February 1864- "a blow which has been profoundly considered"

Col. Isaac Jones Wistar

                                               HEADQUARTER WISTAR'S DIVISION,

                                                     Williamsburg, Va., February 6, 1864.

General Orders No. 4.

Soldiers: You are about to strike a great and glorious blow, a blow which has been profoundly considered and carefully prepared, but which must fall suddenly, silently, irresistibly.

Our country now asks all your courage, all your endurance. All our brothers-in-arms will envy you the opportunity. I ask you for a few days to encounter, with a soldier's readiness, hard fare, wintry bivouacs, and, perhaps, calm and steady righting.

Respond as you have always done, and I promise you, with God's blessing, a result which will bring glory to our flag, and honor to all who serve under its folds.

                                                                              ISAAC J. WISTAR,

                                                                       Brig. -Gen'' I Comdg.

Official : James E. Fleming,

Captain and A. D. C.

- Battery F, First Regiment Rhode Island Light Artillery in the Civil War, 1861-1865
 Philip Steven Chase: Snow & Farnham, Printers, 1892



 This is a cross posting from Thread the Rude Eye.