As Commander-in-chief, the President is empowered to issue orders to his command. Such orders, which freqently emanate from the Secretary of War or the Headquarters of the Army, are designated as General and Special Orders. The commanders of military divisions and departments make and publish their own General and Special Orders which have similar force and effect as the Orders of the President, though within a narrower range. General Orders cover a great variety of particulars connected with the discipline, employment, pay, subsistence, quartering, transportation and supply of the army. Many General Orders are not orders at all but a means of promulgating to the army new legislation of Congress, military regulations made or amended, appointments and promotions of officers, the opinions of military courts, or other information important to the service. Presidential actions upon the proceedings of general courts-martial were incorporated within General Orders until 1864. Since then, they have been separately issued and numbered under the name of General Court Martial Orders. Cf. Winthrop, W. Military law and precedents. Washington, 1920.

Statement of responsibility transposed from head of title.

Includes courts-martial.

Description based on: [1861], no. 1 (January 29, 1861); title from caption.

United States. Army > Regulations > Periodicals.

Courts-martial and courts of inquiry > United States > Periodicals.

United States > History > Civil War, 1861-1865 > Sources > Periodicals.