Regarding Laws Concerning Military Courts Martial

Item

Type

Autograph Letter Signed

Title

Regarding Laws Concerning Military Courts Martial

Description

Forwards the proceedings of a court martial convened on the Natchez in July 1798. Ensign David Fero has been sentenced to dismissal from the service, which Adams must approve. Apparently Fero objected to some of the members of the court, but his request that other officers serve could not be granted (due to the shortage of officers on the frontier). He refused to plead to any of the charges, and the trial proceeded. McHenry informs Adams of the old English statutes which govern military persons who refuse to plead at their trials. Advises Adams on what to do, concluding by recommending the execution of the sentence of dismissal.

year created

1799

month created

06

day created

01

author

James McHenry

sent from location

War Department

recipient

John Adams

in collection

John Adams Papers
MMC, McHenry, James: mm85004543

in image

IDH02
KGA22

note

Cited in Adams to McHenry, 06/13/1799.

Multiple copies of the document exist; these listed under separate collections below.

cited note

Cited document sent from the War Office

notable person/group

John Adams
James McHenry
Captain Isaac Guion
Ensign Daniel Fero
Captain Commandant
General Wilkinson
court
Judge Advocate
witnesses
prisoner
Henry VIII
George III

notable location

War Department
Natchez
England

notable item/thing

General Court Martial
sentence
dismission
authority
proceedings
plea
trial
testimony
statute
felony
punishment

document number

1799060100001

page start

1

Item sets

Documents
Transcription Project

Transcribe this document

Document instances

In image In source Location in source
[view document] (10 pages) IDH02 (10 pages) Collection: John Adams Papers R: 395
[view document] (5 pages) KGA22 (5 pages) Collection: MMC, McHenry, James: mm85004543 [unknown]

Document names

Type Name Location Notes
Author James McHenry War Department [n/a]
Recipient John Adams [unknown] [n/a]