GENERAL ORDERS,}                   WAR DEPARTMENT,
                No. 281.     }                   ADJUTANT GENERAL'S OFFICE,
                                        Washington, August 11, 1863.

    I..Before a General Court Martial, which convened at the Head­quarters, 6th Corps, April 22, 1863, pursuant to Special Orders, No. 107, dated Headquarters, 6th Corps, April 21, 1863, and of which Brigadier General FRANK WHEATON, United States Volunteers, is President, was arraigned and tried­--

    Surgeon Alfred Wynkoop, United States Volunteers.

CHARGE.--"Conduct to the prejudice of good order and military discipline."

Specification--"That Surgeon Alfred Wynkoop, United States Volunteers, did inform William Pollock, a citizen of Virginia known to be friendly to the enemy, and others of the same family, of certain important movements of our troops that had already taken place, and of others which there was reason to expect would take place soon. This at the house of William Pollock, on the picket front of the Army of the Potomac, on or about April 14, 1863."

    To which charge and specification the accused, Surgeon A. Wynkoop, United States Volunteers, pleaded "Not Guilty."

    The Court, having maturely considered the evidence adduced, finds the accused, Surgeon A. Wynkoop, United States Volunteers, as follows:

    Of the Specification, "Guilty."
    Of the CHARGE,      "Guilty."

    And the Court does therefore sentence him, Surgeon Alfred Wynkoop, United States Volunteers, "To be dismissed the service of the United States."

    II..The proceedings of the Court in the case of Surgeon Alfred Wynkoop have been approved by the proper commanders, and for­warded for the action of the President of the United States. The members of the Court having joined in a statement, concurred in by the Army Corps Commander, that the loyalty of the accused was not doubted by them, and commending the accused to clemency, the Major General Commanding the Army of the Potomac, has suspended the execution of the sentence, under the 59th Article of War, and forwarded the record of the Court to the President, with the recommendation "that the sentence be mitigated to a severe reprimand, to be published in general orders."
    The President, in reviewing the record, is willing to believe there was less intentional criminality than there was indiscretion in the conduct of Surgeon Wynkoop;; but he does not find any excuse for so grave an offence in the fact that the information conveyed by him was not proved to have been put to an improper use. Surgeon Wynkoop was visiting professionally a family residing near the rebel lines, when he conversed with them in reference to the movements of the United States troops. An officer who justly appreciates his military obligations would require no reminder that such indiscretion, admitting it to be nothing worse, is reprehensible in the highest degree, and might have caused serious disaster to the Army.
    In order that Surgeon Wynkoop may have an opportunity to justify the opinion of the members of the Court as to his loyalty, and to re­trieve what he has lost in the estimation of his fellow officers by reason of his culpable disregard of the confidential trust belonging to his official position, the President directs that his sentence be remitted with this reprimand.

    BY ORDER OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR:

                                                  E. D. TOWNSEND,
                                             Assistant Adjutant General.

Source:

General Orders, No. 281, War Department, Adjutant General's Office, Washington, August 11, 1863.