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Maryland Campaign
Special Order No. 191

The following is transcribed from Battles and Leaders of the Civil War Grant-Lee Edition, Volume II, Part II:

Special Orders, No. 191

Headquarters, Army of Northern Virginia

September 9th, 1862

          The army will resume its march to-morrow, taking the Hagerstown road. General Jackson's command will form the advance, and after passing Middletown, with such portions as he may select, take the route toward Sharpsburg, cross the Potomac at the most convenient point, and by Friday night take possession of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, capture such of the enemy as may be at Martinsburg, and intercept such as may attempt to escape from Harper's Ferry.

          General Longstreet's command will pursue the same road as far as Boonsboro', where it will halt with the reserve, supply, and baggage trains of the army.

          General McLaws, with his own division and that of General R. H. Anderson, will follow General Longstreet; on reaching Middletown he will take the route to Harper's Ferry, and by Friday morning possess himself of the Maryland Heights and endeavor to capture the enemy at Harper's Ferry and vicinity.

          General Walker, with his division after accomplishing the object in which he is now engaged, will cross the Potomac at Cheek's ford, ascend its right bank to Lovettsville, take possession of Loudoun Heights, if practicable, by Friday morning, Keyes's ford on his left, and the road between the end of the mountain and the Potomac on the right. He will, as far as practicable, cooperate with General McLaws and General Jackson in intercepting the retreat of the enemy.

          General D. H. Hill's division will form the rearguard of the army, pursuing the road taken by the main body. The reserve artillery, ordinance, and supply trains, etc., will precede General Hill.

          General Stuart will detach a squadron of cavalry to accompany the commands of Generals Longstreet, Jackson, and McLaws, and with the main body of the cavalry, will cover the route of the army and bring up all stragglers that may have been left behind.

          The commands of Generals Jackson, McLaws, and Walker, after accomplishing the objects for which they have been detached, will join the main body of the army at Bonnsboro' or Hagerstown.

          Each regiment on the march will habitually carry its axes in the regimental ordnance-wagons, for use of the men at their encampments, to procure wood, etc.

By command of General R. E. Lee

R. H. Chilton, Assistant Adjutant-General

Major-General D. H. Hill, Commanding Division

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