GENERAL ORDERS, 
No. 172. 
WAR DEPARTMENT, 
Adjutant General’s Office, 
Washington, October 29, 1862. 
I..At a General Court Martial, which convened at Kienza, Missis- 
sippi, on the 9th day of July, 1862, pursuant to “General Orders,” 
No. 44, dated July 8, 1862, from the Headquarters of the Cavalry 
Division, and of which Major W. P. Hepburn, 2d Iowa Cavalry, was 
President, was arraigned and tried— 
Trivate James Weldon, Company C, 7th Illinois Cavalry. 
Charge 1st.—“ Conduct •prejudicial to good order and military dis- 
cipline.” 
Specification 1st—“In this; that he, James Weldon, Private, of Company 
C, 7th Illinois Cavalry, did, on the 9th day of March, A. D. 
1862, attempt to force his way by or past the guard, properly 
posted for the protection and safety of the camp of the 2d 
Battalion of the said 7th Illinois Cavalry, and did, further, by 
force, resist the sentinel while in the discharge of his duty. All 
this at or near Oak Grove, Missouri.” 
Specification 2d—“In this; that the said James Weldon, Private, of 
Company C, 7th Illinois Cavalry, on the 9th day of March, A. 
D. 1862, threatened to shoot one John W. Houston, Private, 
Company C, 7th Illinois Cavalry, the said Private John W. 
Houston being then and there a sentinel, properly posted, and 
in the discharge of his duty. All this at or near Oak Grove, 
Missouri.” 
Specification 3d — “In this; that the said James Weldon, Private, 
Company C, 7th Illinois Cavalry, did, on or about the 14th day 
of March, A. D. 1862, take, steal, and carry away four boxes of 
tobacco, the property of John Clemmens and William M. Sum- 
mers, of the value of fifty dollars, and appropriated or converted 
the same to his own use. All this at or near Sykestown, Mo.” 
Charge 2d.—“Disobedience of orders.” 
Specification—“In this; that the said James Weldon, Private, Com- 
pany C, 7th Illinois Cavalry, did, on the 15th day of March, A. 2 
D. 1862, on being ordered by bis superior officers to go to his 
quarters, refuse to obey said order, and would not go to bis 
quarters. This near Sykestown, Mo.” 
Charge 3d.—“Violation of the 9th Article of War." 
Specification 1st—“In tbis; that be, the said Private James Weldon, 
Company C, 7th Illinois Cavalry, did, on tbe 15th day of March, 
A. D. 1862, at camp at Sykestown, Mo., strike bis superior 
officer, Captain P. Bartlett, 7th Illinois Cavalry, be being then 
and there in tbe execution of bis office.” 
Specification 2d—“ In this; that be, the said James Weldon, Private, 
Company C, 7th Illinois Cavalry, did, on tbe 15th day of March, 
A. D. 1862, at or near Sykestown, Mo., attempt and try to shoot 
bis superior officer, Captain Bartlett, 7th Illinois Cavalry, he 
being then and there in the execution of his office.” 
To which the prisoner pleaded as follows: 
Charge 1. 
“Not Guilty” to the 1st Specification. 
“Not Guilty” to the 2d Specification. 
“Not Guilty” to the 3d Specification. 
“Not Guilty” to the 1st Charge. 
Charge 2. 
“Not Guilty” to the Specification. 
“Not Guilty” to the 2d Charge. 
Charge 3. 
“Not Guilty” to the 1st Specification. 
“Not Guilty” to the 2d Specification. 
“Not Guilty” to the 3d Charge. 
Findings of the Court. 
The Court, after mature deliberation upon the testimony adduced, 
find the prisoner, Private James Weldon, Company C, 7th Illinois 
Cavalry, as follows: 
Of the 1st Specification, 1st Charge, “Not Guilty.” 
Of the 2d Specification, 1st Charge, “Not Guilty.” 3 
Of the 3d Specification, 1st Charge, “Not Guilty.” 
Of the 1st Charge, “Not Guilty.” 
Of the Specification, 2d Charge, “Guilty.” 
Of the 2d Charge, “Guilty.” 
Of the 1st Specification, 3d Charge, “Guilty.” 
Of the 2d Specification, 3d Charge, “Guilty.” 
Of the 3d Charge, “Guilty.” 
Sentence. 
And the Court does therefore sentence him, Private James Weldon, 
Company C, 7th Illinois Cavalry, “To be shot to death, at such time and 
place as the Commanding General of this Department may designate.” 
II..In compliance with the 5th section of the act approved July 17, 
1862, the proceedings in the case of Private James Weldon have been 
submitted to the President of the United States. The record in this 
case is fatally defective in not showing that the Judge Advocate was 
duly sworn in the presence of the prisoner; and that two-thirds of the 
members of the Court concurred in the sentence to death. The sen- 
tence is not approved by the President. 
By order of the Secretary of War : 
L. THOMAS, 
Adjutant General. 
Official: 
Assistant Adjutant General.