Item No. 7371637

A September 10, 1862, military order written and signed by Brigadier General Henry W. Wessells at Camp Hamilton, Virginia, near Fortress Monroe, directing a mounted reconnaissance “along the Fox Hill Road, under a subaltern or intelligent Sergeant,” to determine whether Confederate forces were operating in the area. “A small party will do,” he adds, “as it is only to examine & report if there is any appearance of the enemy in that direction.” He further indicates that “They will advance about five miles and give but little attention to the reports of the inhabitants, but rather judge for themselves.”

The order was written shortly after McClellan’s withdrawal from the Peninsula (Wessells had commanded McClellan’s rear guard during the withdrawal from Harrison’s Landing). However, Union forces continued to hold the fortified Hampton–Fortress Monroe area after the Army of the Potomac’s departure.

Wessells graduated from West Point in 1833 and served in the Second Seminole War and Mexican War, where he was wounded at the Battle of Contreras and brevetted major for gallantry. During the Civil War, he served in the Peninsula Campaign and was wounded at Fair Oaks. He subsequently served in Virginia and North Carolina, commanding the Union garrison at Plymouth during its capture by Confederate forces in April 1864. After several months as a prisoner of war, he was exchanged and assigned to oversee Union prisoners before retiring from the Army in 1871.

The order was written on one side of a small letter sheet measuring about 4 1/2” x 7 1/4”. Creased where orginally folded.

Camp Hamilton Va.
Sept 10 ’62

Captain
Send a mounted party out this afternoon along the Fox Hill road, under a subaltern or intelligent Sergeant. A small party will do, as it is only to examine & report if there is any appearance of the enemy in that direction.

They will advance about five miles and give but little attention to the reports of the inhabitants, but rather judge for themselves.
Respectfully
H W Wessells
Brig Gen Vols
Comg