Adjutant and Inspector General’s Office, 
GENERAL ORDERS. \ 
No. 72. $ 
Richmond, June 1, 18G3. 
I. At the Military Court held for the Army Corps of Major General 
Samuel Jones, at Gray Sulphur Springs, Virginia, May sth, 1863, was 
arraigned and. tried: 
Captain We S. Rowan, Company A, CCth Ya. Volunteers, on the 
following Charges—(the Specifications being numerous and lengthy, are 
omitted in this order): 
Charge Ist, - - Violation of the 83d Article of War. 
Charge 2d, - - Violation, of the 93th Article of War. 
11. Finding and Sentence of the Court. 
Having maturely considered the evidence adduced, the Court find the 
accused, Gapt. Wm. S. bo wan, Company A, 60th Va. Volunteers: 
Of the Ist Charge, - - - - - - Guilty, 
Of the 2d Charge, ------ Guilty. 
And do therefore sentence him to be dismissed the service of the Con- 
111. The proceedings, finding and sentence in the foregoing case have 
been submitted to the Secretary of War, to be laid before the President— 
and the following orders arc now made thereon: 
federate States. 
The*charges are both too defective to sustain a trial. Neither the 83d 
nor the 99th Article of War, defines any offence whatever, nor do they 
direct the performance of any duty. No violation of either of those ar- 
ticles can properly be charged. 
Under the 83d Article, the only charge to be preferred is “ conduct un- 
becoming an officer and gentleman;'' and under the 99th, “conduct to the 
prejudice of good order and military discipline." The specifications 
would then have been responsive to the charges, and would have sus- 
tained a trial and sentence in accordance with the evidence. IV. For tho reasons above assigned, the proceedings must be set aside; 
and Capt. Rowan will be released from arrest and restored to duty. The 
record discloses facts very disgraceful to him; but it is hoped that hia 
accidental escape from deserved punishment may result iu a determina- 
tion to retrieve his character as a citizen and officer of tho army. 
order. 
Adjutant and Inspector General. 
S. COOPER,