General Court-Martial Orders, No. 39

Source catalog description

This description refers to material held by Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Visual details below describe the original material.

A booklet printing of the court martial proceedings against Second Lieutenant Henry O. Flipper of the U.S. 10th Cavalry. The five page booklet is printed in black ink on off-white paper, with taped binding at the left. Printed at the top left of the first page is [GENERAL COURT-MARTIAL / ORDERS, NO. 39.] and at top right is [HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY, / ADJUTANT GENERAL'S OFFICE, / Washington, June 17, 1882.]. The document lists the charges against Flipper, "Embezzlement, in violation of the 60th Article of War," and "Conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman" along with the "specifications." It then continues with the findings, not guilty of the first charge and guilty of all specifications of the second charge, and the sentence "to be dismissed from the service of the United States." A handwritten inscription at the top of the first page reads “West Points 1st Black officer!

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