GENERAL ORDERS, 
No. 166. 
WAR DEPARTMENT, 
Adjutant General’s Oefice, 
Washington, Oct. 23, 1862. 
It appearing that large quantities of government property have been 
unlawfully disposed of by non-commissioned officers and soldiers, in 
violation of law and of the Army rules and regulations, it is therefore 
ordered : That all United States officers commanding posts shall seize 
all military clothing, blankets, shoes, arms, equipments, and other 
such supplies, which have been issued by the government to soldiers, 
and lost or disposed of by them. And it shall he incumbent on any 
person, not a soldier, who may have any such property in his posses- 
sion, to prove that he has lawfully acquired possession thereof. 
Such property, when seized, will be turned over to a United States 
Quartermaster, and his receipt in duplicate taken therefor, one of such 
receipts to be transmitted to the Quartermaster General. The seizure 
will also be reported to the Adjutant General. 
All Provost Marshals appointed by the Department will assist in 
recovering to the United States this description of public property. 
Commanding officers of companies are reminded that it is their 
duty not only to cause soldiers who are guilty of violating the law for- 
bidding the sale, destruction, or negligent loss of clothing, arms, and 
public property, to be charged on the Muster Rolls with all the articles 
improperly lost or disposed of, but also to enforce such other punish- 
ment as the nature of their offence may demand. 
By order of the Secretary of War: 
L. THOMAS, 
Adjutant General. 
Official : 
Assistant Adjutant General.