Robert Edward Lee General Order No. 14

Collection

Identifier: M235

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This collection consists of General Order No. 14, issued by General Robert E. Lee, Commander of the Army of Northern Virginia, on February 3, 1864. He states how pleased he is with the units of the Army of the Tennessee that have re-enlisted in the Confederate Army and wishes that their action will inspire other "soldiers of the South." The units identified in the letter are Hart's South Carolina Battery, Battle's Alabama Brigade, Dole's Georgia Brigade, Ramseur's North Carolina Brigage, Johnson's North Carolina Brigade, Daniel's North Carolina Brigade, the 11th and 8th Alabama Regiments, and the 47th Regiment of North Carolina Troops.

The signature of Robert E. Lee has been removed from this document, but the original version of the document is printed in Volume 33, Series I, of "The War of the Rebellion". Copies of "The War of the Rebellion" are available in the Cook, McCain, and Gulf Coast Libraries, call number E464 .U6 (1880-1901 edition, McCain), E464 .U6 1971 (1971 edition, Cook, McCain, Gulf Coast), and Z1236 .L5 (microfilm of 1880-1901 edition, Cook).

This copy of General Order No. 14 is addressed to General Jubal A. Early as commander of a division of the Army of Northern Virginia.

Dates

February 3, 1864

Creator

Lee, Robert E., General (Robert Edward), 1807-1870 (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Noncirculating; available for research.

Conditions Governing Use

This collection may be protected from unauthorized copying by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code).

Biographical / Historical

Robert Edward Lee (1807-1870), a Virginia native, graduated from West Point in the class of 1829. He participated in the Mexican War where he gained valuable leadership experience for his role in the Civil War. More detailed information on Lee is available in The Story of Robert E. Lee and standard biographical sources.

Jubal Anderson Early (1816-1894) was a native of Franklin County, Virginia, and a graduate of West Point. He served in the Seminole and Mexican Wars, and, upon secession, joined the Confederate Army as colonel of the 24th Virginia Infantry. Early was promoted to brigadier general on July 21, 1861, major general on January 17, 1863, and lieutenant general on May 31, 1864. During the war, Early distinguished himself with the Army of Northern Virginia until September 1864, when he was defeated at Winchester and Fisher's Hill, Virginia, by General Sheridan. He was relieved of his command shortly before Appomattox.