In addition to the reorganization of the infantry, the cavalry and the artillery arms, General Hooker gave an intelligent supervision to every branch and department of his army, and established important and salutary reforms. The management of the Commissary Department removed all occasions for complaint as to quality or issue of rations. He caused the admirable system of caring for the wounded established by Surgeon Charles O'Leary, Medical Director of the Sixth Corps, (at the request of Dr. Letterman, Medical Director,) which had first been put into operation at the battle of Crampton's Pass, September 14, 1862, to be extended throughout the army. The details of this system were explained in chapter XVI. General Kearny, when on the Chickahominy, had ordered his men to sew pieces of red flannel on their caps, that he might recognize them in battle, and this idea General Hooker, on the suggestion of his chief of staff, developed into a system of distinctive badges for each corps, and division. He sought by inspections, reviews, and commendatory orders to cultivate in the soldiers of the army a spirit of emulation, of self-appreciation, of self-confidence, which qualities are the most effective in promoting efficiency; and it was attained to such a degree, that he declared his was "the finest army on the planet." He selected an efficient staff, and to its chief, General Daniel Butterfield, a man of large experience in business affairs before entering the army, he was much indebted for the high administrative methods for which his term as commander was noted.

He owed his appointment to President Lincoln, and to him only did he confide his plans and purposes as to military operations. General Halleck, General-in-chief, took early occasion to commend the order dispensing with the grand divisions, and the consolidation of the cavalry into an independent corps, but the official records contain no communication

to him, or to the Secretary of War, except such as related to administrative affairs, which the regulations required should be sent to the War Department. General Hooker's visits to Washington were for the purpose of consulting with the President as to the movements of his army, and if, while there, he called upon the Secretary of War or on the Generalin-chief, the call was purely one of courtesy, or to transact business of an administrative character.

On April 5th, President Lincoln visited the army, and on the 7th, reviewed the Second, the Third, the Fifth and the Sixth Corps, and on the 8th, the First, the Eleventh, the Twelfth, and the Cavalry Corps. He returned to Washington on the 10th, and on the next day General Hooker sent to him his plan for the campaign which the President's visit was intended to have begun.

The chief provisions of the plan are reproduced as follows:

"I have concluded that I will have more chance of inflicting a heavier blow upon the enemy by turning his position to my right, to sever his connections with Richmond with my dragoon force and light batteries, which will cross the river above Rappahannock Bridge, go to Culpeper and Gordonsville, cross to Aquia Railroad. While the cavalry are moving I shall threaten the passage of the river at various points, and, after they have passed well to the enemy's rear, shall endeavor to effect the crossing."

The President returned his approval and, on the 12th, General Hooker directed General Stoneman, commanding the cavalry corps, to march on the morning of the 13th, with all his available force, except one brigade,

"for the purpose of turning the enemy's position on the left, and throwing your command between him and Richmond, isolating him from his supplies, checking his retreat, and inflicting on him every possible injury which will tend to his discomfort and defeat.

To destroy a small provost-guard of the enemy at Gordonsville, to push forward to the Aquia and Richmond Railroad and destroy the railroad bridges, trains, cars, depots of provisions, and lines of telegraphic communication. If the enemy should retire by Culpeper and Gordonsville, you will endeavor to hold your forces in his front, and harass him day and night on the march and in camp unceasingly. If you cannot cut off from his column large slices, then you will not fail to take small ones. Let your watchword be 'fight,' and let your orders be 'fight, fight, fight,' bearing in mind that time is as valuable as the rebel carcasses. You may rely upon the general being in connection with you before your supplies are exhausted. Bear in mind that celerity, audacity, and resolution are everything in war."

The Circular Orders to corps commanders will recall, to the survivors of our Civil War, the articles regarded as essential to the comfort and efficiency of a soldier when marching forth to battle, as well as acquaint the inexperienced civilian with the outfit of a soldier at the beginning of a campaign. It is easier to enumerate than it was tc carry them: musket; belts; cap-box; cartridge-box; ammunition, forty to sixty rounds; knapsack with blanket, extra shirt, socks, and drawers; haversack, with knife, fork, spoon, tin-plate; rations for three to eight days, each ration weighing three pounds; a canteen with water; tooth, hair and shoe brushes, (with blacking for latter,) not counting pipe and tobacco, (ninety per cent. of the soldiers used tobacco). All these things would weigh from thirty to forty per cent. of the weight of the boy or man who carried them. It was seldom they had good roads; oftener they marched where there were no roads, across fields, through forests and swamps, over fences and hills, fording streams, frequently traveling more miles on the day of a battle and going into action as fresh troops, than they would march in changing camp. Strange as it may seem, I never knew a soldier,

coming to the end of an all day's march, who would patiently undertake to answer the frequent inquiry of those vociferous patriots at home,-("who never could endure the sight of a rebel in arms,")-"Why don't the army move?" The heavy rains which fell after the issuance of these orders made the roads impassable and the streams unfordable. President Lincoln requested General Hooker to meet him and General Halleck at Aquia Creek on Sunday morning, the 19th of April for consultation. Before leaving, the President said to Generals Hooker and Couch: "I want to impress it upon you two gentlemen; in your next fight put in all of

It has been said the President left this conference with grave doubts as to the success of the campaign; these doubts were largely due to the absolute confidence expressed by General Hooker in the wisdom of his plans, and the positive assurance that he would certainly destroy or capture Lee's army. The President remembered that the brave promises of General Pope, on assuming command of the Army of Virginia, were not followed by effective actions, and he repeated to General Halleck the declaration of the old farmer, that "the hen is the wisest of all of the animal creation because she never cackles until the egg is laid."

I General Couch's "The Chancellorsville Campaign," in Battles and Leaders of the Civil War.

T

CHAPTER XXII

THE BATTLE OF CHANCELLORSVILLE

HE rations, forage and ammunition, which the commanders were directed by Circular Orders of April 13th to have in readiness, were drawn and kept on hand, but not until the 26th and 27th were orders issued naming the day and giving the details of the general movement. Under these, General Stoneman, with General Gregg's division and General Buford's reserve brigade of cavalry, crossed the Rappahannock above Kelly's Ford on the 29th, and proceeded south to cut the enemy's lines of communication and to inflict all the injuries possible under his instructions of the 12th of April. The Fifth Corps under Meade, the Eleventh Corps under Howard, and the Twelfth Corps under Slocum were marched "as near to Kelly's Ford as practicable without discovering themselves to the enemy,” on the afternoon of the 28th, and, during the night and the next morning, crossed the Rappahannock. General Pleasonton, having reported to General Slocum at Kelly's Ford, with his brigade of cavalry, was ordered to send a regiment to each corps commander. The Fifth Corps, preceded by the Eighth Pennsylvania cavalry, crossed the Rapidan at Ely's Ford, and marched to Chancellorsville, the leading division arriving at 11 A.M., the second at 1 P.M.; and the third, because of fatigue, halted two miles from Chancellorsville and arrived at 7 o'clock the next morning. The Eleventh Corps, preceded by the Seventeenth Pennsylvania cavalry, and the Twelfth Corps, preceded by the Sixth New