Civil War, Naval Human Captures Protocol, 1863

Civil War Union DocumentsNaval General Order Regarding "Human Captures"

April 6, 1863, Navy Department General Order No. 21, Human Captures on Board, Mint.
8.5" x 5.5", 1 page. Secretary of the Navy, Gideon Welles, orders: "In future, the prize lists required by law to be transmitted to the Navy Department will exhibit not only the name and rank, or rating, but also the rate of annual or monthly pay of each person borne on the list at the time of the capture to which the list refers. Commanders of vessels of the Navy will see that this order is carried into effect." An historical document that clearly shows the high number of men captured that such measures would need to take place.