Gazette Of The United States, & Daily Advertiser

By Yesterday's Eastern Mail
BOSTON, Dec. 6
General Court Martial.
On Tuesday and Wednesday last, a general Court Martial was held at Watertown, for the trial of Lt. col. Chamberlain, and Maj. Burnip, of the 5th regiment of the 3d division of the militia of this Commonwealth, on charges exhibited against them by Maj. Gen. Hull, and Brigadier General Colburn, for disobedience of orders, and unmilitary and unofficer like conduct, at the Divisional review at Concord, in August last; as mentioned in the Centinel at that time. The Court was thus organized:
Major Gen. Elliott, President.
Members.
Brigadier General John Whiting
Brigadier General John Winslow
Lieutenant Colonel Benj. Hayden
Major Amos Hovey
Major Silas Holman
Major Daniel Wild
Brig. Gen. Gideon Foster
Lt. Col. Jonas Lane
Lt. Col. James Burnham
Major James Robinson
Major William Boon
Major Oliver Crosby.
Capt. the Hon. Wm. Bigelow Judge Advocate.
Major Clap, Marshall.
The charges being read by the Judge Advocate, to Col. Chamberlain, he pleaded Not Guilty. A great number of witnesses were examined, and the Court expended Tuesday in attending to them.
On Wednesday morning, the Judge Advocate digested the evidence; and analysed the defence; which was in purport, 'that the order of the Major General for the review was illegal; and that coming to the parade as a volunteer, he (the Colonel) was not liable to answer any tribunal for his conduct as such.' These positions the Judge Advocate amply refuted.—After which the Court was cleared.
The trial of Major Burnip commenced immediately after. To the charges read against him, the Major, with much candor and ingenuousness, pleaded guilty; and requested leave to adduce evidence of his irreproachable military character, for a series of years prior thereto, in mitigation of the penalty.—A number of evidences, (of whom Major General Hull was one) testified to the zeal and ardor of the Major in equipping, and disciplining the corps to which he had been attached, and of the alacrity with which he returned to his duty, after being convinced of the impropriety of his Conduct, by the Major General. After the Judge advocate had observed on the charges, and the mitigatory evidence the Court was again cleared. The result of these trials cannot be known until after the veto of His Excellency the Commander in Chief has been pronounced.
Both trials were conducted with great ability and candor, and the Court granted the Respondents every indulgence in its power.
This was the first General Court Martial which has been called since the revolution and was highly respectable for the professional knowledge, the rank, and general intelligence of its members.
A subaltern's guard did duty during the sittings of the court, and every proceeding was marked with as much regularity and precision as it would have been in regular service.