GENERAL ORDERS, 
No. 42. 
WAR DEPARTMENT, 
Adjutant General’s Office 
Washington, February 13, 1863. 
I..At a General Court Martial, which convened at Fort Columbus, 
New York harbor, November 20, 1862, pursuant to Special Orders, 
No. 232, September 10, and No. 267, September 29, 1862, from the War 
Department, and of which Colonel Gustavus Loomis, 5th U. S. In- 
fantry, is President, was arraigned and tried— 
First Lieutenant James W. Weir, 14th U. S. Infantry. 
Charge 1st.—“Neglect of duty.” 
Specification 1st—“In this; that he, Lieutenant James W. Weir, 14th 
Infantry, U. S. Army, having been detailed on Regimental 
Recruiting Service, per Regimental Order, No. 31, of January 
20, 1862, furnished with the necessary blanks and funds for 
maintenance of said service, did neglect the performance of 
said duties, by non-rendition of his returns, enlistments, and 
accounts, from on or about March 1, 1862, to on or about Octo- 
ber 7, 1862; this to the inconvenience and detriment of the 
public service and of his regiment. All this at Reading, Penn- 
sylvania.” 
Specification 2d—“In this; that he Lieutenant James W. Weir, of the 
14th Regiment aforesaid, did forward to Regimental Headquar- 
ters, on or about the 20th July, 1862, a detachment of recruits 
enlisted by him, of six or seven men, without enlistments, de- 
scriptive lists, or account of clothing, which neglect has not 
yet been remedied ; this to the prejudice of the public service. 
All this at Reading, Pennsylvania, between the 1st day of 
March, 1862, and the 7th day of October, 1862.” 
Charge 2d.—“Absence without leave.” 
Specification 1st—“In this; that he, Lieutenant James W. Weir, of the 
14th Regiment aforesaid, did absent himself from his station, at 
Reading, Pennsylvania, from on or about July 4, 1862, to 
July 7, 1862, without proper authority. All this at Reading, 
Pennsylvania, in the month of July, 1862.” Specification 2d—“In this; that he, Lieutenant James W. Weir, of the 
14th Regiment aforesaid, did absent himself from his station, at 
Reading, Pennsylvania, from on or about the 22d August, 1862, 
until the 28th August, 1862; this without proper authority. All 
this at Reading, Pennsylvania, in the month of August, 1862.” 
CHARGE 3d.—“Conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman.” 
Specification 1st—“In this; that he, Lieutenant James IV. Weir, of the 
14th Regiment aforesaid, on being censured by his superior offi- 
cer, Captain Ross, Assistant Superintendent of Regimental 
Recruiting Service for said Regiment, for absenting himself 
from his station without proper authority, did deny his ever 
having done so, which denial was false and untrue. All this at 
Reading, Pennsylvania, on or about the 2d day of June, 1862.” 
Specification 2d—“In this; that he, Lieutenant James W. Weir, of the 
14tli Regiment aforesaid, on being censured by Captain Ross, 
14th Infantry, U. S. A., Assistant Superintendent of Regimental 
Recruiting Service for said Regiment, for being absent at differ- 
ent periods from his station, at Reading, Pennsylvania, without 
proper authority, did assert in a letter to said Captain Ross, that 
he had permission to be so absent from Major Williams, of his 
regiment, which assertion was false and untrue. All this at 
Reading, Pennsylvania, on or about the 2d day of June, 1862.” 
Charge 4th.—“Disobedience of orders.” 
Specification—“In this; that he, Lieutenant James W. Weir, of the 14th 
Regiment aforesaid, being repeatedly ordered by his command- 
ing officer, Major G. R. Giddings, 14th Infantry, U. S. A., to 
forward to Regimental Headquarters certain papers, enlist- 
ments, returns, &c., pertaining to his duty as Recruiting Officer, 
did neglect to do so. All this at Reading, Pennsylvania, be- 
tween the 1st day of March, 1862, and the 7th day of October, 
1862.” 
To which charges and specifications the accused pleaded as follows: 
To the 1st Specification, 1st Charge, “ Not Guilty.” 
To the 2d Specification, 1st Charge, “Not Guilty.” 
To the 1st Charge, “Not Guilty.” 
To the 1st Specification, 2d Charge, “Not Guilty.” 
To the 2d Specification, 2d Charge, “ Not Guilty.” 3 
To the 2d Charge, “Not Guilty.” 
To the 1st Specification, lid Charge, “NotGuilty.” 
To the 2d Specification, 3d Charge, “ Not Guilty.” 
To the 3d Charge, “Not Guilty.” 
To the Specification, 4th Charge, “Not Guilty.” 
To the 4th Charge, “Not Guilty.” 
Finding. 
The Court, after mature deliberation upon the testimony adduced, 
finds the accused as follows: 
Of the 1st Specification, 1st Charge, “Guilty.” 
Of the 2d Specification, 1st Charge, “ Guilty.” 
Of the 1st Charge, “ Guilty.” 
Of the 1st Specification, 2d Charge, “ Guilty.” 
Of the 2d Specification, 2d Charge, “ Not Guilty.” 
Of the 2d Charge, “ Guilty.” 
Of the 1st Specification, 3d Charge, “ Guilty.” 
Of the 2d Specification, lid Charge, “ Guilty.” 
Of the 3d Charge, “ Not Guilty.” 
Of the Specification, 4th Charge, “ Guilty.” 
Of the 4th Charge, “Not Guilty; but Guilty of conduct highly pre- 
judicial to good order and to military discipline.” 
Sentence. 
And the Court does therefore sentence him, 1st Lieutenant James IF. 
Weir, 14th U. S. Infantry, “ To be dismissed the service of the United 
States.” 
II..The proceedings, findings, and sentence in the foregoing case 
are approved, and 1st Lieutenant James W. Weir ceases to be an officer 
of the Army. 
By order of the Secretary of War: 
L. THOMAS, 
Adjutant General. 
Official: 
Assistant Adjutant General.