanding officer of his regiment, and for inefficiency as an officer. Captain H. Bowen, Jr., 151st New York Volunteers, to date September 19, 1864, for absence without leave; having been published officially, and failed to make satisfactory defence before the Commission. The following officers, to date December 5, 1864, for the causes mentioned, having been published officially, and failed to appear before the Commission:Absence without leave. Captain Andreas Seelig, 46th New York Volunteers. First Lieutenant Charles S. Hazen, 3d New Hampshire Volunteers. Disobedience of orders. Captain Eli F. Scott, 83d Indiana Volunteers. Captain John Logan, 6th Iowa Cavalry, to date December 28, 1864, for allowing the men under his command to pillage, for drunkenness, and for inefficiency as an officer. Captain John Gregson, Assistant Quartermaster United States Volunteers, to date December 29, 1864, for conduct unbecoming an officer, neglect of duty, and absence without leave. Captain Dudley C. Wyman, 11th Wisconsin Volunteers, to date December 29, 1864, for pillaging and allowing the men under his command to pillage, while in command of an expedition which left Brashear City on the 22d of October, 1864. Chaplain A. J. Lyon, 11th West Virginia Volunteers, to date December 24, 1864, for absence without leave and worthlessness. First Lieutenant Stanley Mourton, 3d United States Infantry, to date December 24, 1864, for desertion, disobedience of orders, and not accounting for public funds and property in his possession. Lieutenant W. H. Creighton, 25th New York Cavalry, to date December 23, 1864, for absence without leave, and failure to answer satisfactorily to infamous charges preferred against him. Lieutenant Emil Newberger, Quartermaster 13th Illinois Cavalry, to date December 28, 1864, for fraudulently disposing of a horse, the property of the United States. Second Lieutenant E. Knapp, 17th Illinois Cavalry, to date December 27, 1864, for absence without leave, conduct unbecoming an officer and gentleman, and preiudicial to good order and military discipline. Second Lieutenant Samuel Major, 9th Illinois Cavalry, to date December 28, 1864, for disobedience of orders, and allowing his men to straggle and pillage, thereby losing four men, captured by the enemy. Dishonorably Discharged. For the Week ending December 24, 1864. Captain Erasmus D. Witt, 205th Pennsylvania Volunteers, from date of muster in, for having tendered his resignation on account of physical disability, resulting from his own imprudence. Second Lieutenant Philo J. Tuttle, 39th New York Volunteers, from date of muster in, for having tendered his resignation on the ground of incompetency. For the Week ending December 31, 1864. Second Lieutenant Lewis Thomas, 80th New York Volunteers (20th New York State Militia), from date of muster in, for having tendered his resignation on the ground of incompetency. Exempt from Dismissal. WAR DEPARTMENT, The following-named officers, charged with offences, and heretofore published, are exempt from being dismissed the service of the United States, the Military Commission instituted by Special Orders, No. 53, series of 1863, from the War Department, having reported that satisfactory defence has been made in their respective cases, viz.: Captain J. C. Battersby, 1st New York Cavalry. First Lieutenant Charles S. Edmonds, 69th Pennsylvania Volunteers. December 22, 1864. Captain William P. Jordon, 29th Maine Veteran Volunteers. Jan. 2, 1865. The following-named officers, charged with offences, and heretofore published, are exempt from being dismissed the service of the United States, the Military Commission instituted by Special Orders, No. 53, series of 1863, from the War Department, having reported that they are exempt, for the causes set opposite their respective names : First Lieutenant Frank Kimball, 75th United States Colored Troops, he having been previously honorably discharged, on account of physical disability, by Special Orders, No. 409, November 21, 1864, from this office. Second Lieutenant H. C. Grossman, 138th Pennsylvania Volunteers, he having made satisfactory defence before a Board of Officers convened in the field. First Lieutenant William Dunham, 1st Vermont Heavy Artillery, he having made satisfactory defence before the Military Commission. Dismissals Revoked. E. D. TOWNSEND, Assistant Adjutant-General. The orders of dismissal heretofore issued in the following cases, have been revoked: First Lieutenant John T. Hasson, 75th United States Colored Infantry, and he is discharged for absence without leave, to date August 1, 1864. Second Lieutenant John D. Paddock, 75th United States Colored Infantry, and he is honorably discharged, upon the report of a Board, to date December 6, 1864, on account of physical disability. |