{"product_id":"george-b-1862-mcclellan-civil-war-field-order-rush-s-lancers-to-fortress-monroe-august-20-1862","title":"George B. 1862 McClellan Civil War Field Order—Rush’s Lancers to Fortress Monroe, August 20, 1862","description":"\u003cp class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\"\u003eAn original Civil War military order signed \u003cstrong\u003e“G. B. McClellan, Maj. Genl.”\u003c\/strong\u003e at Fortress Monroe, Virginia, on August 20, 1862. Addressed to Major General Erasmus D. Keyes, commander of the IV Corps, McClellan directs:\u003cspan class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchor\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“Send all you have of Rushes Cavalry by land to Ft Monroe.”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe order was written during the critical withdrawal of McClellan’s Army of the Potomac from the Virginia Peninsula. Following the unsuccessful advance on Richmond and the Seven Days Battles, McClellan’s army was being transferred through Fortress Monroe to reinforce Union forces threatened by Robert E. Lee’s movement into northern Virginia.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“Rush’s Cavalry” was the celebrated \u003cstrong\u003e6th Pennsylvania Cavalry\u003c\/strong\u003e, commanded by Colonel Richard H. Rush and popularly known as \u003cstrong\u003eRush’s Lancers\u003c\/strong\u003e. Distinguished by their unusual nine-foot lances, the regiment became one of the most recognizable cavalry organizations in the Army of the Potomac.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe reverse retains an early docket identifying McClellan, the date, and the contents as a “Tel. Dispatch” ordering Rush’s Cavalry to be sent by land to Fortress Monroe.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA highly desirable McClellan wartime document connecting three important elements of the Civil War’s Eastern Theater: the Army of the Potomac, the evacuation of the Peninsula, and the famed Rush’s Lancers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe sheet exhibits original folds, expected age toning, minor marginal wear, scattered handling marks, and localized ink erosion in the docket area. The military order and McClellan’s signature remain clear and well preserved.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMore info...\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\"\u003eIt is addressed to \u003cstrong\u003eMajor General Erasmus D. Keyes\u003c\/strong\u003e, commander of the Union Army’s IV Corps, and orders the movement of \u003cstrong\u003eRush’s Cavalry\u003c\/strong\u003e, better known as \u003cstrong\u003eRush’s Lancers—the 6th Pennsylvania Cavalry\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003cspan class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchor\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eTranscription\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFortress Monroe 20th\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGenl Keyes\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSend all you have of\u003cbr\u003eRushes Cavalry by land\u003cbr\u003eto Ft Monroe\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eG. B. McClellan\u003cbr\u003eMaj. Genl.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe reverse bears an early docket:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFort Monroe\u003cbr\u003eAug 20\/62\u003cbr\u003eG. B. McClellan\u003cbr\u003eMaj. Genl.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTel. Dispatch\u003cbr\u003eorder, Rushes Cav[alry]\u003cbr\u003eto be sent by land\u003cbr\u003eto Ft Monroe\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHistorical significance\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe order was issued during the withdrawal of McClellan’s \u003cstrong\u003eArmy of the Potomac from the Virginia Peninsula\u003c\/strong\u003e. Following the failure of the Peninsula Campaign and the Seven Days Battles, the army was being transported from Harrison’s Landing through Fortress Monroe to reinforce Union forces confronting Robert E. Lee in northern Virginia.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMcClellan ordered General Keyes to send the available men of Rush’s Cavalry overland to Fortress Monroe as part of this hurried redeployment.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“Rush’s Cavalry” was the \u003cstrong\u003e6th Pennsylvania Cavalry\u003c\/strong\u003e, organized by Colonel Richard H. Rush. The regiment became famous as \u003cstrong\u003eRush’s Lancers\u003c\/strong\u003e because its soldiers initially carried nine-foot-long Austrian-style lances. It served with the Army of the Potomac in many of the principal campaigns of the Eastern Theater.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe document is especially desirable because it combines:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMcClellan’s wartime signature and rank\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA dated operational order from Fortress Monroe\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAssociation with General Erasmus D. Keyes\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDirect mention of the celebrated Rush’s Lancers\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eClear Peninsula Campaign and Army of the Potomac context\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe signature and text appear consistent with an authentic wartime McClellan order, although a definitive statement should depend upon examination in person or established provenance.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eCondition\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOverall \u003cstrong\u003egood Civil War manuscript condition\u003c\/strong\u003e. The sheet retains strong, readable writing and a bold McClellan signature. It has intersecting mailing or filing folds, scattered toning and handling marks, minor marginal irregularities, and some ink erosion or paper disturbance where the old docket was crossed out. Later cataloging notations appear on the reverse. No major loss affects the principal order or signature.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Signature Documents LLC","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52750421885210,"sku":null,"price":1450.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2221\/0931\/files\/IMG_2619.jpg?v=1787882003","url":"https:\/\/www.thearchiveauthority.com\/products\/george-b-1862-mcclellan-civil-war-field-order-rush-s-lancers-to-fortress-monroe-august-20-1862","provider":"Signature Documents LLC","version":"1.0","type":"link"}