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to the weak councils of his corps commanders.
This is a base calumny.
Four out of six of his corps commanders were positive and emphatic in their opposition to the withdrawal, and he did it contrary to their advice.
Hooker, however, I should judge, feels very secure, and does not seem concerned.
I have no idea what his next move will be. For my part it would seem that all projects based on pursuing this line of operations having been tried and failed, we should try some other route.
Yet the Administration is so wedded to this line that it will be difficult to get authority to change.
camp near Falmouth, Va., May 12, 1863.
I did not suppose you would credit the canard in the papers about our crossing and Lee's retreating.
This story, however, with minute details, I see is published in Forney's Press, an Administration organ, that must have known and did know better.
It has been circulated for some purpose, and is doubtless considered a great piece of strategy.
There is no doubt Hooker assured the President that he would soon cross again and repair all disaster, but I fear he finds the execution of this promise more difficult than the making.
The enemy have all returned to their old positions and they have been seen to-day busily engaged throwing up dirt and strengthening all the crossings by additional works, though one would suppose, from the work they had previously executed, there was no room for more.
To-day I had a visit from Governor Curtin.
The Governor is very much depressed, and I tried to put him in better spirits.
I cannot write you fully in relation to all the recent operations.
All I can say is that Hooker has disappointed the army and myself, in failing to show the nerve and coup d'oeil at the critical moment, which all had given him credit for before he was tried.
It is another proof of what a sense of responsibility will do to modify a man's character, and should be a warning to all of us to be very cautious how we criticise our neighbors, or predict what we would do ourselves if placed in similar circumstances.
My only fear is that Hooker, goaded by the attacks that are now made on him, may be induced to take some desperate step in the hope of retrieving his waning fortunes.
At the same time, as I have already told you, he was fully aware when he ordered the withdrawal of the army, that he was running the risk, and great risk, of self-sacrifice.
For he said he knew his personal interests were involved in advancing.
I believe he acted sincerely, and for what he considered the interests of the 