Special Order 191

plain.house0188September 17, 1862, Battle of Antietam

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Community · Special Order 191

Summary

A set of orders written by Robert E. Lee that detailed the movements of his army, which were lost and subsequently found by Union soldiers.

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Physical object used to conceal the order
The order was famously found wrapped around three cigars, which is why it is sometimes referred to as the 'Cigar Order'.
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Recipient of the order whose copy was lost
The copy of the order found by Union soldiers was addressed to General D.H. Hill, who claimed he never received it.
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Operational context for the issuance of the order
The order was written to coordinate the complex maneuvers of Confederate forces during their 1862 invasion of Maryland.
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Primary military force commanded by the author of the order
Special Order 191 was the strategic movement plan for this specific Confederate army during the Maryland Campaign.
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Recipient of the captured intelligence
McClellan received the order from his scouts, which provided him with a rare and detailed look at his opponent's strategic intentions.
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critical intelligence failure
Lee's lost copy of this order, which detailed his troop movements, was discovered by Union soldiers, allowing McClellan to intercept Lee at Antietam.
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Immediate tactical consequence of the order's discovery
The intelligence gained from the order allowed Union forces to move faster, leading to this engagement as they attempted to force the mountain passes.
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Political consequence of the battle resulting from the order
The Union victory at Antietam, facilitated by the intelligence from the order, provided the political capital for Lincoln to issue the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation.
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intelligence document that influenced the battle's location
The discovery of this lost order by Union soldiers revealed Lee's plans, directly influencing the movement of troops toward Sharpsburg.
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Strategic impact of the document's capture
The discovery of Special Order 191 is considered one of the greatest intelligence coups in American military history, as it revealed Lee's entire plan.
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Officer who discovered the lost document
A corporal in his brigade found the order wrapped around three cigars in a field, leading to its discovery by Union forces.
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The discovery of the order influenced the battle.
The discovery of Lee's lost orders by Union troops directly influenced the tactical movements leading into the Battle of Antietam.

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Facts