The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-05-03
IMPORTANT MILITARY INTELLIGENCE.
TRIAL OF MAJOR WYsE By COURT MARTIAL.
THE CHARGES AGAINST HIM.
ORGANIZATION OF THE COURT,
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF MAJOR wYse.

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF MAJOR WYSe.
The trial by Court Martial Of Major wyse which will
commence to-day Governors Island has caused con.
siderable excitement throughout the community The
circumstances which have led to this result are briefly
q follows
On the first of April the Secretary War ordered the
detachment of Masr Wyse which had been saved from
the San Francisco and which consisted Of four compa
nes-D, J. and X, Of the Third Regiment of Artillery
to sail in the George Law the Goth the same month
This order was however, afterwards countermanded by
General Scott who issued another the 11th to the
effect that that detachment should leave the 18TH
Major Wyse his return to New York after brief alb
sence ascertaned that the had chartered
the Falcon as transport for his troops to Aspnwar;
and having received the impression that she was
worthy he proceeded at the earliest possible moment
on board to examine her Being dissatisfied, after A
minute inspection of her equipments he requested the
commanding officers to appoint a Board of In
spection for the purpose of re-examinng her and
making official report Of her condition. This re-
quest not having been granted up to the day of her
sailing, he, himself, commanding officer, ap-
pointed board consisting of the medical officer
and two subordinate officers of his detachment
for that purpose After thorough examination of the
vessel the board reported that she Vas poorly equipped
and wholly unfit to proceed to without first making
trial trip. On the day General Scott appointed
board consisting of three military officers who also
spected the steamer and reported avoraby upon which
the General ordered the detachment sail the next day
Upon the receipt Of this second order Major wyse re-
signed his and into the hands OF the next senior
officer of the detachment preferring to incur the
possibility of disobedience rather than to the
more serious responsibility Of leading his troops on
board vessel which he felt convinced entirely unfit
for The Falcon sailed two o'clock on the 18TH
and shortly after Major Wyse arrested by order of
General Scott, and confined Governors Island and
is said that General Scott refused to extend his limits to
this city and that he also refused to transmit any
muncaton from him to the Secretary of War. 1t is
believed, however, that such communications reached
the department of that officer for Major wyse does ac
tually extend his visits to New York at present. and
only remains to be whether the court will JUS
ty the he thosght At to pursue in contradiction
to the orders of General Scott.
These the simple the case SO far as they
have transpred and from them the public will doubtless
form their own opinions The charges Of the prosecu
ting officer are, in general terms, follows:-
First-Dsobedience of orders in refusing to lead his
troops board the seamar Falcon as ordered by Gen.
Scott, on the 18th ult.
Second-Conduct unbecoming an officer and gentle
man
Under these general charges there are a number Of
specifications which will be made known at the opening
OF the court this morning. The following are the names
and rank Of the officers of which the court will be CON
| sttuted:-
| DETAIL FOR THE COURT.
Bvt Brigader Gen. Henry Stanton, Assistant Quarter
Bvt Col Charles F Smith, Captain seco nd Artillery
Bvt Lieut. Col Francis Taylor Captain First Artillery
Bvt Lieut. Col W. j. Hardee, Captain Second Dragons
Bvt Lieut. Col Isaac v D. Reeves, Captain Eighth
Infantry.
Bvt Lieut.; Col slas Casey Captain Second Infantry
Bvt. Maj John b. Scott, Captain Fourth Artillery.
Bvt. Maj. Lawrence p Graham, Captain Second Ora
goons.
Bvt Maj Jefferson Van Horn Captain Second Infantry
Byt Mai George Deas, Assistant Adjutant General.
Bvt. Maj. Alfred Mordecai, Ordnance Department
Bvt Maj John +. Lee, Judge Advocate.
We learn that the orders Of the President are to the
effect that If nine OF the officers detailed are present the
Court win be constituted and proceed to the trial Of the
case
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF MAJOR wYsE.
Major Wyse born in Deer Park, in Baltimore coun
ty Maryland, and graduated in 1887 at West Point His
first appointment was to post in Florida where he was
engaged in active service against the Seminole Indians
who were then at with the United States When peace
was restored he s kept Florida where he was &C
lively employed until the Of the Mexican
war; when his regiment ordered to Tampico. While
here he engaged in the of the Encarnacion
prisoners among whom Major Borland, our present
Minister in Central America The whole party by which
this feat accomplished did not hundred
and thirty men, while the Mcxicans numbered from
twelve to fifteen hundred For three days this
gallant little band contended against such over.
whelming odds, until they succeeded in reach
ing Tampico not, however, without the loss Of
some Of its bravest members. On this occasion they
piled their only cannon with terrible effect upon the
Mexicans but their grapeshot having been expended
fbayU tbarad 1aaIf fro Of
and converted it into bullets then putting these into
empty champagne bottles they loaded them, and fred
into the enemy with terrible effect The bravery OF
Captain Wyse this occasion obtained for him the title
of Brevet Major He served throughout the whole
with distinction and has since its close been actively
poyed At the time of the shipwreck Of the San Fran
cisco he his way to California
TROOPS FOR CALIFORNIA.
Thursday the inlcr tho Third Pagn,oc, of