GENERAE ORDERS, \ 
No. 53. 
WAR DEPARTMENT, 
Adjutant General’s Office, 
Washington, March 6, 1863. 
I.. At a General Court Martial, which convened, December 25, 1862, 
at the Headquarters of Colonel William M. Fenton, U. S. Volunteers, 
commanding 1st Brigade, by virtue of General Orders, No. 51, dated 
Headquarters, Bums’ Division, 9th Army Corps, December 24, 1862, 
and of which Major M. M. Dawson, 100th Pennsylvania Volunteers, 
was President, was arraigned and tried— 
Captain Walter B. Ives, 79th New York Volunteers. 
Charge.—“ Cowardice.” 
Specification 1st—“Inthis; that the said Captain Walter B. Ives, Com- 
pany “A,” 79th Regiment New York Volunteers, did, on or about 
the 17th day of September, 1862, at 6 o’clock a. m., (and during the 
time the Regiment was in front, and had been ordered to advance 
upon the enemy,) leave his Company and Regiment without 
permission from proper authority, remaining absent therefrom 
until the morning of the 18th day of September, 1862, and after 
the expiration of said battle. All this at the battle of Antietam, 
Maryland, September 17, 1862.” 
Specification 2d—“In this; that the said Captain Walter B. Ices, Com- 
pany “A,” 79th Regiment New York Volunteers, did, on or 
about the 13th day of December, 1862, (the Regiment being in 
front of the enemy, the battle in progress, and the Regiment at 
the time being liable at any moment to be ordered forward,) 
leave his Company and Regiment without permission from 
proper authority, remaining absent therefrom until the morning 
of the 16th day of December, 1862, and after the expiration of 
said battle. All this at the battle of Fredericksburg, Virginia* 
December 16, 1862,” 
To which charge and specifications the accused pleaded as follows: 
To 1st Specification, “Not Guilty.” 
To 2d Specification, “Not Guilty.” 
To the Charge, “Not Guilty.” The Court, after mature deliberation upon the evidence adduced, 
finds the accused as follows: 
Of the 1st Specification, “Guilty.” 
Of the 2d Specification, “Guilty.” 
Of the Charge, “Not Guilty.” 
Finding. 
Sentence. 
And the Court does therefore sentence him, the said Captain Walter 
B. Ives, /9th New York Volunteers, “ To be dismissed the service of the 
United States." 
II..In conformity with the 5th section of the act approved July 17 
1862, the proceedings in the foregoing case have been forwarded for 
the action of the President of the United States, with the recom- 
mendation that Captain Ives be dismissed the service, notwithstanding 
certain irregularities in the proceedings of the Court. The recom- 
mendation is approved, and Captain Walter B. Ives, 79th New York, 
Volunteers, is, by direction of the President, dismissed the service. 
By order of the Secretary of War: 
L. THOMAS, 
Adjutant General. 
Official : 
Assistant Adjutant General.