The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1904-04-07
THE CHANCELLORsvILLE CAMPAIGN.


In an army composed of citizens of a
free country who have taken up arms
from patriotic motives in a war they con-
slider just there is perennial Spring OF
moral renovation. Such armies have con-
stantly exhibited an astonishing endurance,
and, possessing a bond of cohesion superior
to discipline, have shown their power to
Withstand shocks that would dislOcate the
structure of other military organizations.
- COHESION OF PATRIOTISM IN ARMIES.
= The Army of the Potomac was of this
kind. Driven hither and thither by con-
tinual Bullets of fortune: losing its strength
in unavailing efforts, changing its leaders,
and yet finding no deliverance; misunder-
stood and unappreciated by the people
whose battles it was fghting-it was not
Wonderful that it had lost in spirit. Yet.
Notwithstanding the untoward fortunes the
Army of the Potomac had suffered it could
hardly be said to be really demoralized. for
its heart was still in the war; it never
Tailed to respond to any demand made upon
It, and it was ever ready to renew its c0ur-
age at the first ray of hope.
r. ORDER ORGANIZED BY HOOKER.
! Such day-spring came with the appoint
ment of Gen. Hooker to the chief command,
end under his influence the tone of the
army underwent a change that would APP
pear astonishing, had not its elastic yitali-
fy been so often proved Hooker's meas
ures of reform were judicious: he cut away
the root of many evils; stopped deseftlon
and its causes did away with the nuisance
of the "Grand Division organization; IN
fused vitality through the staff and adj
ministratve service; gave distinctive
badges to the different corps I'D instituted
a system of furloughs; consolidated the
cavalry under able leaders. and soon en-
abed it not only to stand upon an equailty
with, but to assert its superiority over. the
Virginia horsemen of Stuart. (2)
j These things proved Gen. Hooker to be
an able administrative officer, but they dld
not prove him TO be a competent comman-
der for great army: and whatever an
ticipation might be formed touching this
had to be drawn from his previous career
as corps commander. in which he had
won the reputation of being what is called
a .daShng'' officer. and earned the sobri-
uuet of Fighting Joe" He had gained
great popularity both in the army ana
throughout the country-a result to whlcn
his fine soldierly appearance and frank
manners had much contributed: nor was
this diminished by habit he had of self
Insertion, which. however, proved little.
since if NAV be either the manifestation OF
impotent conceit. or the proud utterance
of conscious power. Hooker had shown
himself a pitiless critic of his predecessors
in command he was now to be tried In an
ordeal whence no man had yet escaped I'M
scatched-
PERFECTING THE WAR MACHINE.
|. The new commander judiciously resolved
to defer all grand military operations dur
ing the wet season. and the first three
months after he assumed command We're
we'll spent in rehabilitating the army. The
ranks were filled up by the return of alb.
sentees the discipline and instruction OF
the troops were theoretically continued.
and the close of April found the Army of
the Potomac in high degree of efficiency
in all arms.(3} 1t numbered 10000
ment4 Gnfantry and artillery. with
body of $4,000 wel-equipped cavalry. to1
and powerful artillery force of above 400
guns CO. 1t was divided into seven corps
the First Corps under Gen. Reynolds:
the Second under Gen. Couch; the Third
under Gen Sickles: the Fifth under Gen.
Meade the Sixth under Gen: Sedgwick:
/ the Eleventh under Gen. Howard; and the
!, Twelfth under Gen. Slocum.O
Lees force was greatly inferior to that
| Of his opponent : for relying on the strength
of the line of the Rappahannock, he had.
! in February, detached two divisions, I'M