The Campaign of Chancellorsville | Page 6

confidence
from him, will now turn upon you. I shall assist you as far as I can to
put it down. Neither you nor Napoleon, if he were alive again, could
get any good out of an army while such a spirit prevails in it. And now
beware of rashness. Beware of rashness, but with energy and sleepless
vigilance go forward, and give us victories.
Yours very truly, A. LINCOLN.
Hooker was appointed Jan. 26, 1863; and Burnside, with a few earnest
words, took leave of the army.
The troops received their new chief with a heartiness and confidence,
which, since McClellan's re-instatement, had not been equalled. Hooker
was to all the soul and embodiment of the growth and history of this
weather-beaten Army of the Potomac. And the salutary changes he at
once began to make,--for Hooker never lacked the power of
organization,--were accepted with alacrity; and a spirit of cheerful
willingness succeeded speedily to what had been almost a defiant
obedience.
The army was in a lamentably low state of efficiency. Politics mingled
with camp duties; and the disaffection of officers and men, coupled
with an entire lack of confidence in the ability of the Army of the
Potomac to accomplish any thing, were pronounced. Desertions
occurred at the rate of two hundred a day, facilitated by relatives, who
sent from home civilian clothing to soldiers at the front. Hooker states
that he found 2,922 officers, and 81,964 enlisted men, entered as absent
on the rolls of the army, a large proportion from causes unknown.
Sharp and efficient measures were at once adopted, which speedily
checked this alarming depletion of the ranks. Furloughs in reasonable
quantity were allowed to deserving men and a limited number of
officers. Work was found for the rank and file in drill and outpost duty
sufficient to prevent idle habits. The commissariat was closely watched,

and fresh rations more frequently issued, which much improved the
health of the army. The system of picket-duty was more thoroughly
developed, and so vigilantly carried out as to impress its importance
upon, as well as teach its details to, the troops.
The cavalry, hitherto distributed by regiments throughout the army,
was now consolidated into one corps, and from this time became a
valuable element in the service, for it daily grew in efficiency. And
such opportunities of doing field-work as a body were afforded it as
circumstances allowed.
The grand divisions of Burnside were abolished, and the army divided
into seven infantry corps.
The testimony of all general officers of the Army of the Potomac
concurs in awarding the highest praise to Hooker for the manner in
which he improved the condition of the troops during the three months
he was in command prior to Chancellorsville. Himself says before the
Committee on the Conduct of the War: "During the season of
preparation the army made rapid strides in discipline, instruction and
morale, and early in April was in a condition to inspire the highest
expectations." And Swinton well sums up: "Under Hooker's influence
the tone of the army underwent a change which would appear
astonishing had not its elastic vitality been so often proved."
On the 30th of April the Army of the Potomac, exclusive of
provost-guard, consisted of about a hundred and thirty thousand men
under the colors,--"for duty equipped," according to the morning
report,-- distributed among the several army corps as follows:--
{ Wadsworth, } 1st Corps, Gen. Reynolds. . { Robinson, } 16,908
{ Doubleday, }
{ Hancock, } 2d Corps, Gen. Couch . . { Gibbon, } 16,893 { French, }
{ Birney, } 3d Corps, Gen. Sickles . . { Berry, } 18,721 { Whipple, }
{ Griffin, } 5th Corps, Gen. Meade . . { Humphreys, } 15,724
{ Sykes, }
{ Brooks, } 6th Corps, Gen. Sedgwick. . { Howe, } 23,667 { Newton, }
{ Devens, } 11th Corps, Gen. Howard . . { Schurz, } 12,977
{ Steinwehr, }
12th Corps, Gen. Slocum . . { Williams, } 13,450 { Geary, }
{ Pleasonton, } Cavalry Corps, Gen. Stoneman. { Gregg, } 11,541
{ Averell, } { Buford, Reserve Brigade,}

Artillery, Gen. Hunt, about 400 guns. Artillery reserve 1,610 -------
Total . . . . . . . . . 131,491

IV.
THE ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA.
While the Army of the Potomac lay about Falmouth, awaiting orders to
move, Lee occupied the heights south of the Rappahannock, from
Banks's Ford above, to Port Royal (or Skenker's Neck) below
Fredericksburg, a line some fifteen miles in length as the crow flies.
The crests of the hills on which lay the Army of Northern Virginia were
from three-quarters of a mile to a mile and a half back from, and
substantially parallel to, the river. Rifle-pits commanded every
available crossing,