Lincoln telegraph. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1836-1846, 1841-06-03
State of Maine.
HEAD QUARTERS, }
AUGUSTA, May II, 1S4t, {
RAIL ORDER. No. 30.

Alta General Court Martial, holden at l4evant,
within the Ninth Division, on Thursday, the
sixth dav of May instant, of which Major General
Joseph C. Stevens, of said Division, was Presl-
dent, and Colonel James Smith Of the Regiment
of Artillery in the Second Brigade, and Colonel
Ichabod VI. Mitchell of the Second Regiment, in
the First Brigade of said Ninth Division, were
members; Colonel BENJAMIN S. Cilley of the
Regiment of Cavalry in said First Brigade, was
tried on charge and specifications preferred against
him by Hiram 0. Alden, Advocate of the Third
Division, 20 which Division the said Cilley at
that time beonged) on the complaint of Briga-
der General Charles w. Piper, commanding the
said First Brigade.
The Court edo adiudge the said Benjamin s.
Cilley gully Of the charge of disobedience OF
orders and guiltu of the frs: specification of
charge, in not calling out Captain Browns Com
pany for review and inspection on the seventh
day of September last.
And as to the t-second specification of charge,
the Court find that the respondent is not guilty
agd as to the third specification of charge, in not
calling out Captain Campbell's and Captain
Robinsons Companies, for review and inspection,
on the seventeenth day of September last, the
Court do adjudge the said Benjamin S. Cilley,
guilty"
an consideration that no willful neglect of
duty, OF disobedlence of orders, appear in evil
dence against the respondent, and that his errors
seemed to have resulted from inexperience and
natteuton, the Court have somewhat mitigated
the sentence and do adiudge and sentence the
said Colonel BENJAMIN S. Cilley, for the offence
whereof he is found guilty, to be reprimanded in
orders, and to pay fine of fifty dollars, and in
addition thereto, to pay t'eenty dollars ofthe costs
of this Court"
The Commander in Chief, in promulgatng the
foregoing Judgment and sentence of the Court
and in performing the painful duty assigned to
him. cannot but advert to the nature of the offence
charged and proved, as one extremely detriinen-
tai to the best interests of the Militia
The prompt and correct transmission of orders
and other papers is ofthe most important du-
ties of an officer which should be early learned
and faithfully performed. Especially is this es-
sential in relation to those orders which call for
active duty, and which lay at the foundation OF
the requirements of the law for the services OF
the enrolled soldiers. No officer should permit
any orders to be detained in his hands beyond the
time necessary for him to copy and transmit them,
by the use of ordinary diligence. And no officer
can be excused if he fails through ignorance or
want Of attention, ia this all important require
ment.
The COMMANDMENTS Chief cannot but be SEN
sible that in the of Colonel Cilley, there is
no evidence of wilful neglect, and that his errors
and neglects have arisen more from want OF
attention and n misrepresentation of his duty,
than from any determined purpose to disobey or
ders regularly issued. But it is the duty of every
officer 10 inform himself what his duty is, and he
is Justly subjected to n reprlmand if he fails to
know it, or to perform it, through carelessness or
inattention.
1t is to be hoped, that the result of this trial
will have salutary effect, not only upon the
officer implicated, but upon others, who may
have been equally guilty, but who have hitherto
escaped official censure.
Colonel Benjamin s. Cilley of the Regiment
of Cavalry in the First Brigade and Ninth Dvr