nication by telegraph, officers of the Army may, if they think a necessity exists, take such action before the receipt of instructions from the seat of Government as the circumstances of the case and the law under which they are acting may justify. In every such case they will promptly report their action and the circumstances requiring it to the Adjutant General for the information of the President. BY COMMAND OF MAJOR GENERAL SCHOFIeld: GEO. D. RUGGLES, GENERAL ORDERS, No. 27. HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY, ADJUTANT GENERAL'S OFFICE, Washington, August 1, 1894. The following order has been received from the War Depart ment: War DepartmENT. Washington, August 1, 1894. The Secretary of War announces to the Army the death in this city this morning of Brevet Major General Joseph Holt, Brigadier General retired. General Holt was born in Kentucky, January 6, 1807. Bred to the law, he became eminent in his profession, and especially noted as an advocate and orator. In 1857 he became Commissioner of Patents under President Buchanan. In 1859 he entered the Cabinet as Postmaster General, and in 1860 became Secretary of War. In 1862 he was appointed by President Lincoln to be Judge Advocate General, and served in that capacity until the date of his retirement, December 1, 1875. For over eighteen years he thus held continuously distinguished position and rendered eminent service at the capital of the nation. He was brevetted Major General, March 13, 1865, for "faithful, meritorious, and distinguished services in the Bureau of Military Justice during the war." Since the date upon which he relinquished active public service he has lived quietly in retiracy at his residence in this city. His remains will be interred in his native State. As a mark of respect to his memory, the flag upon the War Department will be held at half staff until the funeral cortége shall have passed beyond the boundaries of the city. DANIEL S. LAMONT, Secretary of War. BY COMMAND OF MAJOR GENERAL SCHOFIELD: GEO. D. RUGGLES, Adjutant General. ADJUTANT GENERAL'S OFFICE, Washington, August 3, 1894. No. 28. I..Before a general court-martial which convened at Fort Snelling, Minnesota, pursuant to Special Orders, No. 103, May 2, 1894, Headquarters of the Army, Adjutant General's Office, and of which Colonel EDWIN C. MASON, 3d Infantry, was president, and Lieutenant Colonel THOMAS F. BARR, Deputy Judge Advocate General, was judge-advocate, was arraigned and tried1st Lieutenant James A. Maney, 15th Infantry. CHARGE.-"Conduct to the prejudice of good order and military discipline." Specification-" In that 1st Lieutenant James A. Maney, 15th Infantry, United States Army, did wrongfully engage in an altercation and scuffle with his superior officer, Captain Alfred Hedberg, of the same regiment, and did use insulting language toward him, and did violently assault and kick him, the said Hedberg, and did draw and point a pistol upon and at him, and did further actually shoot him, said Hedberg, causing his death. This at Fort Sheridan, Illinois, on October 30, 1893." ADDITIONAL CHARGE.-"Conduct to the prejudice of good order and military discipline." Specification-"In that 1st Lieutenant James A. Maney, 15th Infantry, having on the 2d day of October, 1893, engaged in a quarrel with Captain Alfred Hedberg, 15th Infantry, during which angry and provoking words were exchanged, and, as alleged by said Maney, the said Hedberg did threaten to kill him, said Maney, he, the said Maney, did on or about the following day, to wit: the 3d day of October, 1893, address the said Hedberg a grossly disrespectful and insulting letter, in tenor and form as follows: Your cowardly action in attempting to use your pistol when your want of courage made your threat to use it but the empty boast of a cur incensed me to the degree of determining to kill you, as you deServe. Cooler thought points out how degrading that would be, and therefore you are spared. My advice to you is not to provoke me again. (Signed) J. A. MANEY. and did cause said letter to be delivered at the private quarters of said Hedberg with the intent to manifest gross disrespect toward and insult the said Hedberg. This at Fort Sheridan, Illinois." To the Specification, "Guilty, to the facts alleged in said specification except as to the words 'having engaged in a quarrel with Captain Alfred Hedberg, 15th Infantry, during which an ry and provoking words were exchanged, and, as alleged by said Maney,” and except as to the words grossly dis respectful and insulting." and except as to the words with the intent to manifest gross disrespect toward and insult the said Hedberg. And to the excepted words not guilty." Of the Specification, “Guilty, except the words 'did wrongfully engage in an altercation and scuffle with his superior officer, Captain Alfred Hedberg, of the same regiment, and did use insulting language toward him, and did violently assault and kick him, the said Hedberg, and.' Of the excepted words not guilty; and the court attaches no criminality to the specification as modified." And the court does therefore sentence him, 1st Lieutenant James A. Maney, 15th Infantry, “To be reprimanded in general orders." The court is thus lenient on account of the great provocation for the writing and sending of the letter referred to as disclosed in the evidence. II--The record of the proceedings of the general court-martial in the foregoing case of 1st Lieutenant James A. Maney, 15th Infantry, having been forwarded for the action of the President, |