GENERAL ORDERS, 
No. 183. 
WAR DEPARTMENT, 
Adjutant General’s Office, 
Washington, June 23, 1863. 
I..Before a General Court Martial, which convened in the city of 
Washington, D. C., March 10, 1863, pursuant to Special Orders, No. 
105, dated December 26, 1862; No. 108, dated December 29, 1862; No. 
4, dated January 6, 1863; No. 25, dated January 30, 1863, Head- 
quarters, Defences of Washington, and Special Orders, No. 11, dated 
February 20, 1863, and No. 22, dated March 5, 1863, Headquarters, 
Department of Washington, and of which Colonel C. M. Alexander, 
2d District of Columbia Volunteers, is President, was arraigned and 
tried— 
Captain Samuel Middleton, 10th New York Artillery. 
Charge I.—“Conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman.” 
Specification 1st—“In this; that he, Captain Samuel Middleton, 10th 
New York Artillery, commanding Fort Staunton, did, on or 
about January twentieth, eighteen hundred and sixty-three, 
draw, on a provision return, signed by himself, rations for three 
women of his company for eleven days, commencing January 
twenty-first, and ending January thirty-first, eighteen hundred 
and sixty-three; the said three women, laundresses, being the 
wife and two daughters of the said Captain Middleton. This 
at Fort Staunton, near Washington city.” 
Specification 2d—“In this; that he, Captain Samuel Middleton, 10th 
New York Artillery, commanding Fort Staunton, did, on or 
about January thirty-first, eighteen hundred and sixty-three, 
draw, on a provision return, signed by himself, rations for two 
women of his company for ten days, commencing February first, 
and ending February tenth, eighteen hundred and sixty-three; 
the said two women (laundresses) being the wife and daughter 
of the said Captain Middleton. This at Fort Staunton, near 
Washington city.” 
Charge II.—“Conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman.” 
Specification 1st—“In this; that he, Captain Samuel Middleton, 10th 
New York Artillery, did, during the inspection of his company 2 
by Colonel 'Alexander Piper, lOtli New York Artillery, band to 
the said Colonel Piper a list purporting to represent the strength 
■ of his company, in which list Corporal Asil Spicer of his 
(Captain Middleton's) company was represented as present ‘for 
duty’ when he, the said Corporal Spicer was not present, but 
was absent from the post by permission of him, the said Captain 
Middleton. This at Fort Staunton, near Washington city, on or 
about January thirty-first, eighteen hundred and sixty-three.” 
Specification 2d—“In this; that he, Captain Samuel Middleton, 10th 
New York Artillery, did allow a certain private of his company 
named Spicer to wear the uniform of a corporal at inspection, 
and, when the name of Corporal Asil Spicer was called, did 
allow the said private to answer ‘ here! ’ thus conniving at and 
assisting in the attempt of a private to deceive the Inspecting 
Officer—Corporal Asil Spicer being absent, and his absence 
being known to the said Captain Middleton. This at Fort 
Staunton, on or about January thirty-first, eighteen hundred 
and sixty-three.” 
To which charges and specifications the accused, Captain Samuel 
Middleton, 10th New York Artillery, pleaded “ Not Guilty.” 
Finding. 
The Court, having maturely considered the evidence adduced, finds 
the accused, Captain Samuel Middleton, 10th New York Artillery, as 
follows: 
Charge I. 
Of the 1st Specification, “Guilty.” 
Of the 2d Specification, “Guilty.” 
Of the Charge, “ Guilty.” 
Charge II. 
Of the 1st Specification, “ Guilty.” 
Of the 2d Specification, “Guilty.” 
Of the Charge, “ Guilty.” Sentence. 
And the Court does therefore sentence him, Captain Samuel Middle- 
ton, 10th New York Artillery, “To be dismissed the service of the United 
States.'” 
II..Before a General Court Martial, which convened at the Head- 
quarters, 1st Connecticut Volunteer Artillery, near Fort Richardson, 
Virginia, April 29, 1863, pursuant to General Orders, No. 30, dated 
Headquarters, Defences of Washington south of Potomac, near Fort 
Ward, Virginia, April 21, 1863, and of which Lieutenant Colonel N. 
L. White, 1st Connecticut Volunteer Artillery, is President, was 
arraigned and tried— 
Private Frederick E. Blanchard, Company “ B,” 34th Massachusetts 
Volunteers. 
Charge.—“ Desertion.” 
Specification—“In this; that said Frederick E. Blanchard, Private, of 
Company ‘B,’ 34th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, 
did desert the same, and did remain absent, without leave, until 
he was arrested at Alexandria, Virginia, on the 17th day of April, 
1863. This at or near Fort Lyon, Virginia, the eleventh day of 
April, 1863.” 
To which charge and specification the accused, Private Frederick E. 
Blanchard, Company “B,” 34th Massachusetts Volunteers, pleaded 
“Not Guilty.” 
Finding. 
The Court, having maturely considered the evidence adduced, finds 
the accused, Private Frederick E. Blanchard, Company “ B,” 34th 
Massachusetts Volunteers, as follows: 
Of the Specification, “ Guilty.” 
Of the Charge, “ Guilty.” 
Sentence. 
And the Court does therefore sentence him, Private Frederick E. 
Blanchard, Company “B,” 34th Massachusetts Volunteers, “To be shot 
to death with musketry at such time and place as the reviewing power may 
direct: two-thirds of the members concurring 4 
III..The proceedings of the Court in the case of Captain Samuel 
Middleton, 10th New York Artillery, have been forwarded for the 
action of the President of the United States. On account of certain 
irregularities in the proceedings of the Court, the sentence in the case 
is inoperative; but as the offences of the accused were of such a grave 
character, the "President directs that he be dismissed the service, and 
he accordingly ceases to be an officer in the United States service from 
the 15th day of June, 1863. 
The proceedings of the Court in the case of Private Frederick 
E. Blanchard, Company “ B,” 34th Regiment Massachusetts Volun- 
teers, have been approved by the General Commanding the Depart- 
ment of Washington, and forwarded for the action of the President of 
the United States, who directs that the sentence be commuted “ To loss 
of oil pay, dishonorable discharge, and hard labor on the public works 
for the remainder of the prisoner's term of enlistment." 
By order of the Secretary of War: 
/ E. D. TOWNSEND, 
Assistant Adjutant General.