4 1/4 x 7, imprint.

War Department
Adjutant General's Office
Washington, October 7, 1862

General Orders
No. 153

The Headquarters of Colonel William Hoffman, 3d Infantry, Commissary General of Prisoners, is transferred from Detroit, (Mich.) to Washington, D.C.

By Order Of The Secretary Of War:

L. THOMAS
Adjutant General

Light age toning and wear. The upper left corner of the paper is very slightly clipped.


Colonel William Hoffman
Commissary General of Prisoners

(1807-84) Born in New York, he was the son of Lieutenant Colonel William Hoffman, who served in the War of 1812. He graduated from West Point in 1829, and was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant, 6th U.S. Infantry. He served in garrison at Jefferson Barracks, Mo., 1829; on frontier duty at Ft. Leavenworth, Ks., 1829-1831; was in the Black Hawk War, 1832; at Ft. Leavenworth, Ks., 1833; and in garrison at Jefferson Barracks, Mo., 1834-1836. He was promoted to 1st Lieutenant, 6th U.S. Infantry, November 16, 1836. Hoffman was next on frontier duty at Ft. Jesup, La., 1836; at Camp Sabine, La., 1836; and in the Florida War, 1837-1842. He was promoted to Captain, 6th U.S. Infantry, February 1, 1838. He served on recruiting service, 1842; on Frontier Duty at Ft. Smith, Ar., 1843-1846; and in mustering volunteers into service, 1846 before becoming involved in the Mexican War. In Mexico, he was engaged in the march through Chihuahua, 1846; Siege of Vera Cruz, March 9-29, 1847; Battle of Cerro Gordo, April 17- 18, 1847; Skirmish at Amazoque, May 14, 1847; Capture of San Antonio, August 20, 1847; Battle of Contreras, August 19-20, 1847; and Battle of Churubusco, August 20, 1847. He was brevetted to Major, August 20, 1847, for gallant and meritorious conduct in the Battles of Contreras and Churubusco. Hoffman was next engaged in the Battle of Molino del Rey, September 8, 1847; storming of Chapultepec, September 13, 1847; and the assault and capture of Mexico City, September 13-14, 1847. He received a brevet to Lieutenant Colonel, September 8, 1847, for gallant and meritorious conduct in the Battle of Molino del Rey. Following the Mexican War, he was on recruiting duty, 1848-1849; frontier duty at Ft. Leavenworth, Ks., 1849-1850; and at the crossing of the Arkansas, Ks., 1851. He was promoted to Major, 5th U.S. Infantry, April 15, 1851. Hoffman was in garrison at Jefferson Barracks, Mo., 1852. Transferred to the 6th U.S. Infantry, February 20, 1852, he was at Newport Barracks, Ky., 1852-1854; on frontier duty at Ft. Laramie, Dakota Territory, 1854- 1855; on the Sioux Expedition, 1855; at Ft. Laramie, Dakota Territory, 1855-1857; on the Utah Expedition, 1858; on the March to California, 1858; on frontier duty in Mojave Country, 1858-1859; at Benicia, Ca., 1859-1860. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, 8th U.S. Infantry, October 17, 1860. He continued on frontier duty at San Antonio, Tx. where he was made a prisoner of war by the Texas Rebels, and not exchanged until August 27, 1862. He was promoted to Colonel, 3rd U.S. Infantry, April 25, 1862. Hoffman served as Commissary General of Prisoners, at Washington, D. C., to November 3, 1865. He was brevetted to Brigadier General, U. S. Army, October 7, 1864, for faithful and meritorious services during the Civil War, and brevetted to Major General, U. S. Army, March 13, 1865, for faithful, meritorious and distinguished services as Commissary General of Prisoners during the Civil War. Following the Civil War, Hoffman was in command of a Regiment at St. Louis, Mo., December 16, 1865-April 18, 1866; in command of a Regiment at Ft. Leavenworth, Ks., April 18, 1866-March 6, 1868; and Superintendent of the General Recruiting Service to May 1, 1870 when he retired. [Source: Aztec Club].