WAR DEPARTMENT,
ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE,
Washington, August 26,
1861.
By the fifty-seventh article of the act of Congress,
entitled "An act for establishing rules and articles for the government of
the Armies of the United States, approved April 10, 1806," holding
correspondence with or giving intelligence to the enemy, either directly or
indirectly, is made punishable by death or such other punishment as shall be
ordered by the sentence of a court-martial. Public safety requires strict
enforcement of this article. It is therefore ordered that all correspondence
and communication, verbally or by writing, printing, or telegraphing,
respecting operations of the army or military movements on land or water, or
respecting the troops, camps, arsenals, intrenchments, or military affairs
within the several military districts, by which intelligence shall be, directly
or indirectly, given to the enemy, without the authority and sanction of the
general in command, be and the same are absolutely prohibited, and from and
after the date of this order persons violating the same will be proceeded
against under the fifty-seventh Article of War.
By order:
L. THOMAS.
Adjutant-General.
SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of
the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, vol.
41, p. 778
