Presidential Order Constitutional Neutral (+0.02)

Executive Order—Special Orders: 219

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Saturday, September 12, 1868

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1 min read (136 words)

Plain-English Translation & Framers' Constitutional Analysis

Early Statesman synthesis distilling legal jargon into practical meaning, statutory anchors, and structural constitutional impacts.

This executive order, signed by President Andrew Johnson on 1868-09-12, establishes federal administrative policy concerning "—Special Orders: 219." It is a direct, concise executive instruction delivering focused administrative or military commands to department leadership.

Constitutional Assessment: Scrutinized through Article II, Section 2, this action exercises the President's constitutional role as Commander in Chief. Early Framers recognized broad executive discretion in commanding military forces during conflict, provided it remains bounded by congressional declarations and respects civilian domestic courts.

Key Directives & Operative Actions

▪ Rousseau, brigadier-general, commanding Department of Louisiana, is hereby assigned to duty according to his brevet rank of major-general.

▪ Buchanan, colonel First United States Infantry, to duty according to his brevet rank of major-general, is hereby revoked, and he is hereby assigned to duty according to his brevet rank of brigadier-general, in order that he may command the District of Louisiana.

Constitutional & Societal Entities Impacted

🏛️ Armed Forces & Military Establishments 🏛️ Executive Departments & Federal Civil Servants

Total Words

136

892 characters

Estimated Read Time

1 min

@ 200 words / min

Flesch-Kincaid

11.5

Post-Grad reading level

Constitutional Polarity

+0.02

Framers' Alignment index

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Scholarly & Legal Citations

Exec. Order, "Executive Order—Special Orders: 219," Andrew Johnson (Sep 12, 1868). Available at https://executiveordersarchive.org/orders/app-executive-order-special-orders-219.

Official Document Text

Source: The American Presidency Project (UCSB Archive)

Original Source →

HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY, ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE 18. By direction of the President, Brevet Major-General L. H. Rousseau, brigadier-general, commanding Department of Louisiana, is hereby assigned to duty according to his brevet rank of major-general. This order to take effect when General Rousseau assumes command. 19. By direction of the President, paragraph 12 of Special Orders, No. 70, May 23, 1868, from this office, assigning Brevet Major-General R. C. Buchanan, colonel First United States Infantry, to duty according to his brevet rank of major-general, is hereby revoked, and he is hereby assigned to duty according to his brevet rank of brigadier-general, in order that he may command the District of Louisiana. This order to take effect when General Rousseau assumes command of the Department of Louisiana. By command of General Grant: J. C. KELTON, Assistant Adjutant-General .