Shortly Before The Maryland Campaign That Culminated With Antietam, A Confederate Officer Issues A Field Order To Annoy “The Enemy Gunboats Should They Attempt To Ascend The Appomattox, Taking Care That Your Battery Is Not Unnecessarily Exposed”

THOMAS S. MILL (1830-1897). Mills, a South Carolinian, was the assistant adjutant general to Confederate general Richard H. Anderson; he was wounded at Seven Pines, captured at Petersburg and exchanged shortly before the end of the war. CARY F. GRIMES (1829-1862). Grimes, a Virginian, commanded the Grimes Battery / Portsmouth Light Artillery of soldiers from Portsmouth, Virginia. He was killed at Antietam when he was shot while on his horse. ADS. 2pg. 7 ½” x 8 ½”. August 3, 1862. Head Qrs Andersons Division. An autograph document signed “Thos S. Mills A.A. Genl” to Captain Cary Grimes. He wrote: “Head Qrs Andersons Division Aug 3, 1862 Capt Grimes Comdg Battalion Artillery Genl Mahone commanding directs that you send immediately one of your Batteries to Weir bottom Church for the purpose of annoying the enemy Gunboats should they attempt to ascend the Appomattox, taking care that your battery is not unnecessarily exposed. Should you require a guide, call up on Cooper at Halfway House who will furnish one. I am least your obt svt Thos S Mills A.A. Genl”. On the back, Grimes wrote “Lieut Tilghman will proceed forthwith with his Battery, and execute the within order CF Grimes Capt Com Battery Field Aty”. Confederate General Richard H. Anderson fought in the Mexican-American War and the Civil War; he saw action at Spotsylvania Court House. He is best remembered for his defense of the “Bloody Lane” at Antietam. General William Mahone is best remembered for rallying Southern troops after the shock of the Battle of the Crater at Petersburg. Ware Bottom Church is between Richmond and Petersburg, and it just north of the Appomattox River. It was the site of a large May 1864 battle. The document is on blue-gray paper with folds, and the lower left corner was irregularly removed with no loss to the text. Confederate field orders are scarce.