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same time relieving five other officers from duty. I was grossly maligned bythe press of that day, and it was generally believed by the people at the Norththat I had not faithfully supported General Burnside in this battle, and thatI was aiming thereby to supplant him. If these brave men who are sleeping’here beneath our feet could speak, they would bear testimony to my sincerityand fidelity to the cause we were battling for; and though I have sufferedin silence, and my reputation has been grossly aspersed, I have rested in thefirm belief that my conduct on that day would be justified by the American people.”
These Orders, No. 8, J were prepared on the 23d of January, 1863, and wouldhave been immediately .promulgated had not General Burnside been coun-seled first to lay them before President Lincoln, of whom he asked that theybe approved, as drawn, or that his own resignation be accepted. The Presi-dent refused to accept his resignation, but relieved him of the command ofthe Army of the Potomac; and so little effect had the order upon the mindof Mr. Lincoln that he decided to place Hooker , at whom the shaft was chieflyaimed, at the head of the army. And yet so strong a hold had this unjustopinion on the public mind that even the President was tinctured with iband in his remarkable letter of January 26th to General Hooker , informinghim of his appointment, he said:
“ I have placed you at the head of the Army of the Potomac. Of course I have done thisupon what appears to me to be sufficient reasons, and yet I think it best for you to know thatthere are some things in regard to which I am not quite satisfied with you. I believe you to bea brave and skillful soldier, which, of course, I like. I also believe you do not mix politics with
j Following is the text of the orders: “Head-quarters, Army of the Potomac, January 23d,1803. General Orders, No. 8. (1.) General
Joseph Hooker, major-general of volunteers andbrigadier-general, U. S. Army , having been guiltyof unjust and unnecessary criticisms of the ac-tions of his superior officers, and of the author-ities, and having, by the general tone of hisconversation, endeavored to create distrust in theminds of officers who have associated with him,and having, by omissions and otherwise, made re-ports and statements which were calculated tocreate incorrect impressions, and for habituallyspeaking in disparaging terms of other officers, ishereby dismissed the service of the United States as a man unfit to hold an important commissionduring a crisis like the present, when so muchpatience, charity, confidence, consideration, andpatriotism are due from every soldier in the field.This order is issued subject to the approval of thoPresident of the United States . (2.) Brigadier-General W. T. II. Brooks, commanding First Divis-ion, Sixth Army Corps, for complaining of the policyof the Government, and for using language tendingto demoralize his command, is, subject to the ap-proval of the President, dismissed from the mili-
tary service of the United States. (3.) Brigadi ® 1 'General John Newton , commanding Third Divisi° 0 ’Sixth Army Corps, and Brigadier-General Job 11Cochrane, commanding First Brigade, Third Di vlS "ion, Sixth Army Corps, for going to the Preside! 1of tho United States with criticisms upon the pl* llSof their commanding officer, aro, subject to tb eapproval of tho President, dismissed frommilitary service of tho United States . G 1 ) 1being evident that tho following-named offi cerS .can be of no further service to this army, they *f ehereby relieved from duty, and will report 115person, without delay, to tho Adjutant-Goner* ’U. S. Army: Major-General W. B. Franklbhcommanding Left Grand Division ; Major-Gene 11W. F. Smith , commanding Sixth Corps; Brig*dier-Genoral Samuel 1). Sturgis, command 11 ®Second Division, Ninth Corps; Brigadier-Gene 1Edward Ferroro, commanding Second Brig*" ’Second Division, Ninth Army Corps; Brigad ' 6 ^General John Cochrane, commanding First B 1 *gado, Third Division, Sixth Corps; Lieuten* 11Colonel .T. 11. Taylor, Assistant Adjutant-Gene 1 ’* 'Bight Grand Division. By command of MaJ^'General A. E. Burnside. Lewis Richmoi* >Assistant Adjutant-General.” &
In the “ Official Records” the above order Is accom-panied by the following note of explanation: “Tillsorder was not approved by the President, and was,therefore, never issued. It appeared in the public
prints, is referred to in the correspondence bet"’ .Ilalleek mnl Franklin, and in Rnrnside’s testim 0before the (iommitt.ee on tho Conduct, of the War.”
Editor - 1