GENERAL ORDERS

No. 66.

HEADQUARTERS, DEPARTMENT OF THE GULF.

New Orleans, September 3, 1863.

I. The trade of the city of New Orleans with Cairo, St. Louis and the cities and towns of the Upper Mississippi, the Missouri and Ohio rivers, is hereby declared free from any military restriction whatever. The trade of the Mississippi at intermediate points within the Department of the Gulf, is held subject only to such limitations as may be necessary to prevent the supply of provisions and munitions of war to the enemies of the country.

II. The products of the country intended for general market may be brought into the military posts on the line of the Mississippi, within the Department of the Gulf, without restraint, viz: at New Orleans, Carrollton, Donaldsonville, Baton Rouge and Port Hudson.

III. Officers and soldiers of the army are hereby directed to transfer to the Honorable B. F. Flanders, Agent of the Treasury Department of the United States, or his Deputies, taking receipts therefor, all captured, abandoned or sequestrated property not required for military purposes, in accordance with General Orders No. 88 of the Department of War.

IV. The Military Court of this Department is hereby invested with exclusive jurisdiction in all cases of extortion, excessive or unreasonable charges, or unjust treatment of officers and soldiers of the United States Army by proprietors or agents of steamboats or other vessels in the navigation of the Mississippi or the Gulf; and upon conviction of any of the offenses herein described, the offender shall be held liable to fine, imprisonment, or confiscation of property.

BY COMMAND OF MAJOR GENERAL BANKS:

OFFICIAL:

G. NORMAN LIEBER,

Acting Assistant Adjutant General.

Acting Assistant Adjutant General.

Military Commission.

GENERAL ORDERS

No. 67.

HEADQUARTERS, DEPARTMENT OF THE GULF,
New Orleans, September 10, 1863.

I. Before a General Court Martial convened at New Orleans, Louisiana, pursuant to Special Orders No. 184, current series, from these Headquarters, and of which Brigadier General WILLIAM VANDEVER is President, was arraigned and tried:

Colonel Joseph S. Morgan, 90th Regiment New York Volunteers.

CHARGE FIRST.

"Misbehavior before the Enemy."

SPECIFICATION 1st-" In this, that he, Colonel Joseph S. Morgan, 90th Regiment New York Volunteers, while in command of the 1st Brigade, 4th Division, 19th Corps, in face of the enemy, having been placed in position on advance guard by his superior officer, Colonel H. W. Birge, temporarily commanding the 4th Division, and having been ordered by his said superior officer to hold that position, did, without just cause, fail to obey said order, and did shamefully abandon his post or position, thereby exposing the advance guard on the other side of the Bayon Lafourche to a destructive cross fire from the ground he was ordered to cover. This on the Bayou Lafourche, near Donaldsonville, Louisiana, on or about the 13th day of July, 1863."

SPECIFICATION 2d- "In this, that he, Colonel Joseph S. Morgan, 90th Regiment New York Volunteers, while in command of the 1st Brigade, 4th Division, 19th Corps, in face of the enemy, when unnecessarily abandoning a position which he was ordered by his superior officer to hold, and ground he was ordered to cover, did neglect and fail to call in his skirmishers, thereby shamefully abandoning them to capture by the enemy. This on the Bayou Lafourche, near Donaldsonville, La., on or about the 13th day of July, 1863."

CHARGE SECOND.

"Drunkenness on Duty."

SPECIFICATION--"In this, that he, Colonel Joseph S. Morgan, 90th Regiment New York Volunteers, while in command of the 1st Brigade, 4th Division, 19th Corps, in face of the enemy, did become so drunk as to be utterly unfit for duty, thereby exposing his command to disaster, and disgracing his position before his whole

command. This on Bayou Lafourche, near Donaldsonville, Louisiana, on or about the 13th of July, 1863.”

To all of which charges and specifications the accused pleaded "Not Guilty." The Court, after mature deliberation on the evidence adduced, finds the accused as follows:

Of the 1st specification to the 1st charge-"Guilty, except as to the words 'his superior officer,' in the fifth line; also, the word his,' in the seventh line; also, the word 'superior,' in the eighth line."

