GENERAL ORDERS, 
No. 184. 
WAR DEPARTMENT, 
Adjutant General’s Office, 
Washington, June 23, 1863. 
I..Before a General Court Martial, which convened at Fort Snelling, 
Minnesota, May 6, 1863, pursuant to General Orders, No. 16, dated 
March 2, 1863; No. 17, dated March 11, 1883; Special Orders, No. 200, 
dated April 12, 1863; and No. 226, dated May 2, 1863, Headquarters, 
District of Minnesota, Department of the Northwest, Saint Paul, Min- 
nesota, and of which Colonel J. H. Baker, 10th Minnesota Volun- 
teers, is President, was arraigned and tried— 
Captain James Starkey, 1st Minnesota Mounted Eangers. 
Charge I —“Making false muster.” 
Specification 1st—“ In this; that said Captain James Starkey did fraud- 
ulently enter, or cause to be entered, upon the muster rolls of his 
said Company ‘ M,’ 1st Minnesota Mounted Rangers, the names 
of Thornton Bishop, Alexander Darling, and John Shiner, 
respectively, as having been enlisted by himself, when, in fact, 
said men never were, nor was either of them, enlisted into the 
service of the United States; and when said Company was mus- 
tered into the service of the United States by Captain A. D. 
Nelson, Mustering Officer, said Captain Starkey procured, or 
caused to be procured, other men to personate and answer to the 
names of said Thornton Bishop, Alexander Darling, and John 
Shiner, respectively. This at Fort Snelling, Minnesota, on or 
about the thirtieth day of December, in the year one thousand 
eight hundred and sixty-two.” 
Specification 2d—“In this; that said Captain James Starkey did fraud- 
ulently enter, or cause to be entered, upon the muster rolls of his 
said Company‘M,’ 1st Minnesota Mounted Rangers, the name 
of one Leander Capistrant as having been duly enlisted by him- 
self, when, in fact, said Leander Capistrant never was examined 
by the examining surgeon appointed to examine recruits for the 
volunteer service of the United States; but was, with the knowd- 
edge of said James Starkey, personated by another man, who 
was examined by and passed the examining surgeon in his name; 
and when said Company was mustered into the service of the 2 
United States by Captain A. D. Nelson, Mustering Officer, said 
Captain James Starkey procured, or caused to be procured, 
another man to represent and answer to the name of said Capis- 
trant. This at Fort Snelling, Minnesota, on or about the thirtieth 
day of December, in the year eighteen hundred and sixty-two.’" 
Specification 3d'—“In this; that said Captain J. Starkey did fraudu- 
lently enter, or cause to be entered, upon the muster rolls of his 
said Company, the name of Truman D. Chapman as duly enlisted 
by himself, when, in fact, said Chapman never was examined 
by the examining surgeon appointed to examine recruits for the 
volunteer service of the United States; and when said Company 
was mustered into the service of the United States by Captain 
A. D. Nelson, Mustering Officer, said Captain Starkey procured, 
or caused to be procured, another man to personate and answer 
to the name of said Chapman. This at Fort Snelling, Minne- 
sota, on or about the thirtieth day of December, in the year 
eighteen hundred and sixty-two.” 
Specification 4th—“In this; that said Captain James Starkey did fraud- 
ulently enter, or cause to be entered, upon the muster rolls of his 
said Company, the names of Henry Disher and Peter Leonard, 
who never had, nor had either of them, been examined by the 
examining surgeon appointed to examine recruits for the volun- 
teer service of the United States; but other men had been pro- 
cured by, or with the knowledge and consent of, said Captain 
James Starkey, to personate them before said examining sur- 
geon; and when said Company was mustered into the sendee of 
the United States by Captain A. D. Nelson, Mustering Officer, 
other men were procured by, or with the knowledge and consent 
of, said Captain Starkey, to personate and answer to the names 
of said Henry Disher and Peter Leonard, respectively. This at 
Fort Snelling, Minnesota, on or about the thirtieth day of De- 
cember, in the year eighteen hundred and sixty-two.” 
Charge II.—“Willingly signing muster rolls containing false 
musters.” 
Specification—“In this; that said Captain James Starkey did willingly 
sign upon the muster-in rolls of his said Company ‘M,’ 1st 3 
Minnesota Mounted Bangers, a certificate in the following words, 
to wit: ‘I certify, on honor, that the muster rolls exhibit the 
true state of Captain James Starkey’s Company of the lstBegi- 
ment Minnesota Mounted Bangers for the period herein men- 
tioned ; that each man answers to his own proper name in person; 
and that the remarks set opposite the name of each officer and 
soldier are accurate and just. 
( ‘ Signed ) 1 JAMES STABKEY, 
‘ Captain Commanding Company. 
‘Date: December 30, 1862. 
‘Station: Fort Snelling, Minnesota.’ 
