Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1815-04-28
Trial of Gen. Wilkinson.
.ayutant & Inspector Generals Office.
Washington, April %, 1915.

At a General Court Martial at nh1ch
.Hqjor General Henry Dearborn ,cas
Prifsidsnt) conrened at Utica, in the
state Of Ns,c- Fork, on the Sd day 81
January, 1915, and continued, at Troy,
by adjauramenss TO the 21st day Of
.narch. 1915. Major General James
Wilkinsoa acas tried on the folioacing
charges and specifications, nix:
CHARGE /.
Neglect Of duty and unoficer like con-
duct.
Specification 1. In unnecessarily de-
laying and retarding the movement OF
the troops under his command at Fort
George from that post to Henderson's
bav, or Sackett's Harbor, during the
months Of September and October, 1915,
tothe great detriment of the service by
failing to make. or cause to be made, the
proper preparations for their embarkaticn,
and particularly by causing the said
troops, or part thereof, after they had
embarked Or sailed from Fort George, to
return to the same under fictitious alarm
fg' the safety of that post.
Specification 2. In not accompanying,
as his duty required him to do. the move
ment of the said troops from Fort George
to Henderson's bav or Sackett's Harbor
during the months of September and &C.
tober, 1913, and in emitting to hasten
their progress agreeably to his orders and
the plan of the campaign.
Specification 8. In losing much time
very unnecessarily and TO the great inju-
ry of the service, during the month Of
October 1918, at Sackett's Harbor, and
in the movement ofthe troons under his
command from that post to Grenadier Is
land, and particularly in causing the said
troops, or part thereof, after they had
embarked, or were prepared for embar-
kation for Grenadier Island with their
stores, artillery, provisions, SC. to wit
on or about the 18th day of October afore-
said, to debark at the said harbor their
stores, artillery, provisions, &c. On pre-
tence ofma!.ing new arrangements, there
by losing the period most fit for the said
movements IS to time and weather, caus-
ing the actual movement to be made un-
der circumstances bringing with them
great delay, embarrassment and pub
lie loss, and also greatly tending to pre-
vent successful prosecution of the ex-
petition for which the said troops were
destined.
Specification 4. In declaring openly
and publicly, betN cen the 10th OF Octo-
Der and the 18th of November. 1915, and
during the expedition of the said troops
down the st. Lawrence under his cem-
mand, in substance, chat the officers of
the army, cominandingin boats having on
board provisions and public stores, had
ne care or charge thereof. and that it
made no part Of their duty 10 preserve or
keep safe the same, and refusing TO make
it the duty of the officers to attend to
their safe keeping, although advised of the
abuses which existed in that respect.
thereby causing and coantenancing neg
ligence, and intoxicating on the minds of
the officers under his command disre-
gard to the preservation OF the public pro-
perry, to the great damage Of the ser
vice.
Specification S. In calling two coun-
ellis of war during the month of Novem-
Der 1915, the one at or in the vicinity of
French Greek, and the ether in the yici-
nifty of the village of Hamilton. and sub
hitting thereto the state of his provisions
the preservation of which had been so.
as aforesaid. disregarded by him) as
reason for discontinuiag the expedition,
to the great injury OF the public service.
Specification 6. In unnecessarily de
laying the movement of the troops under
his command from Grenadier Island, and
particularly in embarking and again
disseminating the corps of artillery at
tachcd to his command at Grenadier Is
land aforesaid, without reasonable cause;
in useless and injurious delays of the ar
my under his command in its descent of
the st. Lawrence, and particularly at the
places Of his encampment on French
Creek, in Upper Canada, in the vicinity
Of Morrisville, in the state of Newly ork,
and below and IN the vicinity of Ogdens-
ourg, under the pretence, at the latter
place, of detaching colonel (now major
seneraD Macornb with. the corps elite to
seize on the village of Matilda in Upper
Canada, without previously ascertaining
the said post was occupied by,
Or whether the enemy we're in force there,
and in actually sending colonel (now
major generaD Maconb with the corps
elite to carry the said post Of Matilda,
when the same hadin fact been exacnat |