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Cooper, Samuel, 1798-1876 [General Order No. 78 concerning war correspondence and rations]

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC05987.11 Author/Creator: Cooper, Samuel, 1798-1876 Place Written: Richmond, Virginia Type: Document Date: 11 October 1864 Pagination: 2 p. : Height: 20.2 cm, Width: 12.7 cm Order a Copy

Cooper was Confederate Adjutant and Inspector General. The printed order has 6 parts. First part directs all military officers how to create correspondence with the War Department. Says any failure to follow orders will be subject to a court martial. Says endorsements should be carefully made so recipients can understand its contents at a glance and leave room for subsequent endorsements. Says writers must sign and date correspondence with full rank before they send it in to the War Department. Second part says commissioned officers drawing rations must have a certificate that they are for their own use. Third part says if information is received that officers sold any rations, then they will not be allowed to draw for three days. Fourth part deals with rations and furloughed soldiers. Fifth part says hospitals are not to give furlough to soldiers who cannot show permission to be absent from their command. Sixth part says all communications to Secretary of War pertaining to conscriptions need to be addressed to the Superintendent of the Bureau of Conscription. Slight water damage.

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