Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1864-04-01
Important Military Changes.
GENERAL Orders, No. us.

" Ah DFfAHTNENTs ADJ GtN- : OfIILEa ?
Warrington, March l3, 1864. (
First-Bv direction ~ the President Of the
United States the number Of army corps COM
prising the Army Of the Potomac will he reduced
10 three, viz the ID, 5th and 9th corps The
troops Of the other two corps, VIZ the lst and
Cd, will be temporarily re-organized and dstrib-
uted among the ID, 5th and 9th, by the COM
maniing general, who will determine what exist
ing organizations will retain their corps badges
and ether distinctive marks The staff officers
OF the corps which are temporarily broken up,
will be igned to vacancies in the other corps,
So far As such vacancies may exist. Those for
whom there are no vacancies Will cease to be
considered as officers Of the several stats or
army corps
sccond-NIai. Gen. G. K. Warren is assigned
by the President to the command Of the 9th
army corps.
Third-The following general officers are de-
tached from the Army Of the Potomac. and will
report for orders TO the Adjutant General Of the
Army-viz; Mai Gen. John Sykes, Maj. Gen.
W H. French, Maj Gen. John Newton, Brig.
Gen. J. B. Kenby, Brig. Gen. F. B. Spinols.
Brig. Gen. solomon Meredith.
By order of the Secretary Of War.
D. TOWNSEND.
Assistant Adiutant General.
II. The following arrangements are made to
carry out the provisions Of the foregoing order -
The Second, Fifth and Sixth army corps will be
consolidated into two divisions. The First and
Second divisions of the Third corps are trans
ferred to the Second corps, preserving their
badges and distinctive marks. The Third divis-
ion Of the Third corps is transferred permanent
lv TO the Sixth corps The three divisions
forming the FIRST corps are transferred to the
Fifth corps. preserving their badges and dis
/ tinctiye marks, and on joining the Fifth corps
Z tbey will be consolidated into two divisions. The
commanders of divisions transferred to the
{ Second Fifth and Sixth corps will at once re-
port TO the commanders Of those corps for IN
1 structions. Brigsdier General J. b. Carr will
/ reuort to Major General Hancock, commanding
/ the Second corps, and Brigader General H.
! Prince to Major General Sedgwick, commanding
the Sixth corps The Chief Of Artillery will
assign eight batteries each 10 the Second,
Fifth and Sixth corps, these batteries TO be
taken from those now with the corps. The
batteries with the several corps in excess Of the
/ above allowance, will Join the artillery reserve
The consolidation Of divisions called for in this
I order will be made by the corps commanders
/ concerned, who are authorized to re-arrange the
/ brcades Of their respective commands IN such
manner as they may think best for the service.
I The reas.ignrnent Of officers Of the staff depart
ments, consequent upon the reorganization Of
.
the chiefs of staff departments at these head
( Quarters. Special instructions will be given
hereafter with respect to staff officers Of the two
corps temporarily broken up.
iii. The Major General commanding avsls
himself Of the occasion TO say that, IN view OF
the reduced strength Of nearly all the regiments
serving in this army. the temporary reduction
of the army corps to three is a measure impera-
lively demanded by the best interests Of the
service, and that the reasons for attaching the
First and Third corps for the time beng to other
corps were in no respect founded upon any sup
posed inerority of those corps to the other corps
/ of this army. All the corps have equally prov
/ 81 their yslor on many fields, and all have equal
claims to the confidence of the government and
I of the country. The First and Third corps will
retain their badges and distinctive marks, and
the Major General commanding INDUCES the hope
that the ranks Of the army will be filled at an
early dav, so that those corps can again be re-
organized.
Bv command Of Mas. GES. MEADE
s WILLIAMS, A A. g.
II is stated. but not officially, from Wash
ington, that the disposition made OF the gen.
erals relieved, is as follows
Gen. Pleasanton is relieved from the com
D
report to Gen. Rosecrans.
Gen. Sykes Is ordered to report to 1en-
Curtis.
Gen. Newton is ordered to report 10 ten
Sherman.
Gen. French is ordered to report at Phila-
/ delphia.
, Gen. Meredith is ordered to report at Cairo'
Gems. Ricketts,, Gibbon and Wadswortn
are ordered to report TO Gen. Meade foi
assignments TO comnands.
Gen. Caldwell is relieved 20 enable him u
sit ON court martials.
Gen. Spinola is ordered 10 court martial
This consolidation of corps is spoken OF D.
|. Gen. Meade as "temporary" one but II
understood that it is to continue through tn
coming campaign at least. 1t is most I'm
portant change. and one which VIC doubt no
T will add very greatly to the efficiency OF th'
Army of the Potomac. The public alread.
has more than suspicion that the success
: of that army has been greatly hindered b
the quarrels and jcalousies of the ditieren
, corps commanders and If the whole wa
: known the Country would probably now b
: calling for the hanging instead Of the super
sedure. Of more than one OF them The ger
a erals placed in Command Of the three corps
: are reliable and capable officers. All are
the regular army,->eigwiek originally
: the 2d Artillery, Hancock of the 9th inlan
rr and Warren Of the Typographical s'
n gipeers. ten. Sedgwick may lack 'ome~h'
Re in e,rnestncs- and enterprise. hut ne i
old war-dog who has the reputation ol uoli
e his duty where he is sent, and "h' '''' d
!, way. moved and fought hi- corp we'll "e'
Hanoock j. a capable AMI gallant ''ii'''r' w
had command OF the left wing. Distinguish
himself greatly, and wss severely "'''"''
: at Gettysburgh. Gen. warren' has gro"
very rapidly in favor with the army anu