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1861 CIVIL WAR SPECIAL ORDER No. 339 — NEW MEXICO CAMPAIGN RECALLISSUED BY COMMAND OF MAJ. GEN. GEORGE B. MCCLELLANSIGNED BY ADJUTANT GENERAL LORENZO THOMASADDRESSED TO LIEUT. F. B. OGDEN, 1ST U.S. CAVALRYUP FOR sale / SALE: An exceptionally crisp, original December 27, 1861 Civil War manuscript Special Order (No. 339) issued from the Headquarters of the Army in Washington, D.C. This official War Department manuscript copy directly orders all Regular Army officers assigned to the New Mexico Territory back to their posts without delay—issued at the exact moment Union forces were scrambling to counter Confederate General Henry Hopkins Sibley’s invasion of the Southwest. 1. COMPLETE TRANSCRIPTIONHead Quarters of the Army,Adjutant General\'s Office,Washington, December 27, 1861. Special Orders,No. 339. 1. The officers belonging to companies of the Regular Army serving in New Mexico, who are now absent from their companies, will proceed without delay to join them, except such as are on permanent detached duty. By command of Maj. Gen. McClellan:L. ThomasAdjutant General. Lieut. G. B. Ogden, 1st Cavalry,Newport, R. I. 1. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE: THE BATTLE FOR NEW MEXICOIn late 1861, Confederate General Henry Hopkins Sibley launched the ambitious New Mexico Campaign, marching Texas Mounted Rifles west to capture the Colorado gold fields and secure Pacific ports for the Confederacy.This Special Order, issued just four days before the end of 1861, represents General-in-Chief George B. McClellan\'s urgent directive to recall all absent Regular Army cavalry and infantry commanders to the Southwest. Officers recalled under orders like this fought mere weeks later at the critical Battles of Valverde (Feb 1862) and Glorieta Pass (March 1862)—famously known as the \"Gettysburg of the West\"—where Union troops successfully repelled the Confederate advance and secured the American West. 1. KEY HISTORICAL PROFILES• MAJ. GEN. GEORGE B. McCLELLAN: Serving as General-in-Chief of all Union armies from November 1861 to March 1862. Orders issued under his direct command during this brief window are prized by Civil War historians. • ADJUTANT GENERAL LORENZO THOMAS: The chief administrative officer of the U.S. Army during the Civil War. Signed \"L. Thomas\" at the conclusion of the order. Thomas was instrumental in organizing military operations and later led the recruitment of African American troops (USCT) for the Union. • LIEUTENANT FREDERICK B. OGDEN: Officer in the prestigious 1st U.S. Cavalry (redesignated from the 1st Dragoon regiment in August 1861). At the time of this dispatch, Lieutenant Ogden was stationed or on temporary duty in Newport, Rhode Island, receiving his direct march orders to join the Southwestern campaign. 1. PHYSICAL CONDITION & AUTHENTICITY• Era: Early Civil War (December 1861)• Format: Official Headquarters clerical dispatch on authentic period laid/ruled paper• Ink: Dark iron gall ink text with distinct period red/brown calligraphic ink for the addressee• Dimensions: Full sheet (approx. 8\" x 10.5\")• Condition: Excellent antique condition. Bold, legible penmanship. Clean paper with expected light horizontal folding creases from original 1861 military transit. No severe ink erosion, heavy foxing, or structural tears. 1. PACKAGING & SHIPPINGThis historical document will be packaged with extreme care inside a rigid archival sleeve, backed with acid-free cardboard, and shipped via insured, tracked shipping to ensure safe arrival.
