Special Order 191

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Special Order 191 was a Confederate Civil War directive issued by General Robert E. Lee outlining his army’s movements during the Maryland Campaign, whose accidental discovery by Union forces critically influenced the lead-up to the Battle of South Mountain and Antietam.

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Statements (45)

Predicate Object
instanceOf Confederate military document
military order
primary source document
alsoKnownAs Lee’s Lost Order NERFINISHED
Lost Dispatch NERFINISHED
Order 191 NERFINISHED
archivedIn United States National Archives (copy) NERFINISHED
author Robert E. Lee NERFINISHED
belligerent Confederate States Army NERFINISHED
campaignPhase invasion of Maryland
conflict American Civil War
consequence enabled McClellan to move more aggressively against Lee
copiesPrepared multiple copies for subordinate commanders
dateIssued September 9, 1862
deliveredTo Brigadier General Alpheus S. Williams NERFINISHED
Major General George B. McClellan NERFINISHED
directedMovementOf A. P. Hill’s division
D. H. Hill’s division
James Longstreet’s command
John G. Walker’s division
Lafayette McLaws’s division NERFINISHED
Stonewall Jackson’s command
effectOn Union operational planning in Maryland Campaign
Union understanding of Confederate dispositions
foundBy Union soldiers of the 27th Indiana Infantry
foundDate September 13, 1862
foundNear Frederick, Maryland NERFINISHED
foundWrappedWith cigars
historicalSignificance considered one of the most famous lost orders in military history
influenced Battle of Antietam NERFINISHED
Battle of South Mountain NERFINISHED
issuedBy Robert E. Lee NERFINISHED
issuedFor Army of Northern Virginia NERFINISHED
language English
lostBy Confederate staff
orderedMovementToward Boonsboro, Maryland NERFINISHED
Williamsport, Maryland NERFINISHED
orderedOccupationOf Hagerstown, Maryland NERFINISHED
orderedOperationAgainst Harpers Ferry NERFINISHED
partOf Maryland Campaign NERFINISHED
placeIssued Frederick, Maryland NERFINISHED
purpose to divide Confederate forces for operations in Maryland and against Harpers Ferry
to outline movements of the Army of Northern Virginia during the Maryland Campaign
script Latin alphabet
status classified at time of issue

Referenced by (1)

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Battle of South Mountain relatedDocument Special Order 191