McDowell Orders 4th Pennsylvania Infantry and Varian’s Battery 8th New York State Militia to the Rear

CORRESPONDENCE, ORDERS, AND RETURNS RELATING TO OPERATIONS IN MARYLAND, PENNSYLVANIA, VIRGINIA, AND WEST VIRGINIA FROM APRIL 16 TO JULY 31, 1861

CORRESPONDENCE, ETC. – UNION

O. R. – Series I – VOLUME 2 [S #2] CHAPTER IX, p. 745

Special Orders,
No. 39.

Hdqrs. Dep’t Northeastern Virginia,
Centreville, July 20, 1861.

1. The Fourth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, having completed the period of its enlistment, is hereby honorably discharged from the service of the United States. The regiment will, under command of the lieutenant-colonel, take up the march to-morrow for Alexandria, and on its arrival at that place will report to General Runyon to be mustered out of the service.
2. Colonel Hartranft, Fourth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, having volunteered his services, is assigned to duty on the staff of Colonel Franklin, commanding brigade.
3. Captain Varian’s battery of light artillery, attached to the Eighth Regiment New York State Militia, having completed the period of its enlistment, is honorably discharged from the service of the United States, and will march to Alexandria and report to General Runyon to be mustered out of the service. The material of the battery will be turned over to the ordnance officer of this command.

By order of General McDowell:

JAMES B. FRY,
Assistant Adjutant-General.

McDowell Requests 4th Pennsylvania Infantry to Remain in Service

CORRESPONDENCE, ORDERS, AND RETURNS RELATING TO OPERATIONS IN MARYLAND, PENNSYLVANIA, VIRGINIA, AND WEST VIRGINIA FROM APRIL 16 TO JULY 31, 1861

CORRESPONDENCE, ETC. – UNION

O. R. – Series I – VOLUME 2 [S #2] CHAPTER IX, p. 745

Special Orders,
No. 37.

Hdqrs. Dep’t Northeastern Virginia,
Centreville, July 20,1861.

The general commanding has learned with regret that the term of service of the Fourth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers is about to expire. The services of this regiment have been so important, its good conduct so general, its patience under privations so constant, its state of efficiency so good, that the departure of the regiment at this time can only be considered an important loss to the Army.

Fully recognizing the right of the regiment to its discharge and payment at the time agreed upon when it was mustered into the service, and determined to carry out literally the agreement of the Government in this respect, the general commanding, nevertheless, requests the regiment to continue in service a few days longer, pledging himself that the postponement of the date of muster out of service shall not exceed two weeks. Such members of the regiment as do not accede to this request will be placed under the command of proper officers to be marched to the rear, mustered out of service, and paid as soon as possible after the expiration of their terms of service.

By command of General McDowell:

JAMES B. FRY,
Assistant Adjutant-General.

14 Years Blogging

Mmmmm….Scotch….

Another year has passed. The first four months, pretty awesome. The last eight, pretty weird. Here’s hoping we can get back to that first four months of awesome. I’m about up to here with weird.

The weirdness has had some good effect here – more posts this year than perhaps ever. Lots of private (more accurately, personal) correspondence, and lots more to come. Now in the middle of official correspondence – look for a flurry of activity ahead, as I’ve made it to July 20, 1861.

Readership has been steady – about 3,500 page views/month – with a nice boost coming from the assigned use of the resources section in a college history class (of course, that came ONE DAY before the assignment was due – some things never change).

Gave a couple of in-person presentations, cancelled one due to imposed restrictions, did one Facebook Live roundtable talk, and have cancelled one and scheduled one talk already for 2021.

Have a few book ideas, including essay and letter collections, but they’re nothing more than ideas. But thanks for asking. Over. And over.

As always, thank you all for reading. Continue to do so, early and often. You guys are the best.