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back, and many other things of this kind tending to disparage Stoneman.
Only one officer (Reynolds) has as yet answered my circular letter, and he says: ‘Your opinion was decided and emphatic for an advance at daylight.’
The attempt to fasten on me the responsibility of withdrawing the army is one of the shallowest inventions that Hooker could have devised, which, if he ever brings to a public issue, must recoil on him.
There are many things I would like to tell you, but cannot at present; but I have no doubt in due time they will all be made public.
I have no doubt the Administration has determined to sustain Hooker, and to this I do not object, as I really believe he will do better next time, and still think there is a great deal of merit in him.
camp near Falmouth, Va., June 3, 1863.
George made his appearance this morning; he seems quite delighted with the change in his position, and particularly tickled at being made a captain.
Lieutenant Colonel Webb (son of James Watson Webb), who is on my staff, has just returned from a short leave in New York.
He says every one in New York is talking of the fight at Chancellorsville, and is well posted up in all its details.camp above Falmouth, June 6, 1863.
My last letter told you that my corps had been moved up the river, charged with the duty of guarding the several crossing places, and preventing, if possible, the passage of the river by the enemy.
General Hooker had received intelligence which induced him to believe Lee was about attempting a manoeuvre similar to the one we tried last month.
I have consequently been actively employed riding about, superintending the posting of troops, giving instructions, etc. As yet everything has been very quiet on our part of the line.
To-day, however, Hooker had reason to believe most of the enemy had left his immediate front on the heights back of Fredericksburg.
He accordingly undertook to throw a bridge across, where Franklin crossed last December.
About five o'clock yesterday evening we heard heavy firing, which lasted nearly two hours, which, I understand, was our batteries, endeavoring to drive the enemy from the rifle-pits they had dug to oppose the construction of the bridge.
I do not know whether we succeeded or not, as, being some miles away, I have no means of 