Description:

FIELD-PRINTED PORT HUDSON SURRENDER ORDER BROADSIDE
An extremely rare field-printed circular or broadside, approx. 8 x 9 in., reproducing ‘General Orders No. 61', issued by Confederate Maj. Gen. Franklin Gardner's headquarters at Port Hudson, Louisiana on July 9, 1863, after a month-long siege by Union forces. The order reads, in full: ‘I. Nobly have the troops performed their duty in the defence of this position, continued from the 31st of May to the present date. The cheerfulness, bravery and zeal displayed by the troops during the hardships and suffering of this long siege have never been surpassed, and every man can feel the proud satisfaction that he has done his part in this heroic defense of Port Hudson. The place is surrendered at the last moment it is proper to hold it, and after a most gallant defence in several severe attacks, in all of which the enemy have been signally repulsed. Let all continue, during the duties that still remain to be performed, to show that cheerful obedience which has distinguished them as soldiers up to this time. II. The troops will be paraded at [3] o'clock for surrender in line of battle in the same order as they are now at the breastworks, with the heavy artillery on the right in the edge of the prairie in rear of the railroad depot; the left extending towards the town of Port Hudson. All officers and men will be in their places under arms.' The order is printed on rough brown ‘hardship' paper, is ragged at the edges, and shows ink bleeding around the type and misalignment of the text, all indicative of the crude field press used to produce it. Shows folds, with mounting remnants to the verso, still in very good condition overall. The Union attempt to take Port Hudson was the longest siege conducted by American forces in history, lasting 48 days from May 22 to July 9, 1863. It was the final engagement in the Union campaign to recapture the Mississippi River, coming long after the capture of New Orleans in May of 1862, and following the fall of Vicksburg on July 4, 1863. The siege cost the Union between 4,700 and 5,200 killed or wounded in battle, with an additional 4,000 men falling victim to disease and sunstroke. Confederate forces in turn suffered around 900 casualties from all causes.

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November 14, 2025 10:00 AM EST
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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