Item No. 3898944

An interesting April 1863 Confederate order promoting Captain Richard Eggleston Wilbourn to Chief Signal Officer of Stonewall Jackson’s Second Corps, Army of Northern Virginia. Wilbourn was promoted by General Order No. 31 on April 21, just eleven days before he would be one of the staff officers by Jackson’s side while riding between the lines at Chancellorsville on May 2. Immediately following Jackson’s wounding, Wilbourn helped Dr. Hunter McGuire bind up the General’s wounds and escorted him from the field. The order reads:

Hd. Qr. 2nd Army Corps
April 21st 1863.

General Orders
No. 31

Capt. R. E. Wellbourne [sic] is announced as Chief Signal Officer 2nd Army Corps and will be obeyed and respected accordingly.

By order of
Lt. Genl Jackson
(signed) A. S. Pendleton
A.A.G.

The order itself was written out by a staff officer who signed for both Jackson and Sandie Pendleton, Jackon’s adjutant. The document measures about 7 3/4” x 5 1/4” and is in very good condition. Light wear to edges and corners. There is a small hole underneath “(signed).” Minor foxing and toning. Creased where originally folded.