Item No. 6694002

This printed general order was issued by the War Department in Washington, DC, on June 20, 1863. The double-sided circular communicates the rules that applied whenever a regiment is “reduced below the minimum number allowed by law, but is of a strength above half the maximum.” For an infantry regiment: “Each regiment will be deprived of the Colonel, and one Assistant Surgeon. Each company—provided it is reduced below the minimum—will be deprived of a Second Lieutenant.” It lays out similar rules for cavalry and artillery regiments.

The document measures about 5” x 7 1/4”. Excellent condition. Two holes in the left margin for placement in a binder. The order was among an archive of documents from the brigade staff of the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, 3rd Corps, Army of the Potomac (archive of Col. Thomas H. Dunham, 11th Mass.). It is marked as having been received July 13, 1863.