The Return of Special Orders 191

August 1, 2012 - October 31, 2012 | All Day

Monocacy National Battlefield
5201 Urbana Pike
Frederick , MD 21704

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Confederate General Robert E. Lee issued Special Orders No. 191 on September 9, 1862 during the Maryland Campaign while his army was camped on the Best Farm. The orders outlined his plans for the Army of Northern Virginia during the campaign and divided the army into four sections to secure garrisons and supplies, and capture Federals at Martinsburg, Harpers Ferry, and Boonsboro, while Lee went to Hagerstown. Lee anticipated that he would have time for the army to complete their tasks then join him to march north.

Copies of the orders were written for each of Lee's commanders. One of the orders, written for Major General Daniel Hill, was lost. Hill had already received his orders from Major General Thomas Jackson, (his immediate superior until the next day when he would have his own command), thus did not realize another order had been sent to him from Lee's camp. In fact that order was lost. How it was lost remains a mystery.

The original lost Special Orders 191 that were lost and found on or near the battlefield will be returning to the site 150 years later. The Orders will be on loan from the Library of Congress and will be on display at the visitor center August 1 - October 31, 2012 however the orders can not be photographed under any circumstances.

Free

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