GENERAL ORDERS, } HEADQUARTERS, May 11, 1861
No. 9. Fredericksburg, Va., May 11, 1861.
I. In conformity with instructions from the ieadcamatens of vig forces, volunteer companies of infantry and riflemen will be received into the service of the State for the period of one year from April 25, 1861, from the counties of Richmond, Northumberland, and Lancaster, preparatory to instruction, at or near the court-houses of the respective counties, or such other points as may be designated; and also companies of volunteers, organized and armed as above specified, will be received in the counties of Essex and Middlesex for the same period of service, for instruction, in the vicinity of Tappahannock and Urbana. Companies of volunteer artillery and cavalry already organized, armed, and equipped according to law will be reported by their captains in person or by mail directly to these headquarters for special instructions.
If. The companies of volunteers presenting themselves are expressly enjoined to conform in every essential particular in their organization, armament, and equipment to the requirements stated in the instructions for mustering volunteers into service, from Inspector-General Baldwin, dated April 30, 1861, for which application may be made directly to the inspector-general of the State or to the inspector at these headquarters. As companies are reported organized by their captains at v these headquarters, or at such other points as may be designated, an 53 R R—VOL II
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inspector will be directed at an appointed time to muster them into the service of the State.
III. The policy of the State, as clearly indicated by the proclamation of the governor and the ordinances of the Convention, is to rely mainly on the organized and disciplined volunteer forces, in conjunction with the Provisional Army of Virginia. The readiness with which the people of this department have responded to the call for volunteers induces the hope that, save upon the emergency of actual invasion, the mnilitia will not be called out; but, should that contingency arise before precise instructions are communicated, full reliance will be placed on the bold hearts and stong arms of a united people to make each house a citadel, and every rock and tree positions of defense, thus efficiently aiding the organized forces, by communicating by telegraph and concentrating by railway at the endangered point in:such numbers as to sweep from our borders the insolent invaders. Called to command a border district of Virginia, now threatened with invasion and subjugation by a lawless tyranny, which, over a violated Constitution, would march to conquest and carnage, it is esteemed not less the post of honor than of danger. Brave and loyal men of that district which has given to freedom a Washington, Madison, Monroe, Lee, Mercer, and others, whom, both in camp. and council, the world has recognized as among the noblest defenders of constitutional liberty, you are called upon to rally for the defense of your homes and firesides; your wives and children ; the ashes of your mighty dead; the freedom purchased by your fathers’ blood, and the soil and sovereignty of your proud old Commonwealth. Give force and efficiency to your patriotic ardor by the aid of discipline and organization; substitute prudence and policy for passion, and by your devotion to liberty, regulated by law, vindicate before the nations your claim to exercise the inalienable right of self-government.
DANIEL RUGGLES, Colonel, Provisional Army, Commanding Virginia Forces.