102 



ARMY OPERATIONS. 



corps, and to report himself at Baltimore. On 

 the next day, Gen. Hooker issued the following 

 order : 



HEADQUARTERS ARMY or THK POTOMAC, > 

 FRCDBKICK, Hi>., June 23fA, 1863. J 



In conformity with the orders of the War Depart- 

 ment, dated June 27th, 1863, 1 relinquish the command 

 of the Army of the Potomac. It is transferred to Maj.- 

 Gen. George G. Meade, a brave and accomplished offi- 

 cer, who has nobly earned the confidence and esteem 

 of the army on many a well-fought field. Impressed 

 with the belief that my usefulness as the commander 

 of the Army of the Potomac is impaired, I part from it, 

 yet not without the deepest emotion. The sorrow of 

 parting with the comrades of so many battles is re- 

 lieved oy the conviction that the courage and devotion 

 of this army will never cease nor fail ; that it will yield 

 to my successor, as it has to me, a willing and hearty 

 support. With the earnest prayer that the triumph of 

 its arms may bring successes worthy of it and the na- 

 tion, I bid it farewell. 



JOSEPH HOOKER, Maj.-Gen. 



This order was followed by the subjoined ad- 

 dress from Gen. Meade : 



HKADQUABTKBS ARMY OF TUB POTOMAC, ? 

 June 28th, 1863. \ 



By direction of the President of the United States I 

 hereby assume command of the Army of the Potomac. 

 As a soldier, in obeying this order, an order totally 

 unexpected and unsolicited, I have no promises or 

 pledges to make. The country looks to this army to 

 relieve it from the devastation and disgrace of a hostile 

 invasion. Whatever fatigues and sacrifices we may be 

 called upon to undergo, let us have in view constantly 

 the magnitude of the interests involved, and let each 

 man determine to do his duty, leaving to an all-con- 

 trolling Providence the decision of the contest. It is 

 with just diffidence that I relieve, in the command of 

 this army, an eminent and accomplished soldier, whose 

 name must ever appear conspicuous in the history of 

 its achievements ; but I rely upon the hearty support 

 of my companions in arms to assist me in the dis- 

 charge of the duties of the important trust which has 

 been confided to me. 



GEORGE G. MEADE, Maj.-Gen. Commanding. 



This change was so entirely unexpected, both 

 by the public generally and the army, that 

 nothing could exceed the surprise which it oc- 

 casioned. The reasons for the change have not 

 yet been made known, except that Gen. Hooker 

 was relieved at his own request. The impres- 

 sion upon the army was thus described : 



The report of the change soon extended to the sev- 

 eral corps, and their commanders hastened to bid fare- 

 well to the General. By three o'clock a large number 

 of officers had assembled, and soon after Gen. Hooker 

 appeared in the avenue before his tent. Some time 

 was spent in social intercourse, and to the last all for- 

 malities were dispensed with. The parting was painful 

 to every one, particularly to those who had become en- 

 deared to the General by old associations. Gen. Hooker 

 was deeply grieved. He had been identified with the 

 Army or the Potomac, he said, since its organization, 

 and had hoped to continue with it to the end. It was 

 the best army of the country, worthy of the confidence 

 of the nation, and could not fail of success in the ap- 

 proaching struggle. He spoke of his successor as a 

 glorious soldier, and urged all to give him their earn- 

 est support. 



Gen. Meade was totally surprised by the order ap- 

 pointing him commander of the Army of the Potomac, 

 and deeply felt the weight of responsibility resting 

 upon him. His appointment gives universal satisfac- 

 tion, and all express a determination to extend their 

 heartiest cooperation. 



An order for the movement of the army was 



issued on the same day by Gen. Meade. The 

 sixth and eleventh corps, which were at Mid- 

 dletown, in the valley between the Catoctin 

 and the Blue Ridge, were moved east to Fred- 

 erick, and then directly up the Monocacy val- 

 ley, on the west side of the stream, through Me- 

 chanicsburg and Emmitsburg, toward Gettys- 

 burg. The second and fifth corps crossed the 

 Monocacy to the east, three miles above Fred- 

 erick, and moved northeast through Union 

 to Frizelburg, which is near the State line. 

 The third and twelfth corps took the Middle- 

 burg road. The sixth corps crossed the Mono/- 

 cacy, east of Frederick, and moved to West- 

 minster. These routes took the army into such 

 a position that it could cover Baltimore, or 

 cross the Susquehanna below Harrisburg, or 

 prevent any movement of the Confederates 

 toward "Washington. On Tuesday forenoon, 

 the first and eleventh corps were at Emmits- 

 burg ; the second and fifth at Frizelburg ; the 

 third and twelfth at Taneytown, and the sixth 

 at Westminster. The Federal force at Harper's 

 Ferry at this time was supposed to be about 

 eleven thousand. It was incorrectly represented 

 to Gen. Meade to be destitute of provisions, and 

 that he must immediately supply it, or order the 

 abandonment of the place. Accordingly, a few 

 hours after he assumed the command, he as- 

 sented to an order drawn up by an officer of 

 Gen. Hooker's staff, directing Gen. French to 

 send seven thousand men of the garrison to 

 Frederick, and with the remainder, estimated at 

 four thousand, to remove and escort the pub- 

 lic property to Washington. This order was 

 unknown in Washington till too late to be 

 countermanded. It was not entirely executed 

 when Gen. Meade ordered the re occupation of 

 that point. 



At this time, Gen. Lee's forces had with- 

 drawn from York and Carlisle, and from Cham- 

 bersburg, and were concentrating on Gettys- 

 burg. The corps of Gens. Longstreet and Hill, 

 forming the mam army, were moving eastward, 

 while Gen. Meade was moving northward. 

 This movement would bring Gen. Lee on the 

 flank of Gen. Meade's army. On Tuesday morn- 

 ing, Gen. Meade changed the line of march of 

 all his corps, except the first and eleventh, 

 toward Gettysburg. The first and eleventh 

 were then moving in that direction. At the 

 same time, Gen. Meade issued the following 

 address to his army : 



H*ADQifABT*BS ABMT or TH* POTOMAC, ) 

 June SQth, 1863. $ 



The Commanding General requests that previous to 

 the engagement soon expected with the enemy, corps 

 and all other commanding officers address their troops, 

 explaining to them the immense issues involved in the 

 struggle. The enemy is now on our soil. The whole 

 country looks anxiously to this army to deliver it from 

 the presence of the foe. Our failure to do so will leave 

 us no such welcome as the swelling of millions of hearts 

 with pride and joy at our success would give to every 

 soldier of the army. Homes, firesides, and domestic 

 altars are involved. The armv has fought well hereto- 

 fore. It is believed that it will fight more desperately 

 and bravely than ever, if it is addressed in fitting terms. 



