The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-12-25
The Army.

TIE CASE OF COLONEL SUMNER, OF rHE CAVALRY
i dKADQUA kTEIes, DEPARTMENT THE WET, I
| ST. LOUIS, Mo-, Dec. 6, 1867. I
| GENERAL ORDERS 3.
J. Before . General Court Martial which assembled at
Fort LAavenworh; X. T., the LIST utmo, Pursuance
OF Special orders No "a Series from these head
ana OF which court Colonel Henry wilson It'll I'M
an,ry President Was tried Colonel Edwin " Sumner,
OF the LIST regiment Of cavalry the following charges
| and specifications, 70 wit
| CHARGE I.
| Neglect 81 Duly
SPECIFICATION In this that Colonel Erwin v. Sum-
officer Of Fort Ieavenworth, Kansas Territory did, al
periodical muster Of his men-tha is TO say the
18th day Of February is57 at Fort eavenworth, neglect
the proper regard the officer duly appointed to
muster and inspect said regiment and did studousy keep
himself At distance from ssid inspecting officer, Major
George Deas, cf the Adjutant Generals department
during al the rne that he the said Deas occupied In
his duties of inspection and muster q the st Regiment Of
Cavalry, for The space Of one hour and half
SPECIFICATION 2. III this; that Colonel Edwin " Sum
ner z, the LIST r regiment Of s.y"TE and :Sa%and
dd, al periodical muster ana inspection Of his
eoninand-,hat is to say, On the 2Sth day Of
terng and inspecting officer Major George Deas OF the
iduiant Generals department during the time that he,
the said Dcas engaged in his duties or muster and
spccon al the hosp and guard house at the aforesaid
| post Fort Ieavenworth.
srxcYi1cArios Sin this that Colonel Edwin v sum
ner cf the 1t regiment Of cavalry and commanding Of
fcer at Fort Leavenwoh Kansas Territory, did at Pc
riodica muster and inspection Of his command that IL to
say the 18th day Of February 1857 neglect 10
pany the inspecting officer Major George Deas Of the Adj
uIant Generals department in his nspt con OF the quar-
tors barracks occupied by the s regiment Of cavalry
did neglect to have the said barracks and the
cupyng the prepared u receive the visit OF the in
specng oic,r, although previously informed by Asjor
Dcas that his intention to inspect the said quarters
or barracks at a certain time that day
CHAkGE III.
Conduct tHlsoonpg Officer and n Gentleman
SPECIFICATION LIN this: that Colonel Edwin '. SUM-
ner. Of the LIST regiment Of cavalry, and commanding
mcnting upon written communication made by Major
George Deas. Of the AcJutant GeLcras Department,
charged with the duties Of Inspector General q. Fort
Leavenwor,h, the 18th day Of February 1867, ad.
dressed TO the General commanding the army the said
communication being dated February IS 1857, and being
in substance report in regard 10 the Official department
OF the the said Deas the inspection
and muster Of the LIST regiment OF cavalry under the
mand Of the said Sumner the and place aforesaid,
part which communication Of the said Dcas the Ge
neral in Chief is In words follows, to w.t. This NOR
ming after Colonel Sumner had formed his regiment in
column Of companies, and in the order laid down for
inspection, received from his Adjutant, in person,
notification to that effect then rode to the ground upon
which the regiment formed, accompanied by Lieut..
Coburn, the Adjutant but my arrival there was sur
rrsed 10 find that notice Of my taken by
Edwin " sumner did address and Onward letter TO the
General In Chief datef March 2 1857, explanatory o.
hs conduct that OCCASION in part and In words a. fol
lows 70 witsMajor received by the heai
of my regiment" which assertion s deliberate attempt
deceive the General-r Chief the subject At issue"
SPECIFICATION 2-In this: that Colonel Ed Vinv sumner,
OF the 1s regiment OF cavalry and commanding officer AT
IeayenWOTtl,
ward accommodation 70 the CHIEF dated Marcn
2 1887 in explanation OF his the said summers conduct A.
reported by Msor George Deas OF the Adutant Generals
when duty Inspector General n Fort
Iesyenworth the 18th day OF February 1851, in com
muncaton OF that date addressed to the General
bv the said DeAs which communication Of the said sum
ncr II, in part in words follows, To wit: and or
dcrcd my CAPTAINS 10 meet him, (meanng MAJOR George
pcas inspecting ofcer cat the Hospital, to muster the
.ck;r which assertion IL calculated 10 deceive the
Gcsra in chief on the subject nj ssue and dehoe-
srECTy1cAnoy SIN this: that Colonel Edwin v.
