Hooker's Headquarters.1 |
1 this was the appearance of Hooker's Headquarters when the writer sketched it, at the close of May, 1866. in the foreground, on the right, is seen a part of the fortifications cast up there, and the trees in front of the two buildings, under which was Casey's tent.
2 His order was--“General Hooker will return from his brilliant reconnoissance; we cannot afford to lose his division.”
3 McClellan's Report, page 118. The General gave as a reason for recalling Hooker, that the bad state of the roads would not warrant an attempt to march on Richmond, or hold a position so near it. It was. the opinion of several of his general officers that had Hooker been allowed to press on, with the supports at hand, he could have gone into Richmond, for the Confederates were disheartened by the loss of their chief, and demoralized by the events of the two preceding days. McClellan said on the same day, in a dispatch to the Secretary of War: “The morale of my troops is now such that I can venture much. I do not fear odds against me.”
4 Both titles are correct, and yet the use of them as synonyms in describing the battle would give an erroneous impression. In front of the place known as The Seven Pines, and at Fair Oaks Station-positions but a short distance apart — the heaviest engagements of the great battle were fought on the same day, and partly by the same troops.
5 Among the National officers killed or disabled in this battle were Colonel Bailey and Major Van Valkenburg, of the artillery, and Colonels Riker, Brown, Ripley, and Miller, of the infantry. Among the wounded were Generals Naglee, Devens, Howard, and Wessels, and Colonel Cross, of the Fifth New Hampshire.
6 This division, though composed in a large degree of raw troops, performed wonders of prowess, as we have seen; yet, in consequence of misinformation, it was exposed to severe public censure by McClellan's first dispatch to the Secretary of War, in which he said that it “gave way unaccountably and discreditably.” Convinced of his error, the General so informed the Secretary a few days afterward, and, in a degree, made reparation for the injury.
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