bels, should they
return. I beg that this may be presented to the Secretary of War, and
his Excellency, the President."

Receiving no direct reply to this announcement, and goaded by the
pressure of fast-moving events, our General yielded to do what many of
us heartily condemn, by sending the following message:

SANDY HOOK, MD.,
June 27, 1863.

_Major-General H. W. Halleck, General-in-Chief_:

My original instructions require me to cover Harper's Ferry
and Washington. I have now imposed upon me, in addition, an
enemy in my front of more than my numbers. I beg to be
understood respectfully, but firmly, that I am unable to
comply with this condition, with the means at my disposal,
and earnestly request that I may at once be relieved from
the position I occupy.

JOSEPH HOOKER, _Major-General_.

To-day came the order relieving General Hooker, who issued the
following characteristic farewell address to the troops, many of whom
were taken, wholly by surprise, and all of them appeared greatly
afflicted:

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
Frederick, Md., June 28, 1863.

In conformity with the orders of the War Department, dated
June 27, 1863, I relinquish the command of the Army of the
Potomac. It is transferred to Major-General George G. Meade,
a brave and accomplished officer, who has nobly earned the
confidence and esteem of the army on many a well-fought
field. Impressed with the belief that, my usefulness as the
commander of the Army of the Potomac is impaired, I part
from it, yet not without the deepest emotions. The sorrow of
parting with the comrades of so many battles is relieved by
the conviction that the courage and devotion of this army
will never cease nor fail; that it will yield to my
successor, as it has to me, a willing and hearty support.
With the earnest prayer that the triumph of this army may
bring successes worthy of it and the nation, I bid it
farewell.

JOSEPH HOOKER, _Major-General_.

Such a change of _regime_ on the eve of a great battle, with the command
in the hands of one less known and trusted, at first seemed to threaten
disaster. But the modest, earnest words with which the new commander
framed his first order to the troops allayed all fears, renewed
confidence, and greatly attached to him the hearts of his su