GENERAL ORDERS, 
No. 209. 
WAR DEPARTMENT, 
Adjutant General's 'Office, 
Washington, July 7, 1863. 
I..Before a General Court Martial, which convened at the Head- 
quarters, 1st Connecticut Volunteer Artillery, near Fort Bichardson, 
Virginia, April 27, 1863, pursuant to General Orders, No. 30, dated 
Headquarters, Defences of Alexandria South of the Potomac, near 
Fort Ward, Virginia, April 21, 1863, and of which Lieutenant Colonel 
N. L. White, 1st Connecticut Volunteer Artillery, is President, was 
arraigned and tried— 
2d Lieutenant John IV. Stiles, 34th Massachusetts Volunteers. 
Charge I.—“Drunkenness on duty.” 
Specification—11 In this; that 2d Lieutenant John IV. Stiles, Company 
‘E,’ 34th Massachusetts Volunteers, was drunk while on guard 
at Fort Lyon, Virginia, on the night of the 9th of February, and 
also on the night of the 23d day of March, 1863.” 
Charge II.—“ Conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman.” 
Specification—11 In this ; that 2d Lieutenant John IV. Stiles, 34th Mas- 
sachusetts Volunteers, while on fatigue duty, did, with two 
non-commissioned officers of said Company, visit and drink 
whiskey at jr low hovel, kept by Irish and negro women, thereby 
degrading himself in the opinion of the men. This at or near 
Fort Lyon, Virginia, on or about the 2d day of April, 1863.” 
To which charges and specifications the accused, 2d Lieutenant 
John IV. Stiles, 34th Massachusetts Volunteers, pleaded “Not Guilty.” 
Finding. 
The Court, having maturely considered the evidence adduced, finds 
the accused, 2d Lieutenant John IV. Stiles, 34th Massachusetts Volun- 
teers, as follows: 
Charge I. 
Of the Specification, “ Guilty.” 
Of the Charge, “Guilty.” 2 
Charge II. 
Of the Specification, “Guilty, excepting the words ‘at a low hovel, 
kept by Irish and negro women.’ ” 
Of the Charge, “Guilty.” 
Sentence. 
And the Court does therefore sentence him, 2d Lieutenant John W. 
Stiles, 34th Massachusetts Volunteers, “ To be cashiered." 
II..The proceedings of the Court in the above case are disapproved 
by the Major General Commanding the Department of Washington, 
and the sentence has been suspended until the pleasure of the Presi- 
dent of the United States shall be made known. The disapproval by 
the officer whose confirmation is made indispensable to the enforce- 
ment of the sentence, terminates the proceedings of the Court against 
the accused. A careful examination of the record does not lead to a 
concurrence in the opinion of the General Commanding the Depart- 
ment. The proof is clear that the accused was guilty o? the charges 
against him. The President therefore directs that Lieutenant Stiles 
be dismissed; and he accordingly ceases to be an officer in the service 
of the United States from the 27th day of June, 1863. 
By order of the Secretary of War : 
E. D. TOWNSEND. 
Assistant Adjutant General.