October 31, 1862 (Friday): Martindale Acquitted

General John H. Martindale

GENERAL ORDERS, WAR DEPARTMENT, ADJT. General 'S OFFICE,

No. 178. Washington, October 31, 1862.
I. The court of inquiry appointed to meet in the city of Washington, D. C., on the 8th instant, pursuant to Special Orders, No. 280, dated Headquarters of the Army, Adjutant-General's Office, Washington, October 6, 1862, and of which Brigadier General W. S. Harney, U. S. Army, is president, has investigated the charge preferred by Major General Fitz John Porter against Brigadier-General Martindale, U. S. Volunteers.
    It being the opinion of the court that the charge against Brigadier-General Martindale is disproved, and that the interests of the service do not require the further investigation of the subject-matter of the inquiry, Brigadier-General Martindale is restored to duty.
II. The court of inquiry of which Brigadier-General Harney, U. S. Army, is president, is dissolved.
By command of Major-General Halleck:


L. THOMAS,
Adjutant-General.

Official Records, Series I., Vol. 11, Part 3, Page 353.

Martindale had graduated third in his class at West Point but had little command experience.  Commanding a division under Porter at Malvern Hill he was accused by Porter of influencing some of his men to surrender.  By the time Porter's charges came before a court of inquiry he was charged himself by Pope with failing to promptly bring his troops into action at Second Manassas.  With Porter and McDowell being brought up under charges, Stone imprisoned without charges, and Martindale accussed and quickly acquitted it was a busy season for military jurisprudence.