Head Quarters Department, Northern Va.

                                                                                                            8 March 1863.

 

General Orders

No       36

                        I           Proceedings of a Court of Inquiry convened at th Head Quarters 3^d Brigade Light Division on the 2^d of January 1863 by virtue of the following “Special Order.”

                                                                                                Hd. Qrs. Dept. Northern Va.

                                                                                                            10^th December 1862

(Extract)

Special Order

No       267

                        XVI     At the request of Lieut. J. Morris, Co. “E” 35^th Ga. Regt. a Court of Inquiry to consist of Lieut. Col. R. H. Gray 22^d N. C. Regt. Capt J. H. Saunders 33^d N. C. Regt. and 1^st Lieut. S. B. David, 14^th Ga. Regt. will assemble at the Camp of Major Genl. A. P. Hill’s Division on the 13^th of December 1862, or as soon thereafter as practicable, to investigate the circumstances leading to the Orders issued from the Hd. Qrs. of Major Genl. A. P. Hill’s Division, Sept. 24^th 1862 and subject to the approval of the Secretary of War, dropping him from the rolls of his Company.

                                                                                    By command of Genl. Lee

                                                                                                            W H. Taylor

                                                                                                                        A.A. Genl. /

 

II         The court met pursuant to the above order. The proceedings and finding of the Court of Inquiry in the case of Lieut J. Morris 35^th Ga. Regt. are approved and their opinion that he be not restored to his former position is confirmed.

 

The evidence legally taken establishing the facts—that at the Battle of Seven Pines after dodging behind a stump 100 yards in rear of his Company, Lieut Morris left his Regt and went to Richmond Va. not only without authority, but after the Surgeon had examined and refused him a certificate: That he left his Company at the Battle of Mechanicsville and went to Richmond, having obtained a pass from the Brigade Surgeon, who gave such pass, on the supposition that the Regimental Surgeon had given him leave to quit the Battlefield, which was not the case. That at the Battle of Cedar Run, he concealed himself some one hundred and thirty yards behind his Company, until ordered forward by his Colonel, and then shortly after left the Battlefield, being slightly wounded. That when at the Battle of Seven Pines he went to Richmond, he asked the Hospital Steward to write him a permit to be there and sign D^r Jennings’ name thereto. D^r Jennings’ being his Regimental Surgeon and having refunsed such pass,—And other testimony rendering it probable / that at Cedar Run, Lieutenant Morris inflicted the wound on himself in order to avoid the dangers of the fight.

 

III        Further proceedings are deemed unnecessary and the Court of Inquiry of which Lieut. Col. R. H. Gray 22^d N. C. Regiment is President, is dissolved.

 

                                                                                                By command of Genl Lee

                                                                                    R M Wulton    A. A. & I. Genl.

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