Item No. 8755581

This order was written September 16, 1862, days before the Battle of Iuka. With Confederates under Sterling Price moving into northeastern Mississippi as part of the Confederacy’s great offensive movement of that fall, Union forces scrambled to interdict. General Ulysses S. Grant devised a plan by which Union divisions would approach rebel-held Iuka from two directions—General William S. Rosecrans was to approach from the southwest with his Army of the Mississippi while General Edward O. C. Ord would approach from the direction of Corinth with divisions from the Army of the Tennessee.

In this September 16 order, General Ord indicates that General Grant wishes General Leonard F. Ross to move his troops in support of Colonel Joseph Mower’s brigade (Mower was from Rosecrans’s army). Ord signs with rank twice, although Grant’s enclosure is not included here. The full order reads:

Hd Qurs Corinth Miss.
Sept 16th 1862

Genl. Ross Comdg Division

General
I enclose directions from Genl. Grant for a move of your forces up the Memphis & Charleston RRoad, to the village of Glendale, about half way to Burnsville, where Col. Mower was this a.m. with four Regiments of Infantry and six or eight Companies of Cavalry. Genl. Grant’s wish is that you support Col. Mower, who will be telegraphed that you are about to occupy Glendale for that purpose. Of course, in case of combined action you will command all the forces of the two detachments. Please send me word if you want more wagons.
Yours Respy
E. O. C. Ord
Mr. Gl. Vols.

Copy. The last dispatch from Burnsville is enclosed. I will send on the remainder of your division as soon as it comes up. Col. Ducat has a map of the country roads, &c.
Yours &
E. O. C. Ord
Mr. Gl. Vols.

Mower’s brigade had that same day advanced on Iuka from Burnsville but, finding it crawling with Price’s Confederates, returned to Burnsville that evening. The battle was fought three days later on September 19.

The orders were written on one side of a letter sheet measuring about 7 3/4” x 9 1/2”. Slight chipping to a couple of spots along the edge. Creased at the original folds.