Comte de Paris, History of the Civil War in America. Vol. 3.
Henry Coppee , LL.D., Ed.

---

[111] bank, and the bridges were already being dismantled. It was the most striking acknowledgment on the part of the Federals of their defeat. But, even granting that the circumstance or chance of a despatch having been more promptly forwarded might have kept Sedgwick on the right bank, the result on the morning of the 5th, considering the situation in which both his chief and himself found themselves, would have been absolutely the same, with the exception of a few additional victims. At the news that Sedgwick had recrossed the Rappahannock, Hooker understood at once that all the advantages of his position on the right side of the river were irrevocably lost; the provisions which the army had brought along with it one week previously were nearly exhausted, and it would have required several days to procure fresh supplies. Finally, sad to relate, a certain number of regiments whose term of service had expired the day before insisted upon being immediately discharged, and some of them having even refused to fight, it was deemed expedient to send them North. It was therefore necessary either to make a great effort early in the morning under the most unfavorable circumstances, or to go back to Falmouth. Hooker had the good sense and the courage to adopt the latter alternative, and at once caused a new line of intrenchments to be prepared near the river in order to cover the passage. But, not wishing to assume all the responsibility of this decision, he summoned his corps commanders to a council of war, in order that they might share it with him. He even adopted the singular notion of leaving them to deliberate among themselves. The various opinions expressed in this council of war have been the subject of numerous discussions and recriminations: it appears in evidence that the majority were in favor of retreat. But these details are of little consequence. It behooved the general-in-chief, who had conducted the whole campaign, to adopt the final resolution, such as the circumstances in which he had placed himself imposed upon him, and to act according to his judgment, or, if he did not feel able to do so, to transfer the command to some one else. Preparations for the retreat were made during the day of the 5th, the army being enveloped in a fog which had pervaded the atmosphere since the day previous. The trains and the artillery