ARMY OPERATIONS. 



direction. The movement of Gen. Hooker was 

 made by a road three miles north of the river, 

 and concealed from the view of the enemy's 

 pickets on the south bank. That night, at ten 

 o'clock, a storm from the northeast commenced 

 with high wind and torrents of rain. The march 

 began the next morning at daylight, but the 

 roads had become almost impassable. In every 

 gully, batteries, caissons, supply wagons, am- 

 bulances, and pontoons were mired. All day 

 there was a constant and exhausting struggle 

 of men, horses, and mules with the mud. On 

 "Wednesday night the wearied troops lay down 

 in their blankets. The storm still continued. 

 During the next day an effort was made to 

 concentrate on the high table land near Banks's 

 Ford. It now became too manifest that it 

 would be impossible to get the army through 

 the freshly cut roads to the river, so that the 

 fords could be reached. On Friday the storm 

 abated, but further progress was necessarily 

 suspended, and on the next day the movement 

 was abandoned, and the army returned to its 

 former quarters. 



On Monday, the 26th, Gen. Burnside issued 

 the following address, surrendering the com- 

 mand of the army to Gen. Hooker : 



HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, ? 

 CAMP NEAR FALMOUTR, January 26th, 1863. $ 



By direction of the President of the United States, 

 the Commanding General this day transfers the com- 

 mand of this army to Major-Gen. Joseph Hooker. 



The short time that he has directed your movements 

 has not been fruitful of victory or any considerable 

 advancement of our lines, but it has again demonstra- 

 ted an amount of courage, patience, and endurance that 

 under more favorable circumstances would have ac- 

 complished great results. 



Continue to exercise these virtues. Be true in your 

 devotion to your country and the principles you have 

 sworn to maintain. Give to the brave and skilful 

 general who has long been identified with ycur or- 

 ganization, and who is now to command you, your full 

 Jmd cordial support and cooperation, ana you will de- 

 serve success. 



In taking an affectionate leave of the entire army, 

 from which he separates with so much regret, he may 

 be pardoned if he bids an especial farewell to his long- 

 tried associates of the ninth corps. His prayers are 

 that God may be with you, and grant you continued 

 success until the rebellion is crushed. 



By command of Major-Gen. BURNSIDE. 



LEWIS RICHMOND, A. A. G. 



At his own request, Gen. Burnside was re- 

 lieved of his command, and the President im- 

 mediately conferred it upon Gen. Hooker. The 

 views under which this command had been ac- 

 cepted by Gen. Burnside were thus stated by 

 him in his testimony before a committee ap- 

 pointed by Congress to investigate the conduct 

 of the war : 



On the 7th or 8th of November, I received an order 

 from the President of the United States, directing me 

 to take command of the Army of the Potomac, and 

 also a copy of an order relieving Gen. McClellan from 

 that command. This order was conveyed to me by 

 Gen. Buckingham, who was attached to the War De- 

 partment. After getting over my surprise, the shock, 

 AC., I told Gen. Buckingham that it was a matter that 

 required very serious thought ; that I di3 not want the 

 command ; that it had been offered to me twice before, 



and I did not feel that I could take it ; I counselled 

 with two of my staff officers in regard to it, for, I should 

 think, an hour and a half. They urged upon me that 

 I had no right, as a soldier, to disobey the order, and 

 that I had already expressed to the Government my 

 unwillingness to take the command ; I told them what 

 my views were with reference to my ability to exercise 

 such a command, which views were those I had un- 

 reservedly expressed, that I was not competent to com- 

 mand such a large army as this ; I had said the same 

 over and over again to the President and Secretary of 

 War ; and also that if matters could be satisfactorily 

 arranged with Gen. McClellan, I thought he could 

 command the Army of the Potomac better than any 

 other general in it. 



On the same day when Gen. Burnside re- 

 tired, Gen. Hooker, on assuming the command, 

 issued the following address to the army : 



HEADQUARTERS, CAMP NEAR FALMOUTII, ) 

 January 26M, 1863. ( 



By direction of the President of the United States 

 the undersigned assumes command of the Army of the 

 Potomac. 



He enters upon the discharge of the duties imposed 

 by the trust with a just appreciation of their respon- 

 sibility. Since the formation of this aimy he has been 

 identified with its history ; he has shared with you its 

 glories and reverses, with no other desire than that 

 these relations might remain unchanged until its des- 

 tiny should be accomplished. 



In the record of your achievements there is much to 

 be proud of, and, with the blessing of God, we will 

 contribute something to the renown of our arms and 

 the success of our cause. To secure these ends your 

 commander will require the cheerful and zealous co- 

 operation of every officer and soldier in the army. In 

 equipment, intelligence, and valor the enemy is our 

 inferior. Let us never hesitate to give him battle 

 whenever we can find him. 



The undersigned only gives expression to the feel- 

 ings of this army when he conveys to our late com- 

 mander, Maj.-Gen. Burnside, the most cordial good 

 wishes for his future. 



My staff will be announced as soon as organized. 



JOSEPH HOOKER, 

 Maj.-Gen. Commanding Army of the Potomac. 



Gens. Sumner and Franklin were at the same 

 time relieved of the command of the right and 

 left divisions of the army. The following is 

 the official order of the President under which 

 these changes were made : 



HEADQUARTEES OF THE ARMT, ) 



WAR DEPARTMENT, ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE, v 



WASHINGTON, January 2Sth, 1663. j 



I. The President of the United States has directed : 



First. That Maj.-Gen. A. E. Burnside, at his own 

 request, be relieved from the command of the Army of 

 the Potomac. 



Second. That Maj.-Gen. E. V. Sumner, at his own 

 request, be relieved from duty in the Army of the Po- 

 tomac. 



Third. That Maj.-Gen. W. B. Franklin be relieved 

 from duty in the Army of the Potomac. 



Fourth. That Maj.-Gen. J. Hooker be assigned to the 

 command of the Army of the Potomac. 



The officers relieved as above will report in person 

 to the Adjutant-General of the Army. 



By order of the Secretary of War, 



E. D. TOWNSEND, 

 Assistant Adjutant-General. 



On the 26th of January, the Senate of the TJ. 

 S. Congress adopted the following resolution : 



Resolved, That the Committee on the Conduct of the 

 War be instructed to inquire whether Maj.-Gen. A. E. 

 Burnside has, since the battle of Fredericksburg, form- 

 ed any plans for the movement of the Army of the 



