Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1862-04-23
COURT OF INQUIRY,

Aftcr rho haiti. of N.ub.rn G,uc III. p;,h,,o,a
Dispatc which resulted in the defeat Of onr forces
at that ;,oint some charges Of unso,d,erlv conduct
were nrrf.rred AGAINST Lent n d Crs,on I hv roi
lanes Sinclair This led to ths c, OF oy t' IT,
Inouirv which was held with tbe rssn,t ;nd;c,t.J
81 ,b. c.,nn &c pr;n a., -. Ny -, y.
1870 I .""p VI u.'. N'''s1h'' MARCH olSt
y '''' Hr .u 'o ,,n ne n H'He'
A"h 49, D a. VI fc S w.
cpxr,., Ounru NJ ~ A'0-'
=, "a. Tue request OF Coi. James sinclair and 1t COL
VI. ~ .ra'on, ,oth regiment n Z. troops, Court
Oh inquiry Will assemble on Monday, 3lst March,
looz' at the camp OF brig Gen. Ransom, to ex
anime INTO the circumstances connected with the
e"huc' Oh Tue acoVe oiicerS IN the late battle below
Me"oerh ana report upon the merits OF the same.
The court Will SIT wlthou; regard to hours.
Mt"tts Ior me Court
Brig: Gen: Robert hanSom; Co! Clingman, 25,h
heg' y. Z. troops; It. Col Robert d. C"wan, Sd
beg. ~ Z troops; Lit j. s. L. Miller, LIST Reg ~
Z. troops, Judge Advocate
By command 81
l>snedl MAJ. GEN L. II. HOLMES.
ARCHER ANDERSON, A. IL u.
By special order from Mai Gen Holmes dated
March 2ytl, 1862, Lieut. Col. r. H. Cowa, IA rrg.
iment N. Z. Troops, was relieved from duty on the
Court of Inquiry, AMI Lieut.. Col Meares of the
18th regiment n. Z. Troops, appointed to act in
his stead
The court met pursuant to the above order and
heard the testimQny--ef Gen. l.. OBJ Branch: Can't.
Ihos. B. Brem 10th Reg. n. e. Troops; Capt. j.
ii. Kelly, 35th Reg n. C.. Troops: LIST Lieutenant
Thomas j. Oates Adjutant 35th n C. Troops. Col
X. Campbell. 18th N. &. Troops Capt H. NJ Dixon
3oth n. Z. Troops Maj. Petway, 35th n c. Troops
and Col {. Z. Lee, 31th N. z. Troops and there
being no further evidence to introduce, the Court
was closed and after mature deliberaton on the evil
Gence adduced, find the facts follows in regard to
Col Sinclair; That Col Sinclair took his proper 20.
sition during the engagement, was calm and cool
throughout, and remained there until the right wing
Of his regiment, which was separated from the left
by section OF artillery and an independent compa-
ny, gave way; that he went towards portion of
the retreating men and ordered them back to their
entertainments, and then took his original position;
that he afterwards received the order to retreat and
his regiment to the camp of Col Vance was COIL
fused and not orderly; that the regiment was form
ed there and conducted in toerable order to the ra
road where he give the order to his regiment to get
on the cars this without authority that after the
regiment was ordered off the cars by Gen Branch
and formed the retreat was conducted in order, un-
til the report Of pursuit by the enemy cavalry; that
he then consulted with his men as to the surrender,
stating that Col. Lee recommended surrender,
whereas Col Lee advised no such course, but on tho
contrary, urged them to make stand; that Col.
Sinclair afterwards assisted IN the formation of
rear guard and offered to remain with Col. Lee and
the guard, and after the correction made by
Col. Lee, encouraged the men to fight and not sur
render; that after the regiment was again formed
the retreat was orderly to the end.
From these facts the court forms the opinion Gas
it has not thrrght to approve or dsapprove of the
conduct of Col Sinclair the occasion that under
the present emergencies Of the service no further
proceeding is now necessary in the case
R. RANSOM, Brig: General
President.
JOIN R. s. MILLER, LIST Ii. and Adj't LIST N. G.
T., Judge Advocate.
The same court heard the testimony of Gen. L.
OBJ. Branch, Capt Thos. II. Brem, Maj 0. c. Pet
way ID Lieut.. W. Ii. P. Langston, 35th N, C.