Sumner OF the LIST regiment OF cavalry, and commanding
officer at Fort Lcavenworth Kansas Territory did In ex
tcn of his command nj Fort Iesyenworththst L. To say
on tho 2sh day Of February 1857, reported IN letter
OF the same the Gcncraln Chief by MAJOR George
pcas, Of tho Adjusant Generals department. on duty
and then Inspector General address and forward
10 the General In Chief communication In words and
figures a. follows, TO wilt
HxAtau ARrEns, FoRr LEAvUwoRm,
March z, 1851 J
srr-r would respectfully remark this complaint:
Major peas was received by at the head OF my regi
ent without any compliment under the 5isth paragraph
the Army Regulations and under the 47tsh paragraph
usage OF service Is not considered obligatory upon
commanding officer 10 80 on parade when his command
ltpcetcd by junior officer, but thought u better 10
be present 20 give any orders that might be
After the regiment dismissed, directed my ocer
day parade the guard and prisoners for the in
spcctor muster and ordered my captains TO meet him
at the hospital 10 muster the sick intended that the
companies should be kept In readiness 10 receive him 10
their quarters twas entirely accidental that this not
done wished 10 give Major noas every facility In the
performance Of his duty bu, did not deem necessary
or proper accompany him myself a. would general
officer There orc departure from Regulations dur
ing this inspection that think proper TO report aud OK
PLAN battalion q the eth Infantry eommanasd , ny
honors due 10 superior officer and marched passed. MN
in review Twas Of this intention I'll was too
late without great abruptncss 10 prevent this departure
from proprety aud army regulations am SIR very re-
| spcctfully, your obi scrvt, y v sUMNEk
Col istCavairy Comdg.
Asst. Adit Gen Headquarters Army
which alton lis whole tenor,
ment Of facts, and deliberate attempt " deceive tho
General In Chief IN respect 70 the subject Al issue.
To which charges and specifications the accused pleaded
10 lie rst specification Of the FIRST charge not guilty.
TO the second specification Of the FIRST charge admit the
To The third specification OF the nrs, charge admit the
facts. down and including the words occupied oy tue
First regiment Of cavalry aud NOT guilty Of The residue
Of that specification.
To N. specification Of the second charge not guilty
To the second specification Of the second charge, not
To the third specification Of the second charge, no,
guilty.
To the second charge, not guilty.
FINDING AND SENTENCE
The Court ends the accused Colonel Edwin " sumner,
Of the First regiment OF cavalry, ~ follows, viz
OF the first specification Of the lrst charge, guilty
OK the second specification Of the nrst charge guilty
OF THE thr, specification Of the frat charge guilty
OF the first charge, guilty.
OF the first specification " the second charge, not
~ the second specification Of the second charge not
guilty.
OF the third specification Of the second charge, not
guilty.
~ tho second charge, not guilty.
And the Court does therefore sentence him, Colonel
Edwin Sumner LIST regiment of cavalry. "To be repr
msnded in orders by the Department Commander 70 be
suspended from rank and from command, aud 20 forfeit
his ray proper for the space Of Four calendar months
1.-THE following the orders OF the General CON-
mandng the Department IN the foregoing
Tho 1ont which gave occasion Tor the assembling Of
this Court U.s. the obligation Of the commander Of troops 10
accompany the inspector, his inferior In rank in bs in
speOlo Colonel sumner, acting the negative opinion
did accompany Major Dcss, Acting Inspector General
at an inspection Of his command
Tho Court find the facts charged, and consider them
"ncgicc Of duty - thus implying that Colonel Summers
ucon Of the regulations and rule OF service
wrong coincide with the Court, not only fair
srucion Of the regulations hut the general principle
governing the service
No one wetends that superior Is 10 obey his Inferior
or offer him courcsies imply ing inferiory but there
an evident distinction between thoee courteses express
sye Of relative rank of individuals and those