The said Captain James Starkey then well knowing that said 
rolls contained false musters of the following men, respectively, 
to wit: Thornton Bishop, Alexander Darling, John Shiner, 
Lcander Capistrant, Truman D. Chapman, Henry Disher, and 
Peter Leonard; and also well knowing that said Bishop, Darling, 
Shiner, Capistrant, Chapman, Disher, and Leonard did not, nor 
either of them, answer to their own proper names in person; but 
that they were each of them personated by other men, who 
answered and appeared for them when mustered into the service 
of the United States by Captain A. D. Nelson, Mustering Offi- 
cer. This at Fort Snelling, Minnesota, on or about the thirtieth 
day of December, in the year eighteen hundred and sixty-two.” 
Charge III.—“Making false return to his superior officer of the state 
of his Company.” 
Specification—“In this; that said Captain James Starkey, commanding 
Company ‘ M,’ 1st Minnesota Mounted Bangers, in his report of 
the state of his Company to his Commanding Officer, pursuant to 
the orders of said officer, did report Thornton Bishop, Alexander 
Darling, John Shiner, Leander Capistrant, and Truman D. 
Chapman, as members of his Company absent without leave, 
when, in fact, said men were not, nor was either of them, ever 
members of said Company; nor were they, or either of them, ever 
mustered into the service of the United Stated ; all which the 
said Starkey well knew. This at Fort Snelling, Minnesota, on 
or about the 5th day of March, 1863.” 4 
Charge IV.—“ Conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman.” 
Specification 1st—“In this; that said Captain James Starkey did fraud- 
ulently enter, or cause to be entered, upon the muster rolls of 
his said Company ‘ M,’ 1st Minnesota Mounted Rangers, the 
names of Thornton Bishop, Alexander Darling, and John Shiner, 
respectively, as having been enlisted by himself, -when, in fact, 
said men never were, nor was either of them, enlisted into the 
service of the United States; and when said Company was mus- 
tered into the service of the United States by Captain A. D. 
Nelson. Mustering Officer, said Captain Starkey procured, or 
caused to be procured, other men to personate and answer to the 
names of said Thornton Bishop, Alexander Darling, and John 
Shiner, respectively. This at Fort Snelling, Minnesota, on or 
about the thirtieth day of December, in the year one thousand 
eight hundred and sixty-two.” 
Specification 2d—“In this; that said Captain James Starkey did fraud- 
ulently enter, or cause to be entered, upon the muster rolls of his 
said Company ‘M,’ 1st Minnesota Mounted Rangers, the name 
of one Leander Capistrant as having been duly enlisted by 
himself, when, in fact, said Leander Capistrant never was 
examined by the examining surgeon appointed to examine 
recruits for the volunteer service of the United States; but was, 
with the knowledge of said James Starkey, personated by 
another man, who was examined by and passed the examining 
surgeon in his name; and when said Company was mustered 
into the service of the United States by Captain A. D. Nelson, 
Mustering Officer, said Captain James Starkey procured, or 
caused to be procured, another man to represent and answer to 
the name of said Capistrant. This at Fort Snelling, Minnesota, 
on or about the thirtieth day of December, in the year eighteen 
hundred and sixty-two.” 
Specification 3d—“In this; that said Captain James Starkey did fraud- 
ulently enter, or cause to be entered, upon the muster rolls of his 
said Company, the name of Truman D. Chapman as duly enlisted 
by himself, when, in fact, said Chapman never was examined 
by the examining surgeon appointed to examine recruits for the 5 
volunteer service of the United States ; and when said Company 
was mustered into the service of the United States by Captain 
A. D. Nelson, Mustering Officer, said Captain Starkey procured, 
or caused to be procured, another man to personate and answer 
to the name of said Chapman. This at Fort Snelling, Minne- 
sota, on or about the thirtieth day of December, in the year 
eighteen hundred and sixty-two.” 
Specification 4th—“In this; that the said Captain James Starkey did 
fraudulently enter, or cause to be entered, upon the muster rolls 
of his said Company, the names of Henry Disher and Peter 
Leonard, who never had, nor had either of them, been examined 
by the examining surgeon appointed to examine recruits for the 
volunteer service of the United States; but other men had been 
procured by, or with the knowledge and consent of, said Captain 
James Starkey, to personate them before said examining sur- 
geon ; and when said Company was mustered into the service of 
the United States by Captain A. D. Nelson, Mustering Officer, 
other men were procured by, or with the knowledge and con- 
sent of, said Captain Starkey, to personate and answer to the 
names of said Henry Disher and Peter Leonard, respectively. 
This at Fort Snelling, Minnesota, on or about the thirtieth day 
of December, in the year eighteen hundred and sixty-two.” 
