Adjutant and Inspector General’s Office. 
Richmond, November 8, 1862. 
GENERAL ORDERS, ? 
No. 83. S 
I. A Court of Enquiry was convened at Adams’ run, S. C., August 
25, 1862, by virtue of Special Orders, No. 137, from the Head Quarters 
of the Department of South Carotin;wmd Georgia, of August 16, 1862, 
issued by direction of the Secretary of War, under authority of the Act 
of. Congress, entitled “an act to punish drunkenness in the army,” 
approved April 21, 1862: when the following proceedings were had 
upon Charges and Specifications against Colonel JOHN Dunovant, Ist. 
Regiment South Carolina Volunteers: 
Charge. 
Drunkenness on Duty. 
Specification I.—ln this, that lie, Colonel John Dunovant, of the 
Ist Regiment S. C. Regulars, having been detailed by his Commanding 
General, N. G. Evans, P. A. C. S., to lead the advance, with his Bat- 
talion, against the enemy, known to be at Legareville, did become so 
drunk as to be entirely unable to execute said order. This in front of 
the troops of the Brigade, on John’s Island, S. C., on or about the 9th 
June 1862. 
Specification 2.—ln this, that he the said Colonel John Dunovant, 
Laving received an order from his Commanding General, Brig. Genl. 
N. G. Evans, in words and figures following, viz : 
On intimation given by the Commanding General, Colonel Dunovant 
will storm the bridge at Beezan’s, and in co-operation with Col. Means, 
capture the advance guard of the enemy, said to be at Beezan’s house. 
Should the enemy advance, Colonel Dunovant will attack him (his right 
being supported by Colonels Slaughter and Means), and drive the enemy 
to his gun boats. 
Which order having been received by Colonel Dunovant, and having 
been ordered by his Commanding General to have the guns of his Bat- 
talion loaded ready to advance, was so drunk as to be unable to execute 
said order. This on John’s Island, S. C., on or about the night of the 
9th June 1862. 2 
Specification 3.—ln this, that he the said Colonel John Dunovant, 
Ist Regiment S. C. Regulars, having arrived with his Battalion at u 
point near which the enemy were supposed to be, and being ordered by 
his Commanding General to have his guns loaded and be ready to 
advance, did become so drunk as to be unable to execute the order; and 
did thus expose himself to the officers and soldiers of his command, 
lying drunk by the road side. This on John’s Island, on or about the 
night of the 9th of June 1862. 
11. The Court, after full delineation on the testimony in the case-, 
found, the accused “ guilty of the chargeand submitted their proceed- 
ings to the Secretary of War, by whom they have been laid before the 
President, whose orders thereupon are as follows; 
“ The offence is of too grave a character to be overlooked in an officer 
of such high ranjr, and is aggravated by the circumstances under which 
it was committed. Colonel DuNOVANT will be dismissed from the 
service.” 
Colonel John Dunovant, Ist Regiment of South Carolina Infantry, 
therefore ceases to be an officer of the army from this date. 
111. The above named Court of Enquiry, whereof Brig. Genl. J. Ha- 
uood, P. A. C. S., is President, is dissolved. , 
order. 
S. COOPER, 
Adjutant and Inspector General.