General Orders, No. 41 (U.S. War Department)

February 1, 1864

On February 1, 1864, the U.S. War Department issued General Orders, No. 41 announcing the Thanks of Congress extended to Nathaniel P. Banks, Ambrose E. Burnside, Joseph Hooker, George G. Meade, Oliver O. Howard, and the officers and soldiers of the Army of the Potomac.

Portrait of George G. Meade

On February 1, 1864, the U.S. War Department issued General Orders, No. 41 announcing the Thanks of Congress extended to Nathaniel P. Banks, Ambrose E. Burnside, Joseph Hooker, George G. Meade (pictured here), Oliver O. Howard, and the officers and soldiers of the Army of the Potomac. [Wikimedia Commons]

General Orders, No. 41

War Department, Adjutant General’s Office
Washington, February 1, 1864

The following Resolutions of the Senate and House of Representatives are published to the Army:

I.. Public Resolution — No. 7.

A RESOLUTION expressive of the thanks of Congress to Major General Nathaniel P. Banks, and the officers and soldiers under his command at Port Hudson.

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the thanks of Congress are hereby tendered to Major General Nathaniel P. Banks, and the officers and soldiers under his command, for the skill, courage, and endurance which compelled the surrender of Port Hudson, and thus removed the last obstruction to the free navigation of the Mississippi river.

Approved January 28, 1864

II.. Public Resolution — No. 8.

A RESOLUTION of thanks to Major General Ambrose E. Burnside, and the officers and men who fought under his command.

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives »f the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the thanks of Congress be, and they hereby are, presented to Major General Ambrose E. Burnside, and through him to the officers and men who have fought under his command, for their gallantry, good conduct, and soldier-like endurance.

Sec. 2. And be it further resolved, That the President of the United States be requested to cause the foregoing resolution to be communicated to Major General Burnside in such terms as he may deem best calculated to give effect thereto.

Approved January 28, 1864.

III.. Public Resolution — No. 9).

A RESOLUTION expressive of the thanks of Congress to Major General Joseph Hooker, Major General George G. Meade, Major General Oliver O. Howard, and the officers and soldiers of the Army of the Potomac.

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the gratitude of the American people, and the thanks of their representatives in Congress, are due, and are hereby tendered, to Major General Joseph Hooker, and the officers and soldiers of the Army of the Potomac, for the skill, energy, and endurance which first covered Washington and Baltimore from the meditated blow of the advancing and powerful army of rebels led by General Robert E. Lee; and to Major General George G. Meade, Major General Oliver O. Howard, and the officers and soldiers of that army, for the skill and heroic valor which, at Gettysburg, repulsed, defeated, and drove back, broken and dispirited, beyond the Rappahannock, the veteran army of the rebellion.

Approved January 28, 1864.

By order of the Secretary of War:

E. D. TOWNSEND,
Assistant Adjutant General.

Citation Information

The following information is provided for citations.

  • Article Title General Orders, No. 41 (U.S. War Department)
  • Date February 1, 1864
  • Author
  • Keywords Thanks of Congress, Nathaniel P. Banks, Ambrose E. Burnside, Joseph Hooker, George G. Meade, Oliver O. Howard, Army of the Potomac.
  • Website Name American History Central
  • Access Date October 1, 2023
  • Publisher R.Squared Communications, LLC
  • Original Published Date
  • Date of Last Update May 5, 2022

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