Of the 2d specification to the 1st charge--" Not Guilty."

Of the 1st charge-" Guilty."

Of the specification to the 2d charge "Guilty."

Of the 2d charge-" Guilty."

And does therefore sentence him, Colonel Joseph S. Morgan, 90th Regiment New York Volunteers, " to be cashiered, and utterly disqualified from holding any office or employment under the Government of the United States."

II. Before a General Court Martial convened at the city of New Orleans on the 27th day of March, 1863, pursuant to Special Orders No. 80, current series, from these Headquarters, and of which Lieutenant Colonel R. FITZGIBBONS 9th Regiment Connecticut Volunteers, is President, was arraigned and tried :

Cardinal H. Conant, late Provost Marshal for the Parishes of St. Bernard and Plaquemines, Louisiana.

CHARGE FIRST.

"Conduct to the prejudice of Good Order and Military Discipline.”

SPECIFICATION- "In this, that the said Cardinal H. Conant did assume the rank and title of Captain in the United States service, and did wear the uniform of such rank publicly, and did sign himself Captain 31st Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers when he was not in fact entitled so to do, he (said Conant) never having received a commission as officer in the said service or in said 31st Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers. All this between the 1st day of December, 1862, and the 1st day of March, 1863, at New Orleans."

CHARGE SECOND.

"Disobedience of Orders."

SPECIFICATION 1st-"In this, that the said C. H. Conant did violate General Orders No. 113, of December 20, 1862, from Headquarters, Department of the Gulf, in that he did grant, in his capacity of Provost Marshal, permits to parties to travel or trade beyond the lines. All this on or about the 10th of January, 1863.”

SPECIFICATION 2d-"In this, that he, in his capacity of Provost Marshal of the Parishes of St. Bernard and Plaquemines, did, in violation of said order, charge and

receive fees for granting permits to trade or travel beyond the lines. All this at his office of Provost Marshal, on or about the 10th of January, 1863."

CHARGE THIRD.

"Embezzlement and Misapplication of Money entrusted to him."

SPECIFICATION 1st--" In this, that the said C. H. Conant did, during the months of October, November and December, 1862, receive certain sums, amounting in the aggregate to about $1,300, for the arrest, detention and subsistence of vagrant negroes, as provided by the parish laws of the said parishes, and did appropriate the same or part of the same to his own use, and did neglect and fail to make any return for the same prior to his arrest."

SPECIFICATION 2d-" In this, that the said C. H. Conant did, during the month of November, 1862, receive various sums, amounting in the aggregate to about $1,020, for passes issued in the Parish of St. Bernard, and that he did misapply the same or part of the same, his returns accounting for only $279 50. All this at New Orleans, in the month of November, 1862."

SPECIFICATION" In this, that the said C. H. Conant, in his capacity as Provost Marshal, did permit parties to cross the lines, and that he used for that purpose a certain William Wyman, appointed by him or upon his recommendation as his deputy; that he granted to the same parties permits to trade on the lake with contraband goods, to ship such goods to Proctorville by railroad, and to keep a store at the same place, which never existed-all this to cover the criminal intentions of those parties. This at the Parish of St. Bernard, on or about the 10th January, 1863."

FIRST SUPPLEMENTARY CHARGES AND SPECIFICATIONS.

CHARGE FIRST.

"Breach of Arrest."

SPECIFICATION 1st- "In this, that the said Cardinal H. Conant, late Provost Marshal for the Parishes of St. Bernard and Plaquemines, having been placed under arrest by Brigadier General Bowen, Provost Marshal General, in obedience to orders from Department Headquarters, and the city of New Orleans having been assigned as the limit of his arrest, did violate and break said arrest, by proceeding without permission to Baton Rouge, Louisiana-this though he had applied to the Provost Marshal General for such permission, and been refused. All this on or about the 20th day of March, 1863."

SPECIFICATION 2d--" In this, that the said Cardinal H. Conant, having been placed under arrest as aforesaid, did, without permission, visit in person the Headquarters of the Major General Commanding. All this at the city of New Orleans, on or about the 23d day of March, 1863."