GENERAL ORDERS, 
No. 188. 
WAR DEPARTMENT, 
Adjutant General’s Office, 
Washington, June 24, 1863. 
I..Before a General Court Martial, which convened at Suffolk, 
Virginia, April 4,1863, pursuant to General Orders, No. 16, dated March 
18, 1863: Special Orders, No. 79, dated March 23, 1863; and No. 85, 
dated March 31, 1863, Headquarters, Suffolk, Virginia, and of which 
Colonel D. W. Wardrop, 99th New York Volunteers, is President, 
was arraigned and tried— 
Lieutenant Colonel George Stetzel, 11th Pennsylvania Volunteer 
Cavalry. 
Charge I.—“Violation of the 6th Article of War.” 
Specification—“In this; that Lieutenant Colonel George Stetzel, of the 
11th Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalry, did, in pres- 
ence of most of the officers of the 11th Pennsylvania Volunteer 
Cavalry, ‘behave himself with contempt and disrespect’ toward 
his Commanding Officer, Colonel Samuel P. Spear, (when he, 
the said Colonel Spear, was in the performance of his duty, in 
the Adjutant’s Office of his Regiment,) by saying to Colonel 
Spear, ‘The day will come when I will he even with you, God 
damn you,’ or words to that effect. This at Camp Suffolk, Vir- 
ginia, on the morning of April 1, 1863.” 
Charge II.—“Violation of the 9th Article of War.” 
Specification—“In this; that Lieutenant Colonel George Stetzel, of the 
11th Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalry, did ‘disobey 
the lawful command of his superior officer,’ Colonel Samuel P. 
Spear, when in the execution of his office; and when Colonel 
Spear ordered him, Lieutenant Colonel George Stetzel, in arrest 
to his quarters, he, Lieutenant Colonel Stetzel, did reply, in a 
loud, boisterous, and menacing manner, ‘I wont go, sir;’ ‘I’ll 
see you darn’d first, sir;’ ‘ I’ll have my rights, sir;’ ‘I’ll hang 
first, sir;’ or words to that effect. This in the Adjutant’s Office 
of the 11th Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalry, at 
Camp Suffolk, Virginia, on the morning of the 1st of April, 
1863.” 2 
Charge III.—“Conduct to the prejudice of good order and military 
discipline.” 
Specification—“ In this; that Lieutenant Colonel George Stetzel, of 
the lltli Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalry, did use 
to Colonel Samuel P. Spear, his superior and Commanding Offi- 
cer, the following language, to wit: ‘ I pulled you out of the 
mud, sir; the day will come when I’ll get even with you yet, 
God damn you;’ and raising his clenched fist, did say,‘Do 
your dam’dest, sir; I wont go an inch for you, God damn you;’ 
or words to that effect. All this in the Adjutant’s Office of the 
11th Pennsylvania Cavalry, in presence of many officers, aud 
while Colonel Samuel P. Spear was in the execution of his office, 
at Camp Suffolk, Virginia, on the morning of April 1,18(53.” 
To which charges and specifications the accused, Lieutenant Colonel 
George Stetzel, 11th Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalry, pleaded “ Guilty.” 
Finding. 
The Court, having maturely considered the evidence adduced, finds 
the accused, Lieutenant Colonel George Stetzel, lltli Pennsylvania 
Volunteer Cavalry, as follows: 
Charge I. 
Of the Specification, “ Guilty.” 
Of the Charge, “ Guilty.” 
Charge II. 
Of the Specification, “Guilty.” 
Of the Charge, “Guilty.” 
Charge III. 
Of the Specification, “Guilty.” 
Of the Charge, “Guilty.” ' 
Sentence. 
And the Court does therefore sentence him, Lieutenant Colonel 
George Stetzel, 11th Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalry, “ That he be dis- 
missed the service of the United Statrs.,,  3 
II..The proceedings in the foregoing case have been approved by 
the proper commanders, and forwarded for the action of the President 
of the United States, with the recommendation that the sentence of 
dismissal be mitigated to suspension of rank and pay for two months. 
The sentence awarded Lieutenunt Colonel George Stetzel, 11th Penn- 
sylvania Volunteers, is accordingly mitigated “to suspension from rank 
and pay for two months from the 18th day of June, 1863.” 
By order of the Secretary of War: 
E. D. TOWNSEND, 
Assistant Adjutant General.