Item No. 5150632

This is a regimental copy of Union General George H. Thomas’s December 27, 1863, order concerning trophies of war captured at the Battle of Franklin. This version was written and signed by Thomas’s adjutant general Captain Robert H. Ramsey, routed through another staff officer Major James B. Sample, and finally to Captain Louis L. Cox, likely of the 97th Ohio. At the Battle of Franklin in late November, a major attack by Confederate General John Bell Hood’s Army of Tennessee had overwhelmed the 97th’s position in advance of the Union Army’s main line breastworks. The eventual result of the assault, however, was a disaster for the Confederates. Six thousand had been killed, wounded, or were missing, including fourteen general officers. Two weeks later another six thousand Confederates were casualties at the Battle of Nashville, and the Army of Tennessee was shattered as a fighting organization.

The Union victories resulted in a great number of war trophies. Colonel Emerson Opdycke’s brigade alone had captured nine rebel battle flags at Franklin. It was General Thomas’s belief, as expressed in this order, that credit should be given to the individuals or organizations making the captures, that those “amongst the most brave and deserving in the command” should present the trophies at the War Department in Washington, and that each should “receive a medal of Honor or some other fitting acknowledgment of their Gallant services.”

The order is briefly docketed on the reverse. It was written on two sides of a legal-size letter sheet measuring about 8” x 12”. Very good with light toning and a rough left edge where the sheet was originally separated from its other half. The full transcript appears below:

Head Quarters, Dept of the Cumb.
Pulaski, Tenn, Dec. 27th 1864

Circular
Corps Commanders and the comdg officers of all detachments of Troops in the Field will collect together the Battle Flags, Swords, &c., captured by their various commands at the Battle of Franklin and since entering upon this campaign, and forward them to these Hd Qrs with a full and complete list of the same, giving a description of the captured articles, the name of its captor, his company and Regt, the date and place of its capture, and, whenever possible, the incidents connected with it. In case the name of captor is not definitely known and the trophy be held either by the Regt or Company making the capture as an organization, it is advisable for each Company or Regt to elect from amongst the most brave and deserving in the command, one who shall be deemed worthy of the Honor to be conferred on him. Whenever the name of the captor is known, even though he may not have survived the conflict, this fact should also be stated, and as in all other cases be inscribed upon the trophy. It is the design of the Maj. Genl. Comdg. at the termination of his campaign against the Enemy, and the completed collections of the captured articles herein mentioned, to forward the same in charge of a Capable Officer, and accompanied by the parties making the capture, to the Dep. at Washington, recommending that each may receive a medal of Honor or some other fitting acknowledgment of their Gallant services.

In order that this design may be fully carried out, it is hoped that all comdg officers will cause such prompt and proper Effects to be made as will ensure to his command its due proportion of Honor.

By Command of
Maj Genl Thomas
(Signed) Robt. H. Ramsey
A.A.G.

Official
J. B. Sample
Maj. & A.A.G.

Official
Louis L. Cox
A.A.A.G.