General Orders, No. 13 (Virginia Forces)

May 10, 1861

On May 10, 1861, Major General Robert E. Lee issued General Orders, No. 13, announcing that he had been ordered to assume the control of the forces of the Confederate States in Virginia.

Robert E. Lee, General, CSA, Civil War, LOC 04402

Major General Robert E. Lee. Image Source: Library of Congress.

GENERAL ORDERS, No. 13

HEADQUARTERS VIRGINIA FORCES,
Richmond Va., May
 10, 1861.

The following telegraphic dispatch has this day been received, and is published for the information of all concerned:

MONTGOMERY, ALA., May 10, 1861.

Maj. Gen R. E. LEE:

To prevent confusion, you will assume the control of the forces of the Confederate States in Virginia, and assign them to such duties as you may indicate, until further orders, for which this will be your authority.

L.P. WALKER,
Secretary of War
.

Officers of the Confederate States Army now serving in Virginia will accordingly report (by letter) to the adjutant-general of the Virginia forces their present stations, the nature of the orders under which they are acting, and, if in command of troops, their numbers and organization.

By command of Major-General Lee:

H.S. GARNETT,
Adjutant-General
.

Citation Information

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

  • Article Title General Orders, No. 13 (Virginia Forces)
  • Date May 10, 1861
  • Author
  • Keywords Robert E. Lee
  • Website Name American History Central: The Encyclopedia of American History
  • Publisher American History Central
  • Producer R.Squared Communications, LLC
  • Date Published
  • Last Update January 8, 2025
  • Access Date October 16, 2026

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