When Lee began to move his army away from Fredericksburg, Hooker proposed crossing the Rappahannock and advancing on Richmond, but Lincoln directed him to instead make Lee’s army his objective. Hooker started moving his army north on June 13 along a route that kept it between Lee’s forces and Washington and began crossing the Potomac on June 25. By then, the President had become frustrated by Hooker’s requests for reinforcements and his inability to work with General-in-Chief Henry W. Halleck. When a dispute with Halleck led Hooker to submit his resignation, Lincoln accepted it and named Major General George G. Meade to replace him. Brigadier General Alpheus S. Williams, a former officer in the Michigan militia who commanded a division in the Twelfth Corps, wrote to his daughters about the change in command.
Frederick, Md., June 29, 1863.
My Dear Daughters:
I have a moment in the office of Dr. Steiner of the Sanitary Commission to tell you where I am. We left Leesburg on Friday last, the 26th inst., and marched across the river at Edwards Ferry on pontoons and encamped that night at the mouth of the Monocacy. The next day we marched to within a mile of Knoxville, which Rene will remember is within two miles of the Longbridges on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, where we generally took the railroad for Baltimore. The Saturday’s march was too tedious and fatiguing for me to go to the Longbridges. Besides, I did not get my brigades in camp until after dark. The whole line of march was crowded by baggage wagons and trains. I expected to march through Sandy Hook towards Williamsport but during the night was ordered to march my division towards Frederick. I reached this place yesterday afternoon, when a change of commanders was announced, Meade superceding Hooker.
It was intimated that we should remain at this place a day or so, but at 2.30 this morning I was awakened by a messenger ordering my division to march towards Taneytown at 5 A.M. I was camped in a fine grove and had a great desire for sleep after three days’ fatiguing marches, but there is no help under orders. Besides, we are filled with an idea that the Rebels are getting into Pennsylvania, and of course we are bound to go on, cost what of human flesh it may. For myself, I am rejoiced at the change of commanders. I have said very little in my letters, but enough for you to guess that I had no confidence in Hooker after Chancellorsville. I can say now, that if we had had a commander of even ordinary merit at that place the army of Jackson would have been annihilated. I cannot conceive of greater imbecility and weakness than characterized that campaign from the moment Hooker reached Chancellorsville and took command.
I am not much of a military genius, but if I could have commanded the Army of the Potomac at Chancellorsville I would have wagered my life on being in Richmond in ten days! All we are suffering now in shame and mortification and in the great risk of losing the whole fortunes of the war is the legitimate result of the weakness which characterized that campaign. Since then, and as the results of that campaign, our army has been reduced over 50,000 men, two-thirds by expiration of term of service of three-months’ and two-years’ troops, and yet not one soldier has been added to our forces. All winter, by the natural disintegration of armies, we have been running down at the rate of 20 per cent per annum; add to this 35 to 40,000 men discharged by expiration of service and 25,000 killed and wounded in battle and you have at least 85,000 men in this army less now than last December, and this, too, at the season when active field duties commence. I have in my division less than half the men I had in January last, when I reached Stafford Court House. I think my division is a fair sample of the Army of the Potomac.
You see we have a great task before us to preserve the Republic. It is reported that the Rebels are 110,000 strong in infantry, with 20,000 cavalry. I think the report is greatly exaggerated, but they have been all winter recruiting by conscription, while we have been all winter running down. Still, I don’t despair. On the contrary, now with a gentleman and a soldier in command I have renewed confidence that we shall at least do enough to preserve our honor and the safety of the Republic. But we run a fearful risk, because upon this small army everything depends. If we are badly defeated the Capital is gone and all our principal cities and our national honor. That this dilemma could have been suffered by men deputed to care for the safety of the Republic is indeed disheartening. That our northern people could sit down in search of the almighty dollar, when their all is depending upon this conflict, is indeed passing strange. If we fail in this war, be assured there is an end of northern prosperity. The Rebels in Baltimore and Washington will dictate terms and these terms will humiliate and destroy us. I would I had an archangel’s voice to appeal to the patriotism (if there be any left) in the North!
I sent you a sort of journal of a few days we were in Leesburg, excepting two or three of the last. Those were devoted to putting the forts in good condition for the Rebels and making several miles of rifle pits and breast works.
Love to all; my column has passed and I must follow. This is a hasty scrawl, but I know with you better than none. Keep writing me. I am full of faith and yet fearfully anxious. There must be a decisive battle, I think, soon, but you will hear of it before this reaches you, probably. Possibly the enemy may withdraw, and I am not without hope that we may strike them on a weak flank exposure.
Whatever may happen, be contented and resigned, and believe it is all for the best. In nations, as in individuals, we must believe there is a “Divinity which shapes our ends, rough hew them as we will.”
Your Affectionate Father,
A.S.W.