United States vs. Acting Volunteer LT Charles G. Arthur, commanding USS Cowslip

Proceedings of a Naval General Court Martial convened on board the USS Richmond lying in Mobile Bay, by virtue of the following order dated September 13th 1864 from Rear Admiral D. G. Farragut, the original of which hereto appended marked A.

By virtue of authority in me vested a Naval General Court Martial is hereby ordered to convene on board the USS Richmond, lying in Mobile Bay, Ala., on the fourteenth day of September, one thousand eight hundred and sixty four or as soon thereafter as practicable for the trial of Acting Volunteer Lieutenant Charles G. Arthur, US Navy, lately commanding the US Steamer Cowslip and such others as may be legally brought before it. The Court will be composed of the following named officers, any five of whom are empowered to act, viz:

Captain Thornton A. Jenkins
Captain John B. Marchand
Lieut. Comdr Wm. E. Fitzhugh
Lieut. Comdr. Oscar F. Stanton
Lieut. J. Crittenden Watson
Lieut. Stephen A. McCarty and
Ensign Philip H. Cooper of the USS Richmond is hereby appointed the Judge Advocate

D. G. Farragut
Rear Admiral
Comdg W. G. B. Squadron

USS Richmond
Mobile Bay, Sept 14th 1864
10:10 o'clock A.M.

The Court met pursuant to the above order: Present
Captain Thornton A. Jenkins, Senior Member
Captain John B. Marchand
Lieut. Comdr Wm. E. Fitzhugh
Lieut. Comdr. Oscar F. Stanton
Lieut. J. Crittenden Watson
Lieut. Stephen A. McCarty and
Ensign Philip H. Cooper, Judge Advocate

The accused, Act. Vol. Lieut. Charles G. Arthur was brought before the Court. The order convening the Court was read by the Judge Advocate and the accused was asked if he had any objection to any member present, to which he replied no.

The Judge Advocate was then duly sworn by the Senior Member of the Court and the Court sworn by the Judge Advocate according to law in the presence of the accused.

The Judge Advocate then asked the accused if he was ready for trial and if he desired counsel to which the accused replied that he was ready for trial and that he desired no counsel.

The charges and the specifications were then read aloud by the Judge Advocate.

Question by Judge Advocate: You have head the charges preferred against you, what say you, guilty or not guilty?

Answer: Guilty.

Question by Judge Advocate: Have you any witnesses for your defense?

Answer: No.

Question by Judge Advocate: Do you wish to prepare a defense?

Answer: Yes.

The Court then took a recess to allow the accused time to prepare his defense which being done the Court again met when the Judge Advocate read aloud the defense of the accused.

The Court was then cleared for deliberation. The entire proceedings in the case were read aloud by the Judge Advocate, and after mature deliberation, the Court did find as follows:

That the First Specification of the Charge is Proven

That the Second Specification of the Charge is Proven

and that the accused, Acting Volunteer Lieutenant Charles G. Arthur, lately commanding the USS Cowslip, is guilty of the charge of drunkenness.

And the Court does therefore sentence the accused Charles G. Arthur, Acting Volunteer Lieutenant, lately commanding the USS Cowslip, to be dismissed the Navy of the United States. This sentence to be read on the quarter deck of each of the vessels composing the West Gulf Blockading Squadron.

Captain Thornton A. Jenkins
Captain John B. Marchand
Lieut. Comdr Wm. E. Fitzhugh
Lieut. Comdr. Oscar F. Stanton
Lieut. J. Crittenden Watson
Lieut. Stephen A. McCarty and
Ensign Philip H. Cooper

Forward for the action of the Government
D. G. Farragut
Rear Admiral

There being no further business before the Court and the fact being communicated to the Commander-in-Chief, he ordered the Court to adjourn sine die. Whereupon the Court adjourned sine die.

Charge and Specifications of a Charge preferred by Rear Admiral D. G. Farragut, commanding the W. G. B. Squadron, against Acting Volunteer Lieutenant Charles G. Arthur, US Navy, lately commanding the US Steamer Cowslip.

Charge: Drunkenness

Specification First: In this, that, on or about the eleventh day of September, one thousand eight hundred and sixty four, the said Acting Volunteer Lieutenant Charles G. Arthur, US Navy, at that time commanding the US Steamer Cowslip, the said steamer being then in Mobile Bay, was drunk.

Specification Second: In this, that, on or about the twelfth day of September, one thousand eight hundred and sixty four, the said Acting Volunteer Lieutenant Charles G. Arthur, US Navy, at that time commanding the US Steamer Cowslip, the said steamer being then in Mobile Bay, was drunk.

D. G. Farragut
Rear Admiral
Comdg. W. G. B. Squadron

Witnesses:
Fleet Captain Percival Drayton
Acting Ensign John Bennett
Acting Second Assistant Engineer John Rogers
Acting Third Assistant Engineer John Miller
Acting Third Assistant Engineer John R. Davidson
Acting Master's Mate Frederick A. Grosse, Jr.
Acting Master's Mate Jacob Geal
Acting Master's Mate John P. Canfield

Defense of Act. Vol. Lieut. Charles G. Arthur

No one but myself can know the burning disgrace and bitter mortification I feel on being arranged before this Court on the charge preferred against me. To this I can only plead "guilty" and leave myself in the hands of the Court, trusting after it has been just, that if any consideration of previous good conduct and faithful service with sincere contrition for my fall and a solemn pledge of future total abstinence from ardent spirits may weigh in my favor. I would respectfully ask that it show any leniency the case may admit and that it may afford me an opportunity to retrieve my good name and remove the dark stain upon it.

Charles G. Arthur
Acting Volunteer Lieutenant, USN

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