General Orders #20 – Organization of the Army of the Potomac

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

CORRESPONDENCE, ETC. – CONFEDERATE

O. R. – Series I – VOLUME 2 [S #2] CHAPTER IX, pp. 943-944

General Orders,
No. 20.

Hdqrs. Army of the Potomac,
Manassas Junction, Va., June 20, 1861.

The following is announced as the organization of the First Corps of the Army of the Potomac, which, for convenience, will be the designation of the troops of this command:

I. The First Brigade will consist of Gregg’s, Bacon’s, Kershaw’s, and Cash’s regiments, South Carolina volunteers, Brig. Gen. M. L. Bonham commanding.

II. The Second Brigade, commanded by Brig. Gen. B. S. Ewell, Provisional Army of the Confederate States, will be formed of Seibels’ and Rodes’ regiments of Alabama volunteers, and Seymour’s regiment Louisiana volunteers.

III. The Third Brigade will consist of Jenkins’ regiment of South Carolina volunteers, and Featherston’s and Burt’s regiments of Mississippi volunteers, Brig. Gen. D. B. Jones, Provisional Army, Confederate States, commanding.

IV. The Fourth Brigade, Col. G. H. Terrett, Provisional Army of Virginia, commanding, will be formed of Moore’s, Garland’s, and Corse’s regiments of Virginia volunteers.

V. The Fifth Brigade will consist of Cocke’s, Preston’s, and Withers’ regiments of Virginia volunteers, Col. P. St. George Cocke, Virginia volunteers, commanding.

VI. The Sixth Brigade, Col. J. A. Early, commanding, will be formed of Early’s and Kemper’s Virginia volunteers, and Sloan’s regiment of South Carolina volunteers.

VII. The several commanders of brigades thus announced will organize their general and personal staff, as far as practicable, without delay, and will make the necessary returns and reports direct to these headquarters.

VIII. In the absence of any of the special brigade commanders, the senior colonel present will assume command of the brigade.

By order of Brigadier-General Beauregard:

THOMAS JORDAN,
Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.

General Orders #28 – On Reckless and Shameful Waste of Ammunition

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

CORRESPONDENCE, ETC. – CONFEDERATE

O. R. – Series I – VOLUME 2 [S #2] CHAPTER IX, p. 943

General Orders,
No. 28.

Headquarters of the Forces,
Richmond, Va., June 20,1861.

On several occasions bodies of our troops have been surprised by the enemy under circumstances highly discreditable to the service, and the general commanding is therefore compelled to notice these occurrences in a public manner, and to enjoin upon all a more careful attention to the subject of outposts and vedettes. It is impossible that a surprise can take place if a due vigilance is exercised, and outposts and sentries are well established on the approaches to any given point and strictly perform their duty. From some of the camps information is received that the troops have wasted their ammunition in the most reckless and shameful manner. Such intelligence is almost incredible, yet it is nevertheless true. One man has been killed and a number wounded by this abominable practice. The general hopes that there are not instances of this nature other than those which have been reported to him, and that the troops generally will pay regard to the importance of carefully handling their arms and economizing their ammunition, so vitally important at all times.

By command of General Lee:

GEO. DEAS,
Assistant Adjutant-General.

Brig. Gen. Samuel Cooper to Brig. Gen. Joseph E. Johnston on Reinforcements and Ammunition

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

CORRESPONDENCE, ETC. – CONFEDERATE

O. R. – Series I – VOLUME 2 [S #2] CHAPTER IX, p. 942

Adjutant and Inspector General’s Office,
Richmond, June 19, 1861.

General Joseph E. Johnston,
Commanding C. S. Forces near Winchester, Va.;

General: Your letter of 18th instant just received. A large supply of ammunition for your command left here this morning, including eighty thousand percussion caps. An additional supply will be forwarded to you by to-morrow morning’s train. Every effort will be made here to support and sustain you to the extent of our means. All that is asked is to be informed promptly of your wants.

The movements of the enemy indicate the importance he attaches to the position of the valley of Virginia, and that he has probably seen the power he would acquire, if left free to do so, by advancing as far as Staunton, and then distributing his force so as to cut off our communication with the West and South, as well as to operate against our Army of the Potomac by movements upon its lines of communication, or attacking upon the reverse, supplying himself at the same time with all the provisions he may acquire in the valley of the Shenandoah, and enabling him to dispense with his long train of transportation from Pennsylvania. Everything should be destroyed which would facilitate his movements through the valley.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant.

S. COOPER,
Adjutant and Inspector General.