Special Order 191

Special Order 191. Also known as the "Lost Order" or the "Frederick Order," it was a detailed directive issued by Confederate States Army General Robert E. Lee during the Maryland campaign of the American Civil War. The document outlined the planned movements and dispersal of the Army of Northern Virginia as it advanced into Maryland. Its accidental discovery by Union Army soldiers provided Major General George B. McClellan with critical intelligence, dramatically altering the course of the subsequent Battle of Antietam.

Background and context

In early September 1862, following his victory at the Second Battle of Bull Run, General Robert E. Lee decided to invade the Union state of Maryland. His strategic objectives included shifting the war away from Virginia, influencing the upcoming congressional elections, and potentially securing recognition from Great Britain and the French Empire. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia, though victorious, was fatigued and under-supplied. The campaign's success relied on precise coordination between his widely separated corps, commanded by generals like Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson, James Longstreet, and Daniel Harvey Hill. The order was crafted to synchronize the capture of Harpers Ferry and the concentration of forces near Hagerstown or Boonsboro.

Content of the order

Dated September 9, 1862, the order specified the movements for September 10-12. It directed Jackson's command to cross the Potomac River and capture the Union Army garrison at Harpers Ferry. The divisions of Lafayette McLaws and Richard H. Anderson were to support this operation from Maryland Heights. Meanwhile, the commands of James Longstreet and Daniel Harvey Hill were to advance towards Boonsboro, with the army's reserve artillery and supply trains following via the Turner's and Crampton's Gap passes through the South Mountain range. The order concluded with instructions for all commands to reunite at Hagerstown or Boonsboro.

Discovery and impact

On the morning of September 13, 1862, soldiers from the 27th Indiana Infantry Regiment, part of the Union Army's XII Corps encamped near Frederick, Maryland, discovered a copy of the order wrapped around three cigars in a field recently vacated by Confederate troops. The document was quickly authenticated and rushed to Major General George B. McClellan, commander of the Army of the Potomac. Upon reading it, McClellan famously exclaimed, "Here is a paper with which, if I cannot whip Bobby Lee, I will be willing to go home." The intelligence revealed that Lee's army was dangerously divided, presenting a golden opportunity for the Union Army to defeat its separated components in detail. McClellan immediately moved to force the gaps at South Mountain, leading to the Battle of South Mountain.

Aftermath and historical significance

The intelligence from the order compelled Lee to hastily consolidate his forces near Sharpsburg along Antietam Creek. This culminated in the Battle of Antietam on September 17, 1862, the single bloodiest day in American military history. Although the battle was tactically inconclusive, it halted Lee's invasion and provided President Abraham Lincoln with the strategic victory he needed to issue the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation. This transformed the war's character and dissuaded Great Britain from recognizing the Confederate States of America. The loss of the order remains one of the most consequential intelligence coups of the American Civil War.

Legacy and commemoration

Special Order 191 is a staple subject in military history studies on intelligence and chance. The site of its discovery near Frederick, Maryland is marked by a historical sign. The original document is held in the collection of the Library of Congress. The event has been dramatized in numerous historical works, films, and documentaries about the American Civil War, such as those featured on the History Channel. It is frequently cited alongside other famous intelligence incidents like the Zimmermann Telegram. Annual commemorations of the Battle of Antietam often reference the pivotal role of the lost order in shaping that critical engagement.

Category:American Civil War orders Category:1862 in Maryland Category:1862 documents