GENERAL ORDERS, 
No. 185. 
WAR DEPARTMENT, 
Adjutant General’s Office, 
Washington, June, 23, 1863. 
I. -Before a General Court Martial, which convened at Scottsville, 
Kentucky, November 6,1862, pursuant to Special Orders, No; 29, dated 
October 13, 1862, No. 30, dated October 26, 1862, and No. 33, dated 
November 3,1862, Headquarters, 6th Division, and of which Lieutenant 
Colonel W. H. Young, 26th Ohio Volunteers, is President, was ar- 
raigned and tried— 
Private John Hardesty, Company “ A,” 65th Ohio Volunteers. 
Charge.—“Violation of the 46th Article of War.” 
Specification—“ In this; that the said John Hardesty, Private, Company 
‘A,’ 65th Ohio Volunteers, while posted as a sentinel on the night 
of the 3d of November, 1862, was found by me asleep upon said 
post of duty. 
“H. H. TILLOTSON, 
“2d Lieutenant, Company lE,' 73d Indiana Volunteers.'' 
To which charge and specification the accused, Private John Har- 
desty, Company “A,” 65th Ohio Volunteers, pleaded “Not Guilty.” 
Finding. 
The Court, having maturely considered the evidence adduced, finds 
the accused, Private John Hardesty, Company “A,” 65th Ohio Volun- 
teers, as follows: 
Of the Specification, “ Guilty.” 
Of the Charge, “ Guilty.” 
Sentence. 
And the Court does therefore sentence him, Private John Hardesty, 
Company “ A,” 65th Ohio Volunteers, “ To be shot to death. This sen- 
tence was concurred in by two-thirds of the members of the Court.'' 
II. Before a General Court Martial, which convened at Nashville, 
Tennessee, April 8, 1863, pursuant to General Orders, No. 2, dated 
January 15, 1863, and No. 4, dated January 17. 1863, Headquarters, United States Forces, Nashville, Tennessee, and of which Major 
Charles S. Cowan, 10th Illinois Volunteers, is President, was ar- 
raigned and tried— 
Private William Dodge, Company “I,” 14th Michigan Volunteers. 
Charge I.—“Desertion.” 
Specification—“In this; that he, Private William Dodge, of Company 
‘ I,’ fourteenth regiment of Michigan Volunteer Infantry, an 
enlisted soldier in the service of the United States, did, on or 
about the fifth day of July, A. D. one thousand eight hundred 
and sixty-two, at ‘ Camp Big Springs,’ State of Mississippi, with- 
out leave from competent authority, absent himself from his said 
company and regiment, with the intention of not returning 
thereto, and did remain so absent until the twenty-eighth (28th) 
day of February, A. D. one thousand eight hundred and sixty- 
three. All this in time of war.” 
Charge II.—“ Crime to the prejudice of good order and military dis- 
cipline.” 
Specification—“ In this; that he, Private William Dodge, of Company 
‘I,’ fourteenth regiment of Michigan Volunteer Infantry, an 
enlisted soldier in the service of the Unitpd States, did, on or 
about the twenty-fifth day of June, A. D. one thousand eight 
hundred and sixty-two, at Camp Big Springs, Statp of Missis- 
sippi, steal from Private Oliver Teriwilleger, of said company 
and regiment, the sum of tw'elve (12) dollars and fifty cents.” 
To which charges and specifications the accused, Private William 
Dodge, Company “ I,” 14th Michigan Volunteers, pleaded “ Guilty.” 
Finding. 
The Court, having maturely considered the evidence adduced, finds 
the accused, Private William Dodge, Company “I,” 14th Michigan 
Volunteers, as follows: 
Charge I. 
Of the Specification, “ Guilty.” 
Of the Charge, “Guilty.” Charge II. 
Of the Specification, “Guilty.” 
Of the Charge, “ Guilty.” 
Sentence. 
And the Court does therefore sentence him, Private William Dodge, 
Company “I,” 14th Michigan Volunteers, “ To be shot to death with 
musketry at such time and place as the Commanding General of the 
Department of the Cumberland may appoint: two-thirds of the members 
of the Court concurring in the foregoing sentence.” 
III. .Before a General Court Martial, which convened at the house of 
William Rankin, esquire, near Murfreesboro’, Tennessee, March ill, 
1863, pursuant to General Orders, No. 63, dated Headquarters, 2d 
Division, 20th Army Corps, March 12, 1863, and of which Captain F. 
P. Strader, 6th Indiana Volunteers, is President, was arraigned and 
tried— 
Private John Beiser, Company “ E,” 32d Indiana Volunteers. 
Charge.—“ Desertion.” 
Specification—“In this; that he, Private John Beiser, of Company ‘E,’ 
32d Regiment Indiana Volunteers, being duly enlisted in the 
service of the United States at Indianapolis, Indiana, on or about 
the 24th day of August, A. D. 1861, did desert the said service 
on or about the 28th day of February, 1862, at Camp Fry, Ken- 
tucky, and was sent back by the military authorities at Indian- 
apolis, Indiana, March 10, A. D. 1863.” 
To which charge and specification the accused, Private John Beiser, 
Company “ E,” 32d Indiana Volunteers, pleaded “Guilty.” 
Finding. 
The Court, having maturely considered the evidence adduced, finds 
the accused, Private John Beiser, Company “ E,” 32d Indiana \ olun- 
teers, as follows: 
Of the Specification, “ Guilty.” 
Of the Charge, “Guilty.” 4 
Sentence. 
And the Court does therefore sentence him, Private John Beiscr, 
Company “E,” 32d Indiana Volunteers, “ To be publicly shot to death 
at such time and place as the General commanding may appoint : two- 
tliirds of the members of the Court concurring in this sentence." 
IV..The proceedings of the Court in the case of Private John Har- 
desty, Company “ A,” 65th Ohio Volunteers, have been approved by 
the General commanding the Department of the Cumberland, and for- 
warded for the action of the President of the United States, who directs 
that the sentence to be shot to death be commuted to forfeiture of six 
months’ pay. 
The proceedings of the Court in the case of Private William Dodge, 
Company “I,” 14th Michigan Volunteers, have been approved by the 
General commanding the Department of the Cumberland, and forwarded 
for the action of the President of the United States, with the recom- 
mendation that the accused should receive the benefit of the President’s 
Proclamation. The President is pleased to remit the sentence, and 
directs that Private Dodge be restored to duty. 
The proceedings of the court in the case of Private John Beiser, 
Company “ E,” 32d Indiana Volunteers, have been approved by the 
General commanding the Departmentof the Cumberland, and forwarded 
for the action of the President of the United States, who directs that 
the sentence be remitted, and the accused discharged the service of the 
United States, a medical board having pronounced him insane. 
By order of the Secretary of War: 
E. D. TOWNSEND, 
Assistant Adjutant General.