July 2, 1863, The New York Herald
HEADQUARTERS, FIFTH ARMY CORPS, June 28, 1863.
THE PROMOTION OF GEN. MEADE — HIS SUCCESSOR.
The appointment of Gen. Meade to the command of the army places General Sykes in command of the Fifth corps. At eight A. M. General Meade, with his personal staff, left corps headquarters and proceeded at once to general headquarters, to enter upon his new and higher and more responsible duties. General Sykes assumed command of the corps at the same time. The whole thing was quietly done, but very few knowing or dreaming of the change.
THE SURPRISE PARTY TO GENERAL MEADE.
General Meade, on receiving notification of his appointment as head of the army, was evidently taken by surprise. To borrow an expressive political word, he has not figured for it. The powers that rule in Washington have seen fit to assign him the position. He enters on his new duties as a matter of course, and yet with modesty, and, I believe, full confidence in his abilities to rightly fill the place. This corps certainly has entire confidence in his capacity for any military position that can be given to him, and with this confidence, inspired by the able and brilliant manner in which he has led them in the engagements in which he has been their leader, their only regret is at losing him as their immediate commander.
GENERAL SYKES.
Happily General Meade’s mantle fell on the shoulders of one fitted to wear it. Every officer and soldier in the corps knows General Sykes. He has been identified with the corps ever since its organization. His military genius has shown itself in every battle in which the corps has been engaged. There is the entirest confidence in him. As yet — I am writing this at half-past ten o, to catch the eleven o’clock mail — he has made no change in his staff.
NECESSARY MILITARY CHANGES.
In the commands in General Sykes’ old division several changes necessarily occur through his promotion. Brigadier General Ayres at present commands the division, with corresponding changes in the brigade commanders.
OUR POSITION.
As it would be contraband to tell where we are now, where we came from and where we are going to, I observe reticence on these points. Our position has been greatly changed in three days. We have never made such marches before. A good deal of the time it has rained, and the roads have been exceedingly heavy; but there has been less straggling than on any previous march, and not a word of complaint on either of the marches or shortening the hours for sleep to less than Napoleon allowed himself in his busiest campaigns. Every one is thoroughly awake to the evolving crisis; every one believes that General Lee’s army must be whipped; every one sets himself down for a vigorous share in the whipping. It is believed on all hands that a great battle is imminent — the battle that will decide on which depends the crushing out the rebellion or total abandonment of hope for the future to our great Northern army.
BRIGADIER GENERAL WEBB.
A most meritorious promotion has just been made — that of Lieutenant Colonel Web, late Assistant Inspector General under General Meade and his Chief of Staff, to brigadier general. His commission reached him yesterday, with orders to report to the Second corps, where he will be assigned command of a brigade. His promotion is the reward of gallantry, and as unexpected as it was unsolicited. He is a West Point graduate, and at the commencement of the war was captain in the Seventh United States infantry.
THE CHANGE IN THE CHIEF COMMAND.
As I close my letter the news rapidly spreads of the change in the commanding head of the army, with varied comments, according to the diversity of prevailing opinions. Many liked General Hooker and had faith in him; most believe in the ability of General Meade to fill his place. It may come inopportunely, but I must say that General McClellan is the man the rank and file of the army want at their head. They cannot get over worshipping him, clamoring for him. Meantime different stories prevail as to the reason of the displacement of General Hooker. Some say it was at his own request, because he would not stand the dictation of General Halleck; others, that the state of his health compelled it, making it only temporary; and others, again, that the administration had lost confidence in his ability to command the army. The true facts, I opine, are more accurately known away from the army than in it. In the interim all wait patiently the development of new plans and new movements, although it is generally supposed that in the present condition of the army the plan already entered upon must be carried out — that the exigencies of present affairs admit no delay to mature new plans.