American Historical Ephemera & Photography, Featuring Property from the James Milgram, M.D., Collection of Broadsides, Ephemeral Americana & Historical Documents

2 pages, 4 3/4 x 8 in., heavy staining and areas of loss, creased. On Head-Quarters, Army of the Potomac letterhead.

Major General Alfred Pleasonton orders Lieutenant Colonel Smith: "Instead of the former orders to Gen. Kilpatrick, - Direct him to move up to Kelly's ford on this side of the Rappahannock & cross in rear of Gen. French's force & post himself in communication on the left of that command. I will [send] these orders by an aid (sic) at once." 

Kirkpatrick complied with Pleasonton's directions, driving enemy cavalry from Stevensburg, Virginia, and staying in that position in Culpepper County until the next day. The Union victory at Rappahannock was a huge boon to the Federal forces, humiliating two of the Confederacy's most revered brigades.

Alfred Pleasonton (1824-1897) attended the United States Military Academy at West Point, graduating in 1844 and serving in the Mexican-American War. Pleasonton defended Washington, DC during the first part of the Civil War, and was promoted to major in February of 1862. He served in the Peninsula Campaign, and led a division of Cavalry Corps in the Battles of Antietam, Fredericksburg, and Chancellorsville. He was promoted to major general in June of 1863 and led the Cavalry Corps against J.E.B. Stuart at Brandy Station. A largely unsuccessful cavalry raid on Richmond resulted in Pleasonton's being moved west under the command of William Rosecrans, in which capacity he defeated General Sterling Price during the invasion of Missouri in October of 1864.