J. G. HAMILTON,
Lt. Col. 1st Inf.,
Act. Chief of Staff.
Copies to Colonels Adams and Byron, commanders of artillery and engineers, and to staff; to division commander by wire.
The various parts of the field order, when assembled, appear as follows:
| Det. 21st Div. 12th Corps, |
| Field Orders: | Leavenworth, Kansas, |
| No. 22. | 9 Dec. 28, 8-15 p. m. |
| (Geological Survey Sheet.) | |
| Troops. | |
| (a) Independent Cavalry: Col. Adams. 1st & 2d Sqs. 1st Cav. (less 1 troop). | 1. The enemy’s cavalry patrols have been seen north of KICKAPOO. His infantry and artillery are reported at ATCHISON. |
| Our division is 8 miles south of LEAVENWORTH. |
| 2. This detachment will march tomorrow to KICKAPOO. |
| (b) Advance Guard: Col. Byron. 1st Inf. 1 Troop, 1st Cav. Btry. B, 5th F. A. Det. Amb. Co. No. 1. | 3. (a) The Independent Cavalry will start at 5-30 a. m., covering the movement. |
| (b) The advance guard will clear the northern exit of LEAVENWORTH at 6 a. m., marching by the ATCHISON CROSS-FRENCHMAN road. |
| (c) Main Body, in order of march: 1st Bn. 2d Inf. 1st Bn. 5th F. A. (less 1 btry). 1st Brig. (less 1st Inf. and 1st Bn. 2d Inf.). 4th Inf. Co. A, Engrs. (less det.). Amb. Co. No. 1 (less det.). 1st F. Hosp. | (c) The main body will follow the advance guard at 1,200 yards. |
| (d) The Signal troops will establish a line of information along the line of marchbetween the independent cavalry and LEAVENWORTH, one of the stations being at FRENCHMAN. |
| 4. The field train, escorted by one company 4th Infantry, will follow the main body as far as FRENCHMAN. |
| (d) Signal Troops: Lieut. Dash. 1 plat. Co. A. | 5. The detachment commander will be with the main body until 7 a. m., and thereafter with the advance guard. |
| By order of Brig.-Gen. Forse:
J. G. HAMILTON,
Lt. Col., 1st Inf.,
Acting Chief of Staff. |
Copies to Colonels Adams and Byron, commanders of artillery and engineers, and to staff; to division commander by wire. |
There are certain
Special Cautions
in regard to the writing of the field order.
1.—What is required in paragraph 3 of the Body is that the order be logical—coherent.[13]
2.—An order tells a subordinate what to do but not how to do it.
3.—Conjectures, expectations, reasons for measures adopted, and detailed instructions for a variety of possible events, do not inspire confidence, and should be avoided.
4.—As a rule, an affirmative form of expression is used. Such an order as: “The supply train will not accompany the division,” is defective, because the gist of the order depends upon the single word “not.” It is far better to say, “The supply train will remain at so-and-so until further orders.”