The sun., 1886-12-02
CHANGE OF COMMANDERS.
How the Army Of the Potomac Was Transferree
From Hooker to Meade e-Unueleome Honors-l
Midnight Visit.

How the Army Of the Potomac Was Transferrse
From Hooker to Meade-Unuelcome Honors-l
Midnight Visit.
From paper in the Century for No
vember we take this description
of the midnight visit of Col.
Hardie to the headquarters of the
Army OF the Potomac, near Frederick,
Md, to transfer the command from
Hooker to Meade.
"Meade was asleep, and when awak
ened was contounded by the sight oil
an officer from the war department
standing over him. He afterwards said
that IN ms semI-stupor his first thought
was that he was to be taken to Wa shlng
ton IN arrest, though no reason occur
red to him why he should be. When be
realized the state OF affairs he became
much agitated. protesting against be-
ing placed in command OF all army
which was looking toward Rey-
nolds as his successor if Hook.
er should be displaced; referring to
the personal friendship between Rey-
nolds and himself which would make
the presidents order an instrument
Of in Justice to both, urging the heavl-
hess Of the responsibility placed upon
him in presence OF the enemy and
when he was totally ignorant of the
positions aud dispositions OF the army
he was to take in charge, and strenu-
ously oDiecting that he should 60 to
Hookers headquarters to take over
the command without being sent
for by the commanding general, as
Mcclellan had sent for Burn
side and the latter tor Hooker.
1t was mental relief to the stern
c. etary Of war when Gen. Meade's
utterances were reported to him to
note that he had uttered no protest
against Hooker being relieved of the
command, even in what might almost
be called the presence OF the enemy.
This silence on the part of a man so
regardless OF himself, so regardful OF
others. Mr.. Stanton accepted as being
in itlf his complete vindication.
liter taking Col. Hardie's opin.
ion as d professional soldier that he
had no lawful discretion to vary from
the orders given, horses and an escort
were ordered out and the party pro-
ceeded to general headquarters some
miles distant Hardie undertook to
break the news to Hooker, who did
not need to be told anything after
seeing who his visitors were. 1t was
a bitter moment for all, for Hooker
had construed favorabiy the delay in
responding to his tender Of resigna-
tion and he conld not wholly mask
the revulsion OF feeling. Gen. Butter
field the chief OF staff between whom
and Gen. Meade much coldness exist
ed, was called in and the four officers
set themselves earnestly to work to
do the state some service by honestly
transferring the command and all
that could help to make it available
for good. The tension was somewhat
eased by Meade's insisting on being
regarded as guest at headquarters
while Gen. Hooker was present, and
by his requesting Gen. Butterield up-
on public grounds. not to exercise his
privilege of withdrawing with his chief;
but Hooker's chacrin and Meade's
oyer-strung nerves made the lengthy
but indispensable conference rather
when Reynolds heard the news he
dressed himself with scrupulous care
and handsomely attended rode to
headquarters to pay his respects to
the new commander. Meade, who
looked like a wagon-master in the
marching clothes he had hurriedly slip
ped on when awakened in the tent,
understood the motive of the act and
after the exchan.e OF salutations all
around he took Reynolds by the arm
and leading him aside told him how
surprising, imperative and unwelcome
were the orders he had received; how
much he would have preferred the
choice to have fallen on Reynolds; how
anxious he had been to see Reynolds
and tell him these things and how
helpless he should himself be did he
not teel that Reynolds would give him
the earnest support which he would
have given to Reynolds in n like situa-
tion. Reynolds answered that, in his
opinion, the command had fallen where
it belonged; that he was 9 ad that such
a weight OF responsibility had not
come upon him, and that Meade
might count upon the best support he
could give him. Meade then COM
municated to Reynolds all that
he had learned from Hooker and
Buttertield concerning the movements
and positions of the two armies, and
hastily concerted with him a plan of
cooperation which resulted in the
battle of Gettysburg upon ground
selected by Reynolds.
During the afternoon the consulta-
tions were ended and with the aid OF
the representative OF the war depart
ment the two generals drew up the
orders which were to announce ior-
ma!ly the change in command. In
the evening, standing in front of the
commanding generals tent, Gen.
Hooker took leave of the officers, sol
diers and civilians attached to head
quarters, and amid many God
bless you, general got into the spring
wagon that was to convey him and
Col. Hardie to the railroad station en-
route to Washington. When all was
ready for the start the throng about
the vehicle respectfully drew back as
Meade approached with uncovered
head. The two men took each other
by the hand, some words passed I've
tween them in low tone, the wagon
moved off and Meade walked silently
into the tent just vacated by his
predecessor.