At a smaller table, near the right hand of the President, stood the Judge Advocate or prosecutor on behalf of the United States.
At the door stood a sentinel on guard, and near him two or three orderly sergeants in attendance upon the officers.
The Judge Advocate opened the court by calling over the names of the members, beginning with the President and ending with the youngest officer present, and recording them as they responded.
This preliminary settled, orders were despatched to bring the prisoner, prosecutor and witnesses into court.
And in a few minutes entered Colonel Le Noir, Captain Zuten, Ensign Allen and Sergeant Baker. They were accommodated with seats near the left hand of the President.
Lastly, the prisoner was brought in guarded, and placed standing at the foot of the table.
Traverse looked pale, from the severe effects of excessive fatigue and anxiety, but he deported himself with firmness and dignity, bowed respectfully to the court, and then drew his stately form up to its fullest height, and stood awaiting the proceedings.
The Judge Advocate at the order of the President, commenced and read the warrant for holding the court. He then read over the names of the members, commencing as before, with the President, and descending through the gradations of rank to the youngest officer, and demanded of the prisoner whether he had any cause of challenge, or took any exception to any member present, and if so, to declare it, as was his privilege.
Traverse lifted his noble head and keen eyes, and looked slowly around, in turn, upon each officer of the court-martial.
They might all be said to be strangers to him, since he knew them only by sight—all except his old acquaintance, Herbert Greyson, who sat first at the left hand of the President, and who returned his look of scrutiny with a gaze full of encouragement.