SPECIAL ORDERS No. 191.
HDQRS. ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA,
September 9, 1862.
I. The citizens of Fredericktown being unwilling, while overrun by members
of his army, to open their stores, in order to give them confidence, and
to secure to officers and men purchasing supplies for benefit of this
command, all officers and men of this army are strictly prohibited from
visiting Fredericktown except on business, in which case they will bear
evidence of this in writing from division commanders. The provost-marshal
in Fredericktown will see that his guard rigidly enforces this order.
II. Major Taylor will proceed to Leesburg, Va., and arrange for
transportation of the sick and those unable to walk to Winchester,
securing the transportation of the country for this purpose. The route
between this and Culpeper Court-House east of the mountains being unsafe
will no longer be traveled. Those on the way to this army already across
the river will move up promptly; all others will proceed to Winchester
collectively and under command of officers, at which point, being the
general depot of this army, its movements will be known and instructions
given by commanding officer regulating further movements.
III. The army will resume its march tomorrow, taking the Hagerstown road.
General Jackson's command will form the advance, and, after passing
Middletown, with such portion as he may select, take the route toward
Sharpsburg, cross the Potomac at the most convenient point, and by Friday
morning take possession of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, capture such
of them as may be at Martinsburg, and intercept such as may attempt to
escape from Harper's Ferry.
IV. General Longstreet's command will pursue the main road as far as
Boonsborough, where it will halt, with reserve, supply, and baggage trains
of the army.
V. General McLaws, with his own division and that of General R. H.
Anderson, will follow General Longstreet. On reaching Middletown will take
the route to Harper's Ferry, and by Friday morning possess himself of the
Maryland Heights and endeavor to capture the enemy at Harper's Ferry and
vicinity.
VI. General Walker, with his division, after accomplishing the object in
which he is now engaged, will cross the Potomac at Cheek's Ford, ascend
its right bank to Lovettsville, take possession of Loudoun Heights, if
practicable, by Friday morning, Keys' Ford on his left, and the road
between the end of the mountain and the Potomac on his right. He will, as
far as practicable, co-operate with Generals McLaws and Jackson, and
intercept retreat of the enemy.
VII. General D. H. Hill's division will form the rear guard of the army,
pursuing the road taken by the main body. The reserve artillery, ordnance,
and supply trains, &c., will precede General Hill.
VIII. General Stuart will detach a squadron of cavalry to accompany the
commands of Generals Longstreet, Jackson, and McLaws, and, with the main
body of the cavalry, will cover the route of the army, bringing up all
stragglers that may have been left behind.
IX. The commands of Generals Jackson, McLaws, and Walker, after
accomplishing the objects for which they have been detached, will join the
main body of the army at Boonsborough or Hagerstown.
X. Each regiment on the march will habitually carry its axes in the
regimental ordnance wagons, for use of the men at their encampments, to
procure wood, &c.
By command of General R. E. Lee:
R. H. CHILTON,
Assistant Adjutant-General. |