American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1846-07-03
FRIDAY MORNING. 8,

GENERAL GAINES. 1t appears from the
Union of the first instant, that Court of En-
quiry has been ordered by the President to con-
vene at Fort Monroe, on the 18th inst, TO in
vestigate the conduct of Brevet Major General
Gaines The Court will consist of Brevet
Brigadier General H. Brady, Brevet Brigader
Gen'. G. Nj. Brooks, and Col. J. Crane, men,
bers, and Breyet Captain J. F. Lee, recorder
The four following charges are exhibited against
him:
LIST. In calling upon the governors of several
OF the States for volunteers or militia to be
mustered into the service of the United States,
between the LIST and 10th of May, 1916; and
to examine also into the authority and ciroum-
stances under which the said calls were made
I'd. In calling upon the governors of several
of the States, between the 9th of May and
10th of June, 1916, for volunteers or militia to
be mustered into the service Of the United
States; and also in appointing or authorizing
certain ndviduals-from the LIST Of May to the
18th of June, lS46-to raise troops to be mus
tered into the service of the United States; and
to examine into the authority and circumstan-
ces under which such acts were done.
Ou' Ill VI 8dllLtlB anu llluSLGIllD, VI CuuSliu
to be mustered, into the service of the United
States, a body Of volunteers or militia of the
State of Alabama about the l2th of June, 1916;
and to examine into the circumstances calling
for the said act of General Gaines, in reference
to instructions given to him by the Secretary
of War, in letters dated respectively the 2Sth of
May and the LIST Of June, 1916; and the order
Of June 2, 1916, relieving him from the COM
mand of the western division Of the army
4th. In giving orders, since the LIST Of May,
lS46, to officers of the ordnance, commissary,
quartermaster, and pay departments, to issue
and distribute ordnance and ordnance stores,
subsistence stores, and for the disbursement and
payment of public funds to certain designated
individuals or bodies of men; and to inquire also
whether the persons to whom such issues or
payments were ordered or made, were legally
in the service of the United States, or properly
authorized to receive, or have the custody of
public property or money.
The court is ordered to report the facts of
the case, and to express an opinion thereon"
In what Gen. Gaines did he was influenced
by the purest patriotism; and if he erred it
was in permitting his zeal for the interests and
the honor of his country to overpower the cold
calculations of policy. He might have folded
his arms and awaited orders from Washington,
at moment when the small army under Gen.
Taylor was in imminent peril, and when
every heart beat with anxiety lest it should be
sacrificed At such a moment Gen. Gaines
''assumed the responsibility" of calling for
troops to rescue the Army of Occupation from
its perilous position; and for this offence he is
suspended from command, and is to be brought
as cupIit before Court of Enquiry. This
may be all in strict compliance with the letter
ofthe law; but it is hard measure dealt out to
General Gaines, whose conduct has received
the warmest appreciation of the people of
Louisiana.
AS the Court of Enquiry is directed to ex-
press an opinion, we hope that justice will be
done to the motives of General Gaines, and
that the deviation from the letter of the law
will be overlooked, in consideration of the APP
parent necessity for the measures which he
adopted.