In 1862, a Union soldier found cigars wrapped in a piece of paper in a field of clover. [View all]

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In 1862, a Union soldier found cigars wrapped in a piece of paper in a field of clover. The paper was a copy of Confederate Gen. Lee's invasion orders. The Southern sloppiness helped the Union stop Lee at Antietam. It's unknown who lost the orders in the field, or if he was related to Pete Hegseth.

Key background on this true story:

The "Lost Order":
The document in question was Special Order 191, issued by Confederate General Robert E. Lee. It detailed his plans for the Maryland Campaign in 1862.

The Discovery:
On September 13, 1862, Union Corporal Barton W. Mitchell of the 27th Indiana Volunteer Infantry found a copy of the order in a field near Frederick, Maryland.
The order was wrapped around a few cigars.

The Significance:
This discovery provided Union General George McClellan with crucial intelligence about Lee's troop movements and intentions.
It played a significant role in the lead-up to the Battle of Antietam, one of the bloodiest single-day battles in American history.