GENERAL ORDERS, 
No. 138. 
WAR DEPARTMENT, 
Adjutant General’s Office, 
Washington, May 18, 18fi3 
The following rules will he observed by Boards in the examination 
of officers applying to be commissioned in the Ordnance Department 
of the Army of a rank not higher than captain: 
1. Each applicant will be examined as to his capacity and fitness 
for the correct and efficient discharge of the duties of an Ordnance 
Officer, mental, physical, and moral. 
2. Under the first, he must be proficient in orthography and composi- 
tion, and must be able to give prompt and intelligent answers to any 
questions in relation to geography, physical and political; form of 
government; divisions of the branches of government, with the func- 
tions of each, and its sphere of action, whether separate and inde- 
pendent, or joint and co-operative; the laws and regulations, organic 
and directory, of the military service, particularly as regards the 
Ordnance Department; the laws and regulations governing and direct- 
ing the procurement, the reception, the issue, and the accountability 
for Ordnance, Ordnance stores and supplies; physical science, particu- 
larly in regard to the laws of chemical combination and analysis; of 
the strength of materials, and the nature and force of the stiains pro- 
duced by pressure of masses of earth on other material, or by the 
expansion of gases; of mechanical principles, and their combinations; 
of mathematical rules and formulae, and their practical application, 
and must have a fair knowledge of and skill in mechanical and archi- 
tectural drawing. 
3. Under the second, as regards age, present state of healthluluess, 
soundness of vision and hearing, freedom from organic disease, and 
capacity of bearing fatigue and exposure. 
4. Under the third, habits past and present, with full and distinct 
evidence of loyalty to the United States, and trustworthiness foi 
employment in their service. 
By order of the Secretary of War: 
E. D. TOWNSEND, 
Assistant Adjutant General.