April 30, 1863, The New York Herald
The Advance Movement of the Army of the Potomac.
WASHINGTON, April 29, 1863.
It was generally believed on Monday, and in some quarters positively asserted, that the Army of the Potomac had commenced moving, and a Washington paper of the next day openly proclaimed it as a fact. In this respect that newspaper had a decided advantage over the wires, But even if the intelligence had been telegraphed through loyal sources it would have been no news to the rebels; for a Fredericksburg correspondent of one of the Richmond paper writes his […..] is confirmed” that our […..] is withdrawing from the line of the Rappahannock.” The observation of newspaper men, ever since the war commenced, leads to the conclusion that nearly everything the Army of the Potomac does is promptly known to the rebels, and one occasion even the countersign was known to them before it was communicated to our own troops.
Review of General Sickles’’ Corps.
OUR ARMY CORRESPONDENCE.
HEADQUARTERS, THIRD ARMY CORPS,
ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, April, 27, 1863.
It was not an insignificant compliment which was paid to General Sickles’ corps by the General commanding this army in ordering it our for service today. The occasion was the visit of the venerable Secretary of State and a large party of distinguished civilians from Washington, including several foreign Ministers and secretaries of legation. General Hooker was desirous, very properly, of showing these gentlemen the composition of his army, and it is natural to suppose he would order out his finest corps for such a purpose. The Third corps was the one selected, and I venture to say that neither the Minister from Sweden or the representative of the Court of Prussia has ever seen an equal body of men who made a finer display than did the old Third corps of the Army of the Potomac today.
The reviewing party consisted of the following distinguished personages:–
Mr. Secretary Seward.
The Swedish Minister.
The Secretary of the Swedish Legation.
The Prussian Minister.
Baron Drapo.
Mr. Pell, Examiner of Patents.
Mr. French, First Auditor of the Treasury.
Mr. Fred. W. Seward, Assistant Secretary of State, and lady.
Miss Pell.
The Governor of Maine.
The Governor of New Jersey.
General Hooker and staff,
and a large body of civilians of lesser note.
Reviews have come to be very stale affairs in this army, and by those at all acquainted with the army are considered very much in the light of bores. Nevertheless, the review of today was an unusual affair, and passed off with not a little eclat. It was altogether an impromptu affair. General Sickles received no notification of it until a very late hour last evening, and many of the troops did not receive their orders to parade until this morning. But for all this the line was promptly formed at ten o’clock, the appointed time, at which hour the men were resting on their arms, awaiting the arrival of the reviewing party. The line was formed on the same ground on which the President held his grand review three weeks since. The line was formed in close order, the regiments presenting only a company front. The artillery formed in the rear, and the transportation in another part of the field. But notwithstanding this formation, which was designed to present as short a line as possible, the infantry alone formed a line a mile and a half in length, and, with their numerous ensigns and banners, together with the designating flags of the several brigades and divisions, made a very gay appearance.
Very soon after ten o’clock, the reviewing party appeared, escorted by a body of lancers. Secretary Seward and the Swedish secretary rode on horseback, with General Hooker and staff. The rest of the party were in two carriages, drawn by four horses each. Their approach to the lines was signalized by a salute from the artillery on the right, at which the entire line was called to a shoulder arms. The cavalcade rode up to the centre, at which point Gen. Sickles and his staff were stationed, when the entire command saluted by presenting arms.
It would be very tedious to follow the party as they galloped along the front and rear of the line, receiving cheer upon cheer from each regiment as they passed but I could but notice, and it was very commonly remarked, how careworn and aged the Secretary of State looked. He seemed to have grown twenty years older during the past two years. Yet he sat his horse as steadily as the best, and rode along with the gay cavalcade apparently as sprightly as any of them, chatting occasionally with those who rode near him, leaping his horse across ditches like a youthful devotee of the chase, acknowledging the cheers of the troops, and manifesting in the end as little fatigue as any in the party. In fact the ride seemed to do him good, stirring him up, and shaking off most effectually, for the moment, the heavy cares of state.
The marching of the troops, as they filed by in review was unsurpassed. They appeared in heavy marching order, or rather in the order in which they will march when ordered to advance, with knapsacks and haversacks packed according to present regulations and with their blankets, overcoats and canteens. With this heavy load they moved along with the precision of step and regularity of line of a single regiment parading down Broadway. Here was the veteran division of Hooker, which stood up through all the peninsular campaign, winning distinguished honors at Williamsburg, Fair Oaks, Malvern Hills and other memorable battles. And next appeared the division formerly led by the lamented Kearny, now commanded by Birney. And there were also the famous Berdan Sharpshooters, now swelled to a brigade. Thus for nearly an hour, as the solid column filed by , Gen. Hooker was enabled to entertain his foreign visitors with accounts of their exploits, dwelling only upon facts that had already become famous and found a place in the history of our country.
A noticeable feature in the review was the splendid appearance of the transportation of the corps, embracing over four hundred wagons, with a long line of pack mules. This department is under the immediate direction of Lieutenant Colonel Morford, Chief Quartermaster of the corps. Such displays are not usually very attractive, but in the present instance Col. Morford was the recipient of flattering praise from Secretary Seward and others for the fine condition in which the transportation appeared.
The display was eminently successful, and won from all beholders the highest encomiums. The General commanding took occasion to compliment General Sickles on the splendid appearance of his command, and the foreign visitors seemed carried away with surprise at seeing such soldierly proficiency in troops who, but so recently, had never heard the[…..] order arms.” They had a fine opportunity of judging of the military character of the American people, and it seemed to make profound impression upon their minds. When they shall recount the circumstance to their respective governments the relation they will make can but strengthen us as a military Power in the eyes of at least two European nations.
At the conclusion of the review, which lasted until nearly one o’clock, General Sickles and his staff, with his division commanders and their staffs, escorted the reviewing party to General Hookerheadquarters, where refreshments were served; after which the visitors took carriages for Falmouth station and thence the cars for Aquia creek and Washington.