GENERAL ORDERS, ETC.

29

GENERAL ORDERS PERTAINING TO THE ARMY.

PICKET DUTY.

THIS most important feature, for the safety of an army, is perhaps the least understood of all that appertains to the art of war. As the same system is germain to all armies, the following explanation will, no doubt, be acceptable in this volume, as the duty has been seldom described, though often spoken of, in the numerous details of midnight attacks, and skirmishes. In the disposition of, say two hundred men, they go forth to a point designated as the grand reserve, varying in distance from two hundred rods to nearly a mile from the outer or picket line, where are left half of the number as a reserve, in case the pickets are driven in, and also for mutual relief in their fatiguing duties (often out on picket for three days). Then, to the right and nearer the line, is stationed an officer and forty-eight men, who immediately relieve the line of men (who are out in front) sixteen in number, leaving thirty-two men on the support, 80-called- or two more reliefs, relieving each other every two hours; the same on the left support.

When six hours have passed, the three reliefs on each

80

GENERAL ORDERS, ETC.

support having stood on post their two hours each, the Grand Reserve sends out the ninety-six men who have been resting-forty-eight to each support-they, in turn, going through the same routine—the first ninety-six men going back to the main reserve to rest, &c. Thus the whole thing is systematized, the Grand Reserve and the supports alternately relieving each other, until the whole time for which they are detailed, expires, when another detail from some other Regiment relieves the whole picket. The Picket Guard is always commanded by a Staff Officer. The following is a specimen of an order from Brigade Headquarters, detailing a Picket Guard from the Thirtythird Regiment:

PICKETS

No I. CRAND CUARDS.

HEADQUARTERS 3D BRIGADE, }

(Special Orders.)

Ten Commissioned Officers, fifty Non-Commissioned Officers, and three hundred and fifty Privates, will be detailed from the Thirty-third Regiment N. Y. S. Volun

GENERAL ORDERS, ETC.

31

teers, for Picket Guards; and will mount at 9.30 A. M. MAJOR JOHN S. PLATNER, 33d N. Y. S. V., and AsSISTANT-SURGEON RICHARD CURRAN, of the same Regiment, will accompany the detail, which is to remain on duty for three successive days.

Grand Guard Mounting will be had according to Butterfield's System, on which a Division Staff Officer will perform the duties of Assistant-Adjutant-General of Brigade, and a Brigade Staff Officer will act as Regimental Adjutant. By command of

BRIG. GENERAL THOS. H. NEILL.

W. H. LONG,

Captain and A. Gen'l.

HEADQUARTERS Gary 25th, 186ORPS,}

(Orders.)

COLONEL R. F. TAYLOR, Commanding First Brigade Second Division, is detailed as General Officer of the day for to-morrow, and will report at these Headquarters at 9 o'clock, A. M. By command of

MAJOR GENERAL SEDGWICK.

(Signed) C. A. WHITTIER,

Captain and A. A. A. General

HEADQUARTERS 2D DIVISION,

6TH CORPS, February 25, 1863.

[Official.]

E. MATTOCK,

}

Lieutenant and A. A. A. Gen'l.

32

GENERAL ORDERS, ETC.

HEADQUARTERS IST BRIGADE 120, DIVISION,

CORPS, March 1863.

[Special Orders No. 7.]

FIRST LIEUTENANT L. C. MIX, 33d N. Y. S. V., is hereby detailed on special duty at these Headquarters. He will report to Colonel TAYLOR for duty at once.

By order of

COLONEL TAYLOR,

Commanding 1st Brigade.

JOHN W. CORNING,

Lieutenant and A. A. A. Gen'l.

HEADQUARTERS 2D DIVISION, }

6TH CORPS, March 14th, 1863.

[Special Orders No. 51.]

LIEUTENANT WILLIAM E. ROACH, Co. B, 33d N. Y. S. V., is detailed for duty in the Ambulance Corps. He will report, without delay, to Lieutenant WOOD, Commanding Ambulance Corps. By order of

BRIGADIER GENERAL HOWE. (Signed) E. MATTOCKS,

Lieutenant and A. A. A. Gen'l.

HEADQUARTERS 1ST BRIGADE, 2D DIVISION, 6TH CORPS, March 16th, 1863.

[Official.]

JOHN W. CORNING,

}

Lieutenant and A. A. A. Gen'l.

GENERAL ORDERS, ETC.

HEADQUARTERS 3D BRIGADE, 2D DIVISION,
6TH CORPS, April 15th, 1863.

[Circular.]

33

I. On the march blankets and shelter-tents will be worn diagonally over the shoulder, from right shoulder to left side; overcoats will be rolled and packed on the top of the knapsacks.

II. The rations will be carried precisely as ordered in circular from these Headquarters of April 13, 1863.

III. The surplus clothing, not already disposed of, will be packed in cracker-boxes, marked and sent to the barge, awaiting transportation to Washington. The instructions contained in General Orders No. 155, Army of the Potomac, 1862, in regard to the duties of Commanders of Regiments and Companies towards their Commands, whilst on the march, will be strictly observed. No man will leave his Command without proper authority in writing.

IV. Commanding Officers of Regiments will be held responsible for the execution of these orders.

By command of

BRIGADIER GENERAL NEILL,

WILLIAM H. LONG,

Captain and A. A. Gen'l.

Camp

MEDICAL DIRECTOR'S OFFICE,

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
near Falmouth, Va., March 9th, 1863.

[Circular.]

GENERAL:-I have the honor to invite the attention of