Sherman, William Tecumseh (1820-1891) Special field orders
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02137 Author/Creator: Sherman, William Tecumseh (1820-1891) Place Written: s.l. Type: Autograph document signed Date: 26 June 1864 Pagination: 3 p. ; 26 x 20 cm. Order a Copy
Signed "W.T.S." Apparently a draft of orders, unnumbered, with cross outs and additions. Concerns the strategy for rationing supplies at the start of Atlanta campaign. Also details procedures for dealing with deficiencies of supplies due to railroad service or other causes. Lists the men that should be counted for supplies (officers, men present for duty, sick, unarmed cooks, teamsters, etc.). States that "All other persons dependant on our supplies are useless mouths which we cannot afford to feed and should be sent north of Nashville." Written on printed stationary from the Military Division of the Mississippi, in the field.
Head-Quarters, Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, June 26, 1864.
Special Field Order:
No
I [struck: I] The question of supplies to an Army of this size is one of the greatest possible [issues of] importance and calls for a most rigid enumery. By comparing issues by the Commissary Dept. and the Reports of Army Commanders of "Effective Strength for duty" which embraces officers as well as men, it is found that a quantity of provisions is issued daily Equal to [struck: over] [inserted: from] fifty [inserted: to seventy five] percent over the "Effective Strength." This proportion is [inserted: Entirely] too large, [inserted: in our present situation] and Either the quantity must be reduced, [struck: or] [inserted: or] the number of Non Effectives be [struck: rendered] [inserted: brought] within reasonable limits [inserted: by sending servants and others to the rear] Twenty five per cent is deemed a [inserted: large and] reasonable limit, and the Chief Commissary of the Army in the Field, as well as of all Garrisons and detachments dependant on the Railroad south of Nashville will see that issues are limited to that figure. The Chief [2] Commissaries will be furnished [inserted & struck: an officer on every ten days] with Field reports from Superior Head Qrs. and will call attention to the proper Commanding officers when requisitions exceed the number of Men & officers for Duty with twenty five per cent added.
II. When from interruption to Railroad or any other Cause Supplies Cannot be had Equal to this standard then [struck: Issuing] Commissaries [inserted: will make issues as near as possible, for Each ten days in advance and] must scale these issues, so that all parts of the Army receive a fair proportion of [inserted: Each Article.] When deficiencies occur in the bread or Small rations the [struck: Chief] Commissaries may increase the allowance of fresh Beef [inserted: if on hand] and the Commanding general [struck: nearly approves][inserted: will approve] the abstract of issues made in Compliance with this [struck: Substitution] order of substitution.
III. The Effective Strength of the Brigade Division Corps or Army will be construed to Mean, officers & Men Present for Duty. Sick in quarters, Extra duty Men [inserted: that are] Armed and "In arrest or confinement."
Sick in hospital should unless there be a [3] prospect of Early recovery be sent to a Post in Rear.
Unarmed cooks, teamsters, pioneers and laborers are the only proper Non Effectives with the Army. All other persons dependant on our supplies are useless mouths which we Cannot afford to feed, and should be sent North of Nashville. Twenty five per cent is the Maximum allowance for th[struck: is][inserted: e] class of Non Effectives but useful labours specified, and Even these should be armed. the teamsters especially should have [struck: a] muskets in strong loops to their wagons within Easy reach, and Cooks also [struck: should] might be armed. All details for [inserted: actual duty] will be Made on the basis of "Effective Strength" and if on inspection it be found any commanding officer reports an "Effective Strength" greater than he Can immediately parade for Battle, his Report, rations, or requisitions for stores & provisions will be deemed a False Report under the Articles of War.
By Order &c
W. T. S.
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