General Orders, No. 6 (Department of the Cumberland)

October 7, 1861

On October 7, 1861, General Winfield Scott issued General Orders No. 6, ordering Brigadier General Robert Anderson to relinquish command of the Department of the Cumberland to Brigadier General William T. Sherman.

Black and white photo of William T. Sherman.

On October 7, 1861, General Winfield Scott issued General Orders No. 6, ordering Brigadier General Robert Anderson to relinquish command of the Department of the Cumberland to Brigadier General William T. Sherman (pictured here). [Wikimedia Commons]

GENERAL ORDERS, NO. 6

Headquarters Department of the Cumberland,

Louisville, Ky., October 7, 1861.

The following telegraphic order was received yesterday at these headquarters:

Brigadier-General Anderson:

“To give you rest necessary to restoration of health, call Brigadier-General Sherman to command the Department of the Cumberland. Turn over to him your instructions, and report here in person as soon as you may, without retarding your recovery.

Washington, D. C, October 6, 1861.

Winfield Scott.

Citation Information

The following information is provided for citations.

  • Article Title General Orders, No. 6 (Department of the Cumberland)
  • Date October 7, 1861
  • Author
  • Keywords anderson, sherman, scott
  • Website Name American History Central
  • Access Date September 27, 2023
  • Publisher R.Squared Communications, LLC
  • Original Published Date
  • Date of Last Update May 5, 2022

General Orders, No. 6 (Department of the Cumberland) is Part of the Following on AHC