January 1863
Never Issued because President Lincoln did not approve it, Ambrose Burnside's General Order No. 8 proposed the wholesale dismissal of Union officers who Burnside considered hostile to his command.
On January 23, 1863, Major General Ambrose E. Burnside, commanding, Army of the Potomac, delivered General Order No. 8 (AOP) to President Lincoln at the White House. The order announced the wholesale dismissal of Union generals assigned to the Army of the Potomac that Burnside considered hostile to his leadership. During their meeting, Burnside also delivered an ultimatum to the President – approve the order or accept Burnside's resignation. Lincoln chose the latter. The President relieved Burnside of command of the Army of the Potomac, and replaced him with Joseph Hooker, Burnside's principal antagonist. Below is the text of Burnside's General Order No. 8, which was never issued because President Lincoln did not approve it.
"I. General Joseph Hooker, major-general of volunteers and brigadier-general U.S. Army, having been guilty of unjust and unnecessary criticisms of the actions of his superior officers, and of the authorities, and having, by the general tone of his conversation, endeavored to create distrust in the minds of officers who have associated with him, and having, by omissions and otherwise, made reports and statements which were calculated to create incorrect impressions, and for habitually speaking in disparaging terms of other officers, is hereby dismissed the service of the United States as a man unfit to hold an important commission during a crisis like the present, when so much patience, charity, confidence, consideration, and patriotism are due from every soldier in the field. This order is issued subject to the approval of the President of the United States.
"II. Brig. Gen. W. T. H. Brooks, commanding First Division, Sixth Army Corps, for complaining of the policy of the Government, and for using language tending to demoralize his command, is, subject to the approval of the President, dismissed from the military service of the United States.
"III. Brig. Gen. John Newton, commanding Third Division, Sixth Army Corps, and Brig. Gen. John Cochrane, commanding First Brigade, Third Division, Sixth Army Corps, for going to the President of the United States with criticisms upon the plans of their commanding officer, are, subject to the approval of the President, dismissed from the military service of the United States.
"IV. It being evident that the following-named officers can be of no further service to this army, they are hereby relieved from duty, and will report, in person, without delay, to the Adjutant-General, U.S. Army: Maj. Gen. W. B. Franklin, commanding left grand division; Maj. Gen. W. F. Smith, commanding Sixth Corps; Brig. Gen. Samuel D. Sturgis, commanding Second Division, Ninth Corps; Brig. Gen. Edward Ferrero, commanding Second Brigade, Second Division, Ninth Army Corps; Brig. Gen. John Cochrane, commanding First Brigade, Third Division, Sixth Corps; Lieut. Col. J. H. Taylor, assistant adjutant-general, right grand division.''
