Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 5.
Frank Moore, Ed.

[362]

No such acts can influence the result of this war, and they can only lead to heavy afflictions to the population to no purpose.

It is therefore enjoined upon all persons, both for the security of their property and the safety of their own persons, that they act vigorously and cordially together to prevent the perpetration of such outrages.

While it is the wish of the General commanding this army that all peaceably disposed persons who remain at their homes and pursue their accustomed avocations shall be subjected to no improper burden of war, yet their own safety must, of necessity, depend upon the strict preservation of peace and order among themselves, and they are to understand that nothing will deter him from enforcing promptly and to the full extent every provision of this order.

Commanders of army corps, divisions, brigades, and detached commands will proceed immediately to arrest all disloyal male citizens within their lines, or within their reach, in rear of their respective stations.

Such as are willing to take the oath of allegiance to the United States, and will furnish sufficient security for its observance, shall be permitted to remain at their homes, and pursue, in good faith, their accustomed avocations.

Those who refuse shall be conducted south, beyond the extreme pickets of this army, and be notified that if found again any where within our lines, or at any point in rear, they will be considered spies, and subjected to the extreme rigor of military law.

If any person, having taken the oath of allegiance, as above specified, be found to have violated it, he shall be shot, and his property seized and applied to the public use.

All communication with any persons whatever, living within the lines of the enemy, is positively prohibited, except through the military authorities, and in the manner specified by military law; and any person concerned in writing or in carrying letters or messages in any other way, will be considered and treated as a spy within the lines of the United States army.

General orders, No. 18.--Hereafter, in all marches of the army, no straggling, or lagging behind, will be allowed. Commanders of regiments will be held responsible that this order is observed, and they will march habitually in the rear of their regiments — company commanders in the rear of their respective companies.

They will suffer no man of their command to fall behind them on any excuse, except by a written permit of the medical officer of the regiment, that they are too sick to perform the march, and therefore must ride in ambulances.

Medical officers will be responsible that no such written pass is improperly given.

Regimental trains will march in rear of the divisions to which the regiments belong in the order of precedence of the regiments in that division. Brigade and division supply-trains will follow in the rear of the respective army corps to which they belong.

Ambulance and ammunition-wagons will follow in rear of their respective regiments, and under no consideration whatever will any wagon or other vehicle be placed in the column of march, other than as hereinbefore specified.

Officers and soldiers of this army will habitually carry two days cooked rations upon their persons when ordered to perform a march.

It is recommended to commanders of corps d'armee that in all cases when it is practicable, the shelter-tents and knapsacks of the men be carried in the wagons.

At least one hundred rounds of ammunition per man will be carried habitually in the cartridge-boxes and on the persons of the men, and any captain of a company whose men at any time are deficient in this amount of ammunition will be arrested and reported to the War Department for dismissal from the service. A proper staff-officer will be sent from these headquarters to inspect the troops while on the march, who will report to the Major-General Commanding any violation of or departure from the provisions of this order. Neither officer nor soldier will be permitted to leave his command while on the march, or enter any house, without a written permit from his brigade commander. Where soldiers are obliged for necessary purposes to leave the ranks while on the march, they will turn over their muskets and accoutrements to the next men on their right, who will carry the arms and accoutrements, and be responsible for them till the owners shall have again taken their places in the ranks.

Commanders of corps will prescribe the number of rounds of artillery ammunition to be carried with each battery; but in no case shall any battery be left with less than two hundred rounds for each gun. As good order and discipline are essential to the success of any army, a strict compliance with the provisions of this order is enjoined upon all officers and soldiers of this command, and they are expected and required to report to their superior officers every departure from them. While the Major-General Commanding the army will see to it that every soldier is kindly cared for, and supplied with every thing necessary for his comfort, he takes occasion to announce to the army that the severest punishment will be inflicted upon every officer and soldier who neglects his duty and connives at or conceals any such neglect of duty or disobedience of orders on the part of any other officer or soldier.