July 2, 1863, The New York Herald
FREDERICK, Md., June 28, 1863.
THE CHANGE OF COMMAND.
Major General George G. Meade this morning received orders from Washington to relieve General Hooker of the command of the Army of the Potomac, and has already entered upon the discharge of his duties as General-in-Chief. The order was brought out by Colonel Hardie, of the War Department, by a special train, which left Washington at eight o’clock last evening and arrived here at half-past one o’clock this morning. General Meade had previously been apprised of his selection for the command by telegraph. Colonel Hardie waited upon him immediately on his arrival here and delivered to him the official orders clothing him with authority.
THE SUPERSEDURE OF GENERAL HOOKER is variously received. To some it is a cause of great rejoicing, while others esteem it an injustice to a brave and able soldier. Indeed, I am forced to believe that, had General Hooker rid himself of certain obnoxious persons attached to his staff, his removal now would have been generally regretted. His Chief of Staff,
GENERAL BUTTERFIELD, has rendered himself disagreeable to a remarkable extent throughout the army, and the arbitrary course he has assumed, with the many petty annoyances he has found occasion to inflict upon those having business with the headquarters of the army, have conspired to create a wide spread dislike for his principal. General Hooker, besides being a gallant and competent soldier, has the reputation of being a courteous and affable gentleman, approachable to all and exceedingly benevolent and kind in his disposition and manners. Had his immediate representatives been gifted with the like good qualities there would now be no one to exult in his release from the command.
WHY HOOKER RESIGNED.
There are various theories afloat as to the immediate cause of the change in the command. There is no question that Hooker was relieved at his own request.
He has found it inconsistent with his honor as a soldier, longer to submit to the dictation of Halleck, and, therefore he has preferred the request to be relieved. It is known that the movements of the army in the present campaign have not conformed with his own ideas of policy and correct military principles. He has submitted plans of his own which he has not been permitted to follow, and has been compelled to protest against the plans that Halleck has marked out for him, and which he has been obliged to carry out, and in the result of which his own reputation as a soldier was staked.
ARRIVAL OF GENERAL SICKLES.
General Sickles and his personal staff arrived from Washington this morning by the same special train that brought out Colonel Hardee. General Sickles is yet in delicate health, and takes the field contrary to the advice of his physicians; but in these stirring and exciting times — times fraught with so much of peril to the country, when the fate of the republic seems suspended by a mere thread — he is averse to laying idle, even though by exertion he should greatly imperil his own life. He will at once resume command of the Third corps, relieving
GENERAL BIRNEY, who has so satisfactorily filled his place for the past four weeks. General Birney will return to the command of his old division, having fully demonstrated his ability as a corps commander, to which position he will doubtless be promoted at an early day.
GENERAL MEADE’S SUCCESSOR.
General Sykes succeeds to the command of the Fifth corps, made vacant by General Meade’s promotion.
THE REBELS are reported to be steadily pushing their way up the valley towards Harrisburg in large force. Lee’s headquarters were yesterday at Hagerstown. They crossed a very large force, supposed to be Longstreet’s corps, at Williamsport yesterday. There has been no fighting yet, but a general battle cannot be deferred beyond a day or two longer. Last night they occupied the towns of York and Hanover Junction with their advance, thus cutting off the direct communication via the Northern Central Railroad between Baltimore and Harrisburg.