May 6, 1865

Saturday, May 6, 1865

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The Adjutant General’s Office, acting on President Johnson’s May 1^st orders, began the process of establishing a military commission for the trial of the Lincoln conspirators. Nine members of the military were detailed to the court which was ordered to, “meet at Washington, District of Columbia, on Monday the eighth of May 1865, at 9 o’clock A.M. or as soon thereafter as practicable.” In addition it was noted that the “commission will sit without regard to hours”.[1]

The following military officers were assigned to the commission:

Major General David Hunter, U. S. Volunteers (President of the Commission)

Major General Lewis Wallace, U. S. Volunteers

Brevet Major General August V. Kautz, U. S. Volunteers

Brigadier General Albion P. Howe, U. S. Volunteers

Brigadier General Robert S. Foster, U. S. Volunteers

Brevet Brigadier General Cyrus B. Comstock, U. S. Volunteers

Brigadier General Thomas M. Harris, U. S. Volunteers

Brevet Colonel Horace Porter, Aide-de-camp

Lieutenant Colonel David R. Clendenin, 8th Illinois Cavalry

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[1] Benn Pitman, comp, The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln and the Trial of the Conspirators (New York: Moore, Wilstach & Baldwin, 1865), 17.