Summary

#1

General Order #11 was a directive issued by the Union Army in August 1863 that required civilians to evacuate certain areas. Under the effect of the order, civilians had to evacuate the area(s) under this order altogether or settle near Union outposts if they were loyal to the Union.

#2

General Order #11 was used to evacuate 4 counties in the state of Missouri in August of 1863. The order was issued by General Thomas Ewing Jr., who believed that issuing the order would make fighting confederate guerillas in Missouri easier.

#3

General Order #11 was used to remove the ability of Confederate guerrillas to gain supplies to fight the Union Army in the state of Missouri. Although a good plan on paper, the effectiveness of it was negative and it ended up applying the opposite effects of what the Union Army planned.

#4

The lasting effects of General Order #11 have persisted until this day, over 150 years later. While also negating the advantage the Union Army hoped for, it also permanently decreased the development of Missouri towns affected by the order compared to those not affected by it.

#5

General Order #11 was a good plan on paper, but a terrible plan in reality. It almost immediately backfired for the Union Army and caused the guerillas to fight harder and gain even more supplies than they previously had. Along with increasing the effectiveness of the guerillas, it permanently decreased the development of affected towns from the order being issued. In the long and short run, it was a complete failure for the Union.