R. 8. Garnett to R. BE. LEE, Commander-in-Chief, May 15, 1861
GENERAL ORDERS, } HEADQUARTERS VIRGINIA FORCES,
May 15, 1861.
No. 17. Richmond, Va., May 15, 1861.
The following order from the governor and council (having been communicated to the commanding general of the Virginia forces, with his excellency’s instructions to carry it into effect) is published for the information and guidance of the Virginia troops, viz:
; In Councit, May 15, 1861. In order to secure a full and fair expression from the voters of the State as to the ordinance of secession, the council unanimously advise that polls be opened at the various places of encampment, according to the terms of the seventh section of the schedule accompanying the ordinance of secession, for the purpose of taking upon said ordinance the votes of the qualified voters of the State who are in the military service ; said votes to be held over, and, in case the military exigencies of the service of the State on the fourth Thursday in this month (the day appointed in the schedule for taking the vote throughout the State) be such as to make a vote by the army and navy, or any portion thereof,impracticable on that day, to be returned to the Convention for its action: Provided, however, That the vote herein recommended shall not supersede the vote on the fourth Thursday in the month (where it may be practicable to have it taken on’that day), the vote herein advised being precautionary. It is further advised that orders be at once issued to the commanding officers at the aforesaid encampments to have the polls opened and the vote taken as soon after the receipt of the order as practicable. From the minutes: : P, F. HOWARD, % Secretary of the Council. q
All officers commanding troops from the State of Virginia willaccordingly take measures, upon the receipt of this order, to take the vote of such troops, in conformity with the terms of the seventh section of the schedule accompanying the ordinance of secession.
By order of Major-General Lee:
R. 8. GARNETT,
Adjutant- General.
Culpeper Court-House, Va., May 15, 1861.
General R. BE. LEE, Commander-in-Chief :
Sir: I. In my dispatch, which I had the honor to make on yesterday,
I addressed myself to the consideration of the great importance of this
my central line of operations through Culpeper, Manassas, Alexandria,
&ec. I endeavored to impress upon the mind of the General-in-Chiet wil