Item No. 1824515

A very rare war-date document signed by Colonel James DeBerty Trudeau of the Louisiana Militia. General Leonidas Polk, commanding Confederate forces in western Kentucky from the strategic bluffs near Columbgus, had been anxious about another Union attack since engaging with forces under Ulysses S. Grant at the Battle of Belmont on November 7, 1861. In these orders written December 7 by Trudeau—then serving on Polk’s staff—Polk directs that Colonel Randall Gibson and his 13th Louisiana Infantry “take arms immediately and report as quick as possible to General Headquarters, with as little noise as possible.” Evidently concerned about an unnamed threat against Columbus, Polk indicates in his order that “the greatest dispatch and the utmost silence are enjoined.” Briefly docketed on the reverse.

Polk had just returned to duty on December 4. He had been injured November 11 when a large cannon nicknamed “Lady Polk” exploded during a demonstration, it being performed without the knowledge that another shell was already seated in the breach from the fighting at Belmont days earlier. Seven men were killed in the blast.

Colonel Trudeau signs the order with the rank of brigadier general. Polk, in fact, had written to Secretary of War Judah Benjamin that very same day to recommend Trudeau for a brigadier’s star (see OR Vol. VII). Thus, Trudeau began using the title. President Jefferson Davis, however, never acted upon the nomination and Trudeau remained a colonel. A few months later he served on the staff of General P.G.T. Beauregard during the Battle of Shiloh, where a severe wounded ended his service in the field.

The order was written on a partial sheet of paper measuring about 7 3/4” x 6 3/4”. Light foxing and toning. Creased at the original folds. There is a small tape repair on the reverse. The full transcript appears below.

Headquarters 1st Div. Western Dept.
Columbus, December 7th, 1861.

Special Orders No. 2.

I. Col. Gibson, Commdg. 13th Regt. Louisiana Volunteers, will cause his Regt. to take arms immediately and report as quick as possible to General Headquarters, with as little noise as possible.

II. The men will be provided with their overcoats and any rations they may have at hand.

III. The greatest dispatch and the utmost silence are enjoined.

By order of Major Genl. L. Polk
Comdg. Dept.
James Trudeau, Brig. Genl.