1884.] w [Carson. 



grade of commissioned officers, men whose skill, courage and accomplish- 

 ments would grace any service." 



As Chief of Staff be was engaged in the action of Manassas Gap ; the 

 Rapidan operations ; the action on the Rappahannock and the combat of 

 Bristoe Station ; the operations of Mine Run, the battles of the Wilder- 

 ness, Spottsylvania, North Anna, Tolopotomj^ Cold Harbor, Petersburgh, 

 the Weldon Railroad, Peebles' Farm and the Boydton Plank Road.* 



During the fall and winter of 1868-'64, he thrice planned the surprise 

 and destruction of Lee, but his plans were frustrated partially by disobe- 

 dience of orders and partially by modifications to which he did not assent, 

 and the attempts were barren of results. As he has modestly refrained 

 from specific statements in his little book, " Gettysburg to the Rapidan," 

 the facts can be gathered only from sources not yet public. He served 

 his chief with absolute fidelity and staunch friendship, but his services, 

 though of great importance, could not be fully appreciated by the public. 

 A competent military critic has remarked that "what Von Moltke was to 

 the King of Prussia, afterwards Emperor of Germany, what Blumenthal 

 was to the Crown Prince, Humphreys was to Meade in many respects." 



On the 26th November, 18G4, he resigned his position as Chief of Staff, 

 to succeed Hancock in tlie command of the Second Corps, or, properly 

 speaking, the combined Second and Third Corps, a fusion of which he did 

 not approve as destructive of the cor])s de espnt of both.f 



In a private letter of General Meade, dated November 25, 1864, he says : 

 "Hancock leaves us to-morrow, he having a leave of absence, after 

 which he will be assigned to recruiting duty. Humphreys takes his 

 place. The change in my position has rendered it unnecessary to have 

 an officer of Humphreys' rank as Chief of Staff. I deemed it due to him 

 to suggest his name as Hancock's successor." 



On assuming his new command, he said : "It is natural that I should 

 feel some diffidence in succeeding to the command of so distinguished a 

 soldier as Major-General Hancock. I can only promise you that I shall 

 try to do my duty and preserve your reputation unsullied, relying upon 

 you to sustain me by that skill and courage which you have so conspicu- 

 ously displayed on so many fields." 



From that time forth, his career is marked by a series of brilliant suc- 

 cesses. He now had a fair opportunity to display his capabilities as a 

 general. 



The winter of 1864-'65 had been severe and the Confederate army suf- 

 fered much from want of food. Their supplies were brought by wagons 

 from Hicksford on the Weldon Railroad, forty miles south of Petersburgh. 

 To break up this route of supply, Humphreys was ordered to cooperate 

 with the Fifth Corps, which, in turn, was to support Gregg's cavalry of the 

 Army of the Potomac. On the 6th of February, Humphreys began his 

 operations by throwing a bridge across Hatcher's run. On the 6th, a se- 



* statement of serviceb, ut supra. 



t " Bird's-Eye View of the War," by Col. Dodge. 



