Doc. 58.-General Kearney's order.
headquarters Third division, Third corps, camp near Richmond, Va., June 5, 1862.
General order, no. 15.
brave regiments of the division, you have won for us a high reputation.
The country is satisfied.
Your friends at home are proud of you.
After two battles and victories, purchased with much blood, you may be counted as veterans.
1. I appeal, then, to your experience, to your personal observation, to your high intelligence, to put in practice on the battle-field the discipline you have acquired in camp.
It will enable you to conquer with more certainty and less loss.
2. “Shoulder-straps and chevrons,” you are marked men. You must ever be in the front.
Colonels and field-officers, when it comes to the bayonet, lead the charge.
At other times, circulate among your men, and supervise and keep officers and men to their constituted commands; stimulate the laggard, brand the coward, direct the brave, prevent companies from “huddling up,” or mixing.
3. Marksmen, never in the fight cheapen your rifles; when you fire, make sure and hit. In woods and abattis, one man in three is to fire; the others reserve their loads to repel an onset or to head a rush.
It is with short rushes and this extra fire, from time to time, that such ground is gained.
Each man up in first line, none delaying, share danger alike.
Then the peril and loss will be small.
4. Men! you brave individuals in the ranks, whose worth and daring, unknown perhaps to your superiors, but recognized by your comrades, influence more than others.
I know that you exist.
I have watched you in the fire; your merit is sure to have its recompense.
Your comrades at the bivouac will report your deeds, and it will gladden your families.
In the end, you will be brought before the country.
5. Color-bearers of regiments, bear them proudly in the fight, erect and defiantly, in the first line.
It will cast terror into the opponents to see it sustained and carried forward.
Let it be the beacon-light of each regiment.
The noblest inscriptions on your banner are the traces of the balls.
6. Again, noble division, I wish you success and new victories, until, the cause of our sacred Union being triumphant, you return honored to your homes.
By order of Brig.-Gen. Kearney, W. E. Sturges, A. A.A. G.
