1864 Civil War General Orders Sent to General N.J.T. Dana - XVI Corps Dissolved

Description

A very interesting official copy of a military telegraph sent on November 7, 1864 to Union
Major General Napoleon J. T. Dana
, then commanding the
16th Army Corps
. The telegraph, sent by
Lieutenant Colonel Christian T. Christensen
, Assistant Adjutant General for the Military Division of West Mississippi, contained the text of General Orders No. 277 (“respectfully furnished” to Dana). It dissolved Dana’s 16th Corps and transferred the headquarters of the
19th Corps
to Virginia to operate under Sheridan. Most of the remaining troops were to be organized under the command of
General Edward Canby
for the push on Mobile, Alabama. The order reads:
BY TELEGRAPH FROM CAIRO , NOV. 7TH, 1864
(Dated) Washington, Nov. 7, 1864.
To Maj. Gen. E.R.S. Canby,
New Orleans:
General Orders, No. 277, just issued, is as follows:
By direction of the President all troops on the east bank of the Mississippi River will be detached from their several department and corps commanders, and will report to Major General Canby, or to such other commander as he may direct.
The 16th army corps, as a corps organization, is hereby abolished.
Brevet Major General Emory is appointed to the command of the 19th army corps, headquarters with the army of General Sheridan, in the field. All detachments of organizations of this corps, remaining with General Emory, left in the Department of the Gulf, will be sent to the headquarters of the corps, via Washington.
The organization known as the 19th army corps, in the Military Division of West Mississippi, is abolished, and the troops comprising it will be organized as Major General Canby my direct.
By order of the Secretary of War:
(Signed) E. D. TOWNSEND
Assistant Adjutant General
Official copy, respectfully furnished Major Genl N. J. T. Dana, for information.
C. T. Christensen
Lt. Colonel, Ass’t Adjutant General,
Mil. Div. West Mississippi
The order was printed on a sheet of paper measuring about 7 1/2” x 9 3/4”. It is in very good condition with minor wear to edges and corners, along with some light to moderate foxing and toning. It is creased where originally folded.
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