GENERAL ORDERS, 
No. 128. 
WAK DEPARTMENT, 
Adjutant General’s Office, 
Washington, May 15, 1863. 
I..Before a Military Commission, which convened at New Orleans, 
Louisiana, November 6, 1862, pursuant to Special Orders, No. 408, 
dated Headquarters, Department of the Gulf, New Orleans, Louisiana, 
September 25, 1862, and of which Colonel Wm. K. Kimball, 12th 
Maine Volunteers, is President, was arraigned and tried— 
Charles II. Harris, of New Orleans, Louisiana. 
Chakge.— “Guilty of high crimes and misdemeanors.’’ 
Specification—“ For that the said Charles II. Harris, late of said New 
Orleans, on the first day of November current, he beiDg then 
and there a soldier belonging to and serving in the Crescent 
City Regiment, a regiment duly organized, enrolled, enlisted, 
and in the service of the Confederate States, and then and there 
in open rebellion against the said United States, did then and 
there wilfully, secretly, traitorously, and as a spy in the cloth- 
ing and garb of a citizen, and not of a soldier, come within and 
was then and there found inside the lines of said forces and 
Army of the United States, lurking about, secretly bringing 
information, knowledge, and intelligence to the traitorous 
enemies of said United States at said New Orleans; and while 
within said line.s did secretly, covertly, and of design gather 
together, collect, and husband information and knowledge of 
the army and authorities of said United States, and of all loyal 
citizens of New Orleans, for the purpose and with the intent of 
communicating, transmitting, and conveying the same to the 
enemies of the said United States traitorously, unlawfully, and 
without right, as a spy and an enemy in open rebellion against 
the said United States government, its laws and authority, did 
come and abide, and between said first day of November, and 
for a year prior thereto, did at divers days and times come 
within and present himself to the enemies of said United States, 2 
and did to the extent of his ability aid and assist the enemies 
of said United States at said New Orleans, contrary to the law, 
peace, and dignity of said United States and the law martial.” 
To which charge and specification the accused, Charles H. Harris, 
late of New Orleans, Louisiana, pleaded “ Not Guilty.” 
Finding. 
The Commission, having maturely considered the evidence adduced, 
finds the accused, Charles H. Harris, late of New Orleans, Louisiana, 
as follows: 
Of the Specification, 41 Guilty.” 
Of the Charge, 44 Guilty of being a spy.” 
And the Commission does therefore sentence him, Charles H. Harris, 
late of New Orleans, Louisiana, “ To be hung hy the neck until he be dead, 
at such time and place as the Commanding General shall direct.” 
II..In compliance with the 5th section of the act approved July 17, 
1862, the proceedings in the foregoing case have been submitted to the 
President of the United States, who directs that the sentence “to be 
hung by the neck until he be dead ” be commuted to confinement at 
hard labor on Ship Island, or some other military prison, for during 
the war. 
The Commanding General of the Department of the Gulf will desig- 
nate the military prison to which the prisoner will be sent. 
Bl ORDER OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR I 
E. D. TOWNSEND, 
Assistant Adjutant General. 
Sentence.