The Washington herald., 1914-03-24

Fifty years ago today an order was
| issued by Gen. George G. Meade re-
organizing the Army Of the Potomac
into three corps OF approximately So'-
900 men each.
The issuance of this important order
synchronized with the arrival at army
headquarters of Lieut.. Gen. u. s. Grant,
the new commander Of all the Federal
forces, who took the field that morning.
coming by train from Washington to
Brandy Station. Va.
Grant had not originated the idea of
reorganizins the Army of the Potomac.
but IT had his full approval The plan
was Meade's. 1t was believed that the
army could be better handled in the
| field with fewer grand units than 1t
formerly had. Lees army had never
had more than three corps, and the
precision with which it was handled
doubtless had some influence upon the
minds of the Federal authorities.
The Army of the Potomac. as reor-
ganized by Gen. Joseph Hooker in Feb
ruary. 1863. had eight corps. The cam
paigns which followed, including that
of Charlottesville under Hooker and
that of Gettysburg under Meade, had
not developed the harmonious relations
between the corps commanders and
their chief that would result in the
greatest efficiency Of the army.
Since Gettysburg some of the gen.
erals who had fought under Meade in
the great battle had covetly attacked
him through the press and before a
committee OF Representatives at Wash
ington. Meade had been obliged to de-
fend his action at Gettysburg in refu-
tation of these attacks. which consti-
tuted in substance. IL not in form.
gross INSTRUMENTATION. This had pro-
liz q II
the army which was far from ben
eficisl.
The reorganization Of the army. how
ever. was not ordered for the pur-
pose of disciplining discontented Of
icers. but entirely in an effort on the
part Of Gen. Meade TO secure the best
possible organization for the coming
campaign against Lee.
Exit First and Third Corps.
The original eight corps that had
served under Hooker had been reduced
by one when the Ninth Corps. Burn
sides. followed it's old commander
West, in March, 1855, to the Depart
ment of Ohio.
Two other corps were taken out Of
the army in September. 1868. to re-en-
force Chattanooga. and were sent South
under Hooker. They had wintered in
the South. That left FIVE corps with
the army when the plan OF reorganiza-
tion was adopted.
Under the new arrangement the First
Army Corps. which under Gen. John F.
Reynolds opened the battle OF Gettysburg
Hts leader falling at its head. and the
Third Army Corps. which under Gen.
Daniel E. Sickles had been shattered in
the second day Of the great battle. lost
their individual identity. The First
Corps had been under the recent COM
mand OF Gen. John Newton. and the
Third Corps Inder Gen David B. Bar
ney. both Of whom had commanded divi-
sions in their respective corps at the bat
tie of Gettysburg.
The First and Third Divisions of the
corps were 20 be transferred to the Sec
ond Corps. AS each corps in the army
since February. 1863. had been designated
by a distinctive badge. the order pro-
vided that the troops thus transferred
should retain their badges.
The Third Division of the Third Corps
was transferred permanently to the
Sixth Corps, that Of Gen. John Sedgwick.
The three divisions forming the First
Corps were transferred to the Fifth
Corps.
Army Corps Leaders.
Under the new arrangement the three
corPs constituting the army were to be
commanded by three able soldiers.
Mai Gen. Winfield :. Hancock. who
now returned TO duty, having recovered
from the severe wound he received at
Getty ysburg. was retained in command of
the Second Corps. Hancock was by far
the most brilliant commander of troops
in the field in the Federal armies. He
was the ideal of the soldier. gifted with
a magnetic presence and superb personal
gallantry.
Command of the Fifth Corps was given
to Brig Gen. Governeur X. Warren, who
had won distinction at Gettysburg by
rushing troops nn his own responsibility
to Little Round Top. the key to the