,
and excited jealousies towards the organizations from the disbanded
corps which took their old designations. This was the second time
troops I commanded had this experience. While in camp or on marches
an officer may become disliked by his men, but a great battle in
which he does his duty will always restore him to popularity. The
Third Corps badge was a diamond; the Sixth a Greek cross. The
Third Division for a time adhered to the _diamond_, but later, wore
both proudly, and finally rejoiced alone under the _Greek cross_.

The Army of the Potomac was for the first time reduced to three
corps. There was, however, belonging to this army, a large artillery
reserve, not attached to any corps, but under a chief, General
Henry J. Hunt; also a cavalry corps, consisting of three divisions
and a reserve brigade, which Major-General Philip H. Sheridan was
assigned (April 5, 1864) to command.(12) To each corps was attached
an artillery brigade. This army, like any other well-appointed
one, also had (each with a chief officer) its Commissary, Quartermaster,
Ordnance, and Medical Departments; also a Provost-Guard, consisting
of a brigade of infantry and a regiment of cavalry under a Provost
Marshal-General;(13) also Signal and Engineer Corps, and other
minor and somewhat independent organizations, such as body-guards
to commanding generals, pioneers, pontoniers, etc.

The Army of the Potomac, thus organized, commanded, and appointed,
with the new commander of all the armies of the Union with it, now
awaited good weather to enter upon the bloodiest campaign civilized
man has ever witnessed.

( 1) See sketch attached to Meade's report, _War Records_, vol.
xxix, Part I., p. 19.

( 2) _War Records_, vol. xxix., Part I., p. 738.

( 3) Birney's Report, _War Records_, vol. xxvii., Part I., p. 750.

( 4) He died of disease October 18, 1864.

( 5) _War Records_, vol. xxix., Part I., pp. 836-8.

( 6) _War Records_, vol. xxix., Part I., p. 19. (Sketch).

( 7) _War Records_, vol. xxix., Part I., p. 686.

( 8) _Battles and Leaders_, vol. iii., p. 241 (Col. Venable).

( 9) _War Records_, vol. xxix., Part I., p. 18.

(10) Botts was then on his farm--a Union man. He had been an old
line Whig, and was personally hostile to Jeff. Davis.

(11) _War Records_, vol. xxxiii., pp. 717, 722, 732, 745.

(12) _Ibid_., 798, 806.

(13) A badge for each fighting corps of the Union Army was adopted
(January, 1863), its c