Item No. 9431275

A pair of Confederate Engineer Bureau orders from very late in the war in the wake of the failure of General Sterling Price’s Missouri Expedition, which had caused virtually all Confederate operations in Arkansas to cease. The orders were written by Lieutenant D. C. Proctor, who served under Colonel Henry Thompson Douglas, the Trans-Mississippi Department’s chief engineer. They direct Major R. P. Rowley, chief engineer of the District of Arkansas, to return to the department’s headquarters at Shreveport, Louisiana, with Assistant Engineer Hamilton Pike. Rowley is also directed to send other engineers and draughtsmen to Lieutenant H. K. Hodges of the Topographical Engineers.

Colonel Douglas and Lieutenant Proctor are two of the officers who appear in what the Photographic History of the Civil War calls the last photograph of Confederate officers, taken in Shreveport in June 1865, following General E. Kirby Smith’s surrender of the Trans-Mississippi Department. (Photograph shown for illustration purposes only—it is not included with the documents.)

Both orders were written on letter sheets with the pre-printed heading, “Engineer Bureau / Trans-Mississippi Department.” They measure about 7 3/4” x 9 3/4”. Light toning. Both have residue from a mounting strip in the left margin. Creased at the original folds. The full transcripts appear below.

Engineer Bureau,
Trans-Mississippi Department
Shreveport  March 28, 1865

Major
In reply to your communication 26th inst., I have the honor to inclose “Special Order Asst. Engr. Pike to report to and accompany you”; and further to communicate the instructions of Col. Douglas directing that other Asst. Engrs. & Draughtsmen be ordered to report to Lt. H. K. Hodges, Chief Top’l. Engrs., Dist. Arks. for assignment. The Quarter Master will be left in charge of Engineer stores under the direction of Lt. Hodges. The couriers will not be needed, and you will order them to their commanders. Your clerk to Lt. Hodges.
I am, Major
Very Respectfully
Your Obt. Servt.
D. C. Proctor
Lt. & Asst. in Bu.

Maj. R. P. Rowley
Chf. Engr. Dist. Arks.

Engineer Bureau,
Trans-Mississippi Department
Shreveport  March 28, 1865

Special Order.

Asst. Engr. Hamilton Pike is hereby relieved from duty in the District of Arkansas, and will accompany Major Rowley to these Head Quarters, and report to him for assignment.
By Command of
Col. H. T. Douglas
D. C. Proctor
Lt. & Asst. in Bu.

Maj. R. P. Rowley
Chf. Engr. Dist. Arks.