GENERAL ORDERS, 
No. 54. 
WAR DEPARTMENT, 
Adjutant General’s Office, 
Washington, March 6, 1863. 
I..At a General Court Martial, which convened at Headquarters, 1st 
Brigade, 3d Division, 6th Corps, Army of the Potomac, January 12, 
1863, hy virtue of Special Orders, No. 177, dated December 24, 1862, 
and No. 6, dated January 6, 1863, Headquarters 6th Corps, and of 
which Brigadier General John Cochrane, U. S. Volunteers, was 
President, was arraigned and tried— 
Surgeon Luther Thomas, 26th New Jersey Volunteers. 
Charge 1st —“ Drunk on duty.” 
Specification—“ In this; that Surgeon Luther Thomas, of the 26th Regi- 
ment New Jersey Volunteers, while in charge of the Hospital of 
the 2d Division, 6th Army Corps, at White Oak Church, Vir- 
ginia, was drunk. This on or about the 13th day of December, 
1862.” 
Charge 2d.—“ Conduct to the prejudice of good order and military 
discipline.” 
Specification 1st—“ In this; that Luther Thomas, Surgeon of the 26th 
Regiment New Jersey Volunteers, did use abusive and insulting 
language to Hospital Steward H. P. Waldron, of the New 
York Volunteers, saying, among other words and expressions, 
“ I don’t care a damn for the sick any way.” This at White 
Oak Church, Virginia, on or about the 13th day of December, 
1862.” 
Specification 2d—“In this; that Surgeon Luther Thomas, of the 26th 
New Jersey Volunteers, did, in an insulting manner, order Pri- 
vate William McCall, of the 77th New York Volunteers, a nurse 
in the Hospital at White Oak Church, Virginia, to march a 
number cf the sick men in said Hospital to join their regiments 
across the Rappahannock river, a number of said men being 
then unable to march the distance ordered. This at White Oak 
Church, Virginia, on or about the 13th day of December, 1862.” 
Specification 3d—“ In this; that Surgeon Luther Thomas, of the 26tli 
Regiment New Jersey Volunteers, did abuse Private William 2 
Richards, of Company K, 77th Regiment New York Volunteers, 
then sick in Hospital at White Oak Church, Virginia, shaking 
his fist at him in a threatening manner, and saying, “ You’re no 
more sick than the devil is,” or words to that effect. This at 
White Oak Church, Virginia, on or about the 13th day of 
December, 1862.” 
Specification 4th—“In this; that Surgeon Luther Thomas, of the 26th 
New Jersey Volunteers, while in charge of the sick in Hospital 
at White Oak Church, Virginia, did neglect his duty in not 
having them furnished with sufficient and proper food, medi- 
cines, shelter, and attention. This on or about the 13th day of 
December, 1862, at White Oak Church, Virginia.” 
To which charges and specifications the accused pleaded as follows: 
To the Specification, 1st Charge, “Not Guilty.” 
To the 1st Charge, “Not Guilty.” 
To the 1st Specification, 2d Charge, “Not Guilty.” 
To the 2d Specification, 2d Charge, “Not Guilty.” 
To the 3d Specification, 2d Charge, “Not Guilty.” 
To the 4th Specification, 2d Charge, “Not Guilty.” 
To the 2d Charge, “Not Guilty.” 
Finding. 
The Court, after mature deliberation upon the evidence adduced, 
finds the accused as follows: 
Of the Specification, 1st Charge, “Guilty.” 
Of the 1st Charge, “Guilty.” 
Of the 1st Specification, 2d Charge, “Guilty.” 
Of the 2d Specification, 2d Charge, “Not Guilty.” 
Of the 3d Specification, 2d Charge, “Not Guilty.” 
Of the 4th Specification, 2d Charge, “ Not Guilty.” 
Of the 2d Charge, “Guilty.” 
Sentence. 
And the Court does therefore sentence him, the said Surgeon Luther 
Thomas, of the 26th Regiment New Jersey Volunteers, “ To be 
cashiered." 3 
II..The foregoing proceedings having been submitted to the Gene- 
ral Commanding the Army of the Potomac, and being by him dis- 
approved, the evidence before the Court not seeming to justify the 
finding, have been forwarded, under the 89tli Article of War, for the 
action of the President, with a recommendation that the sentence in 
the case of Surgeon Lutlier Thomas, 26th New Jersey Volunteers, be 
remitted. The recommendation is approved by the President, and 
Surgeon Thomas will be restored to duty. 
By order of the Secretary of War: 
L. THOMAS, 
Adjutant General. 
Official : 
Assistant Adjutant General.