Specification 5th—“ In this; that said Captain James Starkey did will- 
ingly sign upon the muster-in rolls of his said Company‘M,’ 
1st Minnesota Mounted Rangers, a certificate in the following 
words, to wit: ‘ I certify, on honor, that the muster roll exhibits 
the true state of Captain James Starkey’s Company of the 1st 
Regiment Minnesota Mounted Rangers, for the period herein 
mentioned ; that each man answers to his own proper name in 
person; and that the remarks set opposite the name of each officer 
and soldier are accurate and just. 
(‘Signed,) ‘JAMES STARKEY, 
* Captain Commanding Company. 
‘Date: December 30th, 1862. 
‘ Station: Fort Snelling, Minnesota.’ 
The said Captain James Starkey then well knowing that said rolls 
contained false musters of the following men, respectively, to wit: 6 
Thornton Bishop, Alexander Darling, John Shiner, Leander Ca- 
pistrant, Truman D. Chapman, Henry Disher, and Peter Leonard; 
and also well knowing that said Bishop, Darling, Shiner, Capis- 
trant, Chapman, Disher, and Leonard did not, or either of them, 
answer to their own proper names in person; hut that they were 
each of them personated by other men, who answered and ap- 
peared for them when mustered into the service of the United 
States by Captain A. D. Nelson, Mustering Officer. This at 
Fort Snelling, Minnesota, on or about the thirtieth day of De- 
cember, in the year eighteen hundred and sixty-two.” 
Specification 6th—“In this; that said Captain James Starkey, com- 
manding Company ‘M,’ 1st Minnesota Mounted Eangers, in his 
report of the state of his Company to his Commanding Officer, 
pursuant to the orders of said officer, did report Thornton Bishop, 
Alexander Darling, John Shiner, Leander Capistrant, and Tru- 
man D. Chapman, as members of his said Company, absent 
without leave, when, in fact, said men were not, nor was either 
of them, ever members of said Company; nor -were they, or 
either of them, ever mustered into the sendee of the United 
States; all -which the said Starkey well knew. This at Fort 
Snelling, Minnesota, on or about the 5th day of March, 1863.” 
Specification 7th—“In this; that said Captain James Starkey, while 
recruiting for Company ‘ M,’ 1st Minnesota Mounted Eangers, 
on or about the month of December, in the year eighteen hun- 
dred and sixty-two, did impose upon and deceive the examining 
surgeon, Dr. T. E. Potts, appointed to examine recruits for the 
volunteer service of the United States, by procuring, or causing 
to be procured, men who had never enlisted in such service to 
personate and appear under the names of Leander Capistrant, 
Truman D. Chapman, Henry Disher, and Peter Leonard, re- 
spectively, which names appear upon the enlistment papers pre- 
sented to said examining surgeon; and the men so procured 
were, by the deceit and fraud of said Starkey, examined, passed, 
and certified to upon said enlistment papers, under said assumed 
names, by the said examining surgeon, the said Capistrant, 
Chapman, Disher, and Leonard never appearing, nor either of 
them, before or being examined by said Surgeon. This at Fort 7 
Snelling, Minnesota, in or about the month of December, in the 
year eighteen hundred and sixty-two.” 
To which charges and specifications the accused, Captain James 
Starkey, 1st Minnesota Mounted Rangers, pleaded “Not Guilty.” 
Finding. 
The Court, having maturely considered the evidence adduced, finds 
the accused, Captain James Starkey, 1st Minnesota Mounted Rangers, 
as follows: 
Charge I. 
Of the 1st Specification, “Guilty.” 
Of the 2d Specification, “ Guilty.” 
Of the 3d Specification, “Guilty,” except the words, “when, in fact, 
said Chapman never was examined by the examining surgeon appointed 
to examine recruits for the volunteer service of the United States.” 
Of the 4th Specification, “Guilty.” 
Of the Charge, “Guilty.” 
Charge II. 
Of the Specification, “Guilty.” 
Of the Charge, “ Guilty.” 
Charge III. 
Of the Specification, “Not Guilty.” 
Of the Charge, “Not Guilty.” 
Charge IV. 
Of the 1st Specification, “Guilty.” 
Of the 2d Specification, “Guilty.” 
Of the 3d Specification, “Guilty.” 
Of the 4th Specification, “ Guilty.” 
Of the 5th Specification, “Guilty.” 
Of the 6th Specification, “Not Guilty.” 
Of the 7th Specification, “Not Guilty.” 
Of the Charge, “ Guilty.” 8 
Sentence. 
And tlie Comt does therefore sentence him, Captain James Starkey, 
1st Minnesota Mounted Rangers, “To be cashiered, and to be forever 
disqualified from holding any office of trust or profit under the Govern- 
ment of the United States." 
II..The proceedings in the foregoing case have been approved by 
the General commanding the District of Minnesota, and forwarded for 
the action of the President of the United States, rvho directs that the 
sentence be commuted so far as to remove the disability of Captain 
James Starkey to hold office or be employed in the service of the United 
States. 
By order of the Secretary of War: 
E. D. TOWNSEND, 
Assistant Adjutant General.