Series: The Lost Orders

As Lee invaded the north he hoped to rally the support of the people of Maryland, resupply his exhausted army, and draw the Union army far beyond its supply depots and fortifications, where they might be dealt a more decisive blow. On September 9 he ordered his Chief of Staff to write and distribute Special Orders 191, which laid out his plans for splitting the army and the movements for the next three days. A lost copy of the order was left behind in a field near Frederick, MD wrapped in an env

• Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park

  Article 1: Taking the Battle North

  

  Lee was on the move North and bringing the battle closer to Union homes Read more

• Article 2: McClellan Gets A Hold of the Orders

  

  Special Orders 191 are lost and McClellan get a hold of them Read more

• Article 3: The Special Orders are Written

  

  Writing and distributing Special Orders 191 Read more

• Article 4: Confederate Plans

  

  How the Confederates were going to divide and conquer, while moving further north Read more

• Article 5: The Mystery

  

  The mystery behind Special Orders 191 Read more

• Monocacy National Battlefield

  Article 6: Special Orders 191 Today

  

  The legacy of Special Orders 191 Read more