General Orders, No. 1 (Division of the Potomac)

July 27, 1861

On July 27, 1861, Major General George B. McClellan issued General Orders, No. 1 (Division of the Potomac) announcing that he was assuming command of the Division of the Potomac.

George B. McClellan, General, USA, Civil War, LOC

Major General George B. McClellan. Image Source: Library of Congress.

General Orders, No. 1

Headquarters Division of the Potomac
Washington, July 27, 1861

In accordance with General Order, No.47, of July 25, 1861, from the War Department, the undersigned hereby assumes command of the Division of the Potomac, comprising the Military Departments of Washington and Northeastern Virginia, Headquarters for the present at Washington.

The following named officers are announced upon the Division staff:

Brevet Major S. Williams, Assistant Adjutant General.
Major J. G. Barnard, Corps of Engineers.
Captain S. Van Vliet, Assistant Quartermaster.
Captain H. F. Clarke, Commissary of Subsistence.
Major W. F. Barry, 5th Artillery, Chief of Artillery.

Geo. B. McClellan,
Major General U.S. Army

Citation Information

The following information is provided for citations, including APA Style, Chicago Style, and MLA Style.

  • Article Title General Orders, No. 1 (Division of the Potomac)
  • Date July 27, 1861
  • Author
  • Keywords mcclellan
  • Website Name American History Central: The Encyclopedia of American History
  • Publisher American History Central
  • Producer R.Squared Communications, LLC
  • Date Published
  • Last Update January 9, 2025
  • Access Date October 10, 2026

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