General Orders, No. 34 (U.S. War Department

April 4, 1862

On April 4, 1862, the U.S. War Department issued General Orders, No. 34, creating the Department of the Shenandoah, under the command of Nathaniel P. Banks, and also defining George B. McClellan's command.

Portrait of Nathaniel P. Banks

On April 4, 1862, the U.S. War Department issued General Orders, No. 34, creating the Department of the Shenandoah, under the command of Nathaniel P. Banks, and also defining George B. McClellan’s command. [Wikimedia Commons]

General Orders, No. 34.

War Dep’t, Adjutant General’s Office,
Washington, April 4, 1862.

I. – That portion of Virginia and Maryland lying between the Mountain Department and the Blue Ridge, shall constitute a Military Department to be called the Department of the Shenandoah, and under the command of Major general Banks.

II. – That portion of Virginia east of the Blue Ridge and west of the Potomac and the Fredericksburg and Richmond Railroad, including the District of Columbia and the country between the Potomac and Patuxent, shall be under the command of Major General McDowell.

By Order of the Secretary of War:

L. THOMAS, Adjutant General.

Citation Information

The following information is provided for citations.

  • Article Title General Orders, No. 34 (U.S. War Department
  • Date April 4, 1862
  • Author
  • Keywords banks, mcclellan, Department of the Shenandoah
  • Website Name American History Central
  • Access Date October 3, 2023
  • Publisher R.Squared Communications, LLC
  • Original Published Date
  • Date of Last Update May 5, 2022

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