New-York tribune., 1909-05-30
Ang1o-Anerican Memories
XVII.
A CHAPTER OF uNwRrrTgN HISTORY

the Sd, near ChanceIlor's Inn. the porch was
struck by a cannon shot and beam fell on
Hooker's head. He was not disabled but the
working power of his brain at high pressure
night and day for some sixty hours may well
have been impaired One story may be set off
against the other
Rightly or wrongly, the Army of the Potomac
had lost confidence in General Hooker It had
also lost confidence in itself. 1t was a beaten
army and the soul had gone out of it On both
points. the evidence was overwhelming There
could be no doubt that must report to Mr. Cav
that the Generalization was complete When I
set myself to discover a remedy.-in other words
a possible successor to General Hooker,-I was
at a loss. General Sedgwicks officers and men
believed in him, but the army as a whole
thought he was in his right place as a corps
commander. Other names were mentioned and
put aside. There was no reason why officers
high in rank should talk freely to me. There
was every reason they should not talk freely to
the representative of The Tribune. if The Trib-
to publish an account of the state of
public opinion in the army with reference to
new commander l endeavored to make it clear
that all statements this matter would be
treated as confidential STILL as you may imag-
Inc. there difficulties.
If one name was named more often than n
other. It was General Meade's. l was urged by
number of officers,-mostly staff oficers-as
had been at Antietam in connection with Gen
eral Hooker-to see General Meade and lay be-
fore him what my friends declared to be the
wish Of the army. or of great part of the
army. They wanted him to succeed General
Hooker. II did not seem desirable to pledge my
self to anything, but I did see General Meade.
had met him but once before. He was just
mounting his horse, and proposed that We
should ride together. Explaining that. though
l came on no mission and with no authority. l
had been asked TO lay certain matters before
him. I gave him such an account I could of
what my friends thought the army wanted.
When he saw what was coming. he turned as
If to Interrupt 4 don't know that I ought to
listen to YOU" he said. But l asked him to
consider that I was n civilian, that l was in no
sense an ambassador. that I brought no pro-
posals that he was asked 10 take no step what
ever nor even TO say anything. but only to
hear what others thought. Upon that, I was
allowed TO go on. I said my say. From begin
ming to end General Meade listened with an
impassive face. He did not interrupt He never
asked question. He never made comment.
When I had finished I had not the least notion
what impression my narrative had made on him;
or whether it had made any impression. He
was A model of military discretion. Then we
goodby. rode away. and never again saw Gen
eral Meade. But Gettysburg was the vindca-
ton of my friends judgment
Thinking I had done all could, said goodby
to General Hooker, who asked no questions
went back to New York. made full oral re-
port TO Mr.. Gay, and asked him whether was
to write a statement for publication. He con-
sdered a while then said: mo, IL is case
where the truth do only harm 1t is not Tor
the public interest that the public should know
tho army, &c demoralized or know that Hooker
must go or know that no successor to him can
Vet he named. Write editorial keep 70 gen
eralties. and forget most Of what you have
told me" I obeyed orders. But the orders were
given forty-odd years ago. Such interest as
the matter has is now historical. and 50, Tor t'e
first time I make public a part. and only
part. Of what I learned in that month OF May
1863 on the banks Of the RaTpahannock
C. ". s.