GENERAL ORDERS, 
No. 93. 
WAR DEPARTMENT, 
Adjutant General’s Office, 
Washington, April 9, 1863. 
I..Before a General Court Martial, which convened at Clarksburg, 
Virginia, November 6, 1862, pursuant to Special Orders, No. 71, dated 
Headquarters Railroad District, November 2, 1862, and of which Lieu- 
tenant Colonel J. F. Hoy, 6th Virginia Volunteers, is President, was 
arraigned and tried— 
First Lieutenant Harvey Cotton. 6th Virginia Volunteers. 
Charge I.—“Drunkenness while on duty.” 
Specification 1st—“In this; that the said Harvey Cotton, First Lieu- 
tenant Co. ‘ B,’ 6th Regiment of Virginia Volunteers Infantry, in 
the month of July, 1861, did get drunk so that he could not 
attend to his duty or be with his command.” 
Specification 2d—“In this; that the said Harvey Cotton, First Lieu- 
tenant Co. ‘B,’ 6th Regiment of Virginia Volunteer Infantry, in 
the month of November, 1861, when stationed at Farmington, 
Virginia, did get drunk and load a gun and threaten to shoot 
one of his men, while he, the said man, was in the discharge of 
his duty.” 
cSpecification 3d—“In this; that the said Harvey Cotton, First Lieu- 
tenant Co. ‘B,’6th Regiment Virginia Volunteer Infantry, in 
the month of August, 1862, when stationed at Bridgeport, Vir- 
ginia, did get drunk and leave his command and otherwise neglect 
his duty.” 
Specification 4th—“In this; that the said Harvey Cotton, First Lieu- 
tenant Co. ‘B,’6th Regiment Virginia Volunteer Infantry, in 
the month of August, 1862, when on a scout to Shinston, Vir- 
ginia, did get drunk and call his men cowards, and otherwise 
abuse them.” 
Specification 5th—“In this; that the said Harvey Cotton, First Lieu- 
tenant Co. ‘ B,’ 6th Regiment Virginia Volunteer Infantry, in the 
month of August, 1862, when on a scout to the Riter Settlement, 
did get drunk and leave his men to take care of themselves.” Charge II.—“Conduct unbecoming an officer and gentleman.” 
Specification 1st—“In this; that the said Harvey Cotton, First Lieu- 
tenant Co. ‘B,’ 6th Regiment Virginia Volunteer Infantry, in the 
month of August, 1862, when on a scout to Shinston, Virginia, 
did get drunk and abuse his men in a shameful manner, calling 
them cowards, and otherwise insulting and abusive language.” 
Specification 2d—“In this; that the said Harvey Cotton, First Lieu- 
tenant Co. ‘B,’ 6th Regiment Virginia Volunteer Infantry, while 
on a scout to the Riter Settlement in the month of August, 1862, 
did get drunk and leave and abandon his men, leaving them 
without an officer.” 
Specification 3d—“In this; that at divers times and places between the 
month of July, 1861, and the month of September, 1862, the 
said Harvey Cotton did get so intoxicated as to render [him] inca- 
pable of command, and while in that condition did misuse and 
otherwise abuse his men.” 
To all of which charges and specifications the accused, 1st Lieu- 
tenant Harvey Cotton, 6th Virginia Volunteers, pleaded “Not Guilty.” 
Finding. 
The Conrt, having maturely considered the evidence adduced, finds 
the accused, 1st Lieutenant Harvey Cotton, Qth Virginia Volunteers, as 
follows: 
Charge I. 
Of the 1st Specification, “Not Guilty.” 
Of the 2d Specification, “Guilty,” except the words “ and load a gun 
and threaten to shoot one of his men, while he, the said man, was in 
the discharge of his duty.” 
Of the 3d Specification, “Guilty,” except the words “leave his 
command.” 
Of the 4th Specification, “ Guilty,” except the words “ did call his 
men cowards, and otherwise abuse them.” 
Of the 5tli Specification, “Not Guilty.” 
Of the 1st Charge, “Guilty.” 3 
Charge II. 
Of the 1st Specification, “Guilty,” except the words “and abuse his 
men in a shameful manner, calling them cowards, and otherwise abus- 
ing them.” 
Of the 2d Specification, “ Not Guilty.” 
Of the 3d Specification, “Guilty,” except the words, “while in that 
condition did insult and otherwise abuse his men.” 
Of the 2d Charge, “Not Guilty of the charge as laid, but the 
Court do find the accused guilty of conduct prejudicial to good order 
and military discipline.” 
Sentence. 
Aud the Court does therefore sentence him, 1st Lieutenant Harvey 
Cotton, 6th Virginia Volunteers, “ To be dismissed from the service of 
the United States." 
II..In conformity with the 5th section of the act approved July 17, 
1862, the proceedings in the foregoing case have been forvrarded for 
the action of the President of the United States, with the recommenda- 
tion that Lieutenant Cotton he dismissed the service, notwithstanding 
certain irregularities in the proceedings of the Court. The recom- 
mendation is approved, and 1st Lieutenant Harvey Cotton, 6tli Virginia 
Volunteers, is, by direction of the President, dismissed the service. 
By order of the Secretary of War: 
E. D. TOWNSEND, 
Assistant Adjutant General.