“Stimulating and provocative. This is a fine piece of work.” — James M. McPherson, author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning Battle Cry of Freedom

The loss of Robert E. Lee’s Special Orders No. 191 is one of the Civil War’s enduring mysteries. In this meticulous study, Alexander Rossino presents a bold new interpretation of the evidence surrounding the orders’ creation, distribution, and loss outside Frederick, Maryland, in September 1862.

Rossino makes extensive use of primary sources to explore these subjects and other important questions related to the orders, including why General Lee thought his army could operate north of the Potomac until winter; why Lee found it necessary to seize the Federal garrison at Harpers Ferry; what Lee hoped to accomplish after capturing Harpers Ferry; where Corporal Barton Mitchell of the 27th Indiana found the Lost Orders; and if D. H. Hill or someone else was to blame for losing the orders. The result is a well-documented reassessment that sheds new light while challenging long-held assumptions.

Calamity at Frederick is the Confederate companion to The Tale Untwisted by Gene M. Thorp and Alexander Rossino, which told the story from the Union perspective.

• Cover
• Title
• Copyright
• Contents
• Abbreviations Used in the Text and Notes
• Preface
• Introduction
• Chapter 1: Saturday, September 6: Illusion vs. Reality
• Chapter 2: Sunday, September 7: General Lee Bides His Time
• Chapter 3: Monday, September 8: Unexpected Events Force Lee’s Hand
• Chapter 4: Tuesday, September 9: The Creation and Distribution of Special Orders No. 191
• Chapter 5: Where Did Barton Mitchell Find the Lost Orders?
• Chapter 6: Who Lost Lee’s Orders?
• Chapter 7: The Importance of the Lost Orders to Wrecking Confederate Operations in Maryland
• Conclusion
• Appendix A: Who Wrote the Lost Copy of Lee’s Special Orders No. 191?
• Appendix B: Comparing the Text of Special Orders No. 190 and No. 191
• Bibliography
• Acknowledgments
• About the Author