Major-General Hooker:—
I have placed you at the head of the Army of the Potomac. Of course I have done this upon what appear to me to be sufficient reasons. And yet I think it best for you to know that there are some things in regard to which I am not quite satisfied with you. I believe you to be a brave and skilful soldier, which, of course, I like. I also believe you do not mix politics with your profession, in which you are right. You have confidence in yourself, which is a valuable, if not an indispensable, quality. You are ambitious, which, within reasonable bounds, does good rather than harm. But I think that, during General Burnside's command of the army, you have taken counsel of your ambition, and thwarted him as much as you could, in which you did a great wrong both to the country and to a most meritorious and honorable brother officer. I have heard, in such way as to believe it, of your recently saying that both the army and the government needed a dictator. Of course it was not for this, but in spite of it, that I have given you the command. Only those generals who gain successes can set up dictators. What I now ask of you is military success, and I will risk the dictatorship. The government will support you to the utmost of its ability, which is neither more nor less than it has done and will do for all commanders. I much fear the spirit you have aided to infuse into the army, of criticising their commander and withholding confidence from him, will now turn upon you. I shall assist you, as far as I can, to put it down. Neither you nor Napoleon, if he were alive again, could get any good out of an army while such a spirit prevails in it. And now, beware of rashness! beware of rashness! but, with energy and sleepless vigilance, go forward and give us victories.
Yours, very truly,
A. LINCOLN.
January 27th we received General Hooker's address to the army, also General Sumner's farewell, he having been relieved of the command of the right grand division at his own request. January 29th, our Major, James H. Barker, also at his own request, received an honorable discharge, and on the following day he left for his home in Massachusetts. He was a faithful officer, a man of sterling integrity, of upright life, and his departure we greatly regretted.
On Thursday, February 5th, we received orders for the Ninth Corps to proceed forthwith to Fortress Monroe, under General Smith. On the following day the Third Division took cars for Aquia Creek. On Sunday, February 8th, General Willcox assumed command of the First Division, General Burns having been ordered West. In the afternoon Colonel Ward, of the Fifteenth Massachusetts, who was in command of Camp Wool during the organization of the Thirty-sixth, visited our camp, and was cordially greeted by officers and men. February 10th, about noon, orders came for us to pack up and be ready to move immediately. At ten o'clock we marched to the station, the Thirty-sixth leading the brigade. The cars left at five o'clock, and at half-past six we were at Aquia Creek, where we embarked on steamer "South America." About eight o'clock the next morning we started down the Potomac; but, on account of a storm, the captain found it necessary to anchor in the middle of the afternoon at the mouth of the St. Mary's river. The next morning we started again; and at night, just at dark, we arrived off Fortress Monroe, and anchored. Early the next morning Colonel Bowman went ashore with the captain of the steamer, and reported our arrival. On their return, about ten o'clock, we weighed anchor, passed the steam-frigate "Minnesota" and the iron-clad "Nahant," and landed at Newport News, a few miles above. About the middle of the afternoon we went into camp about a mile and a half from the landing, and on a high bluff overlooking the James river. All of the regiments of the corps were furnished with A tents, and the camp throughout was the most perfect in its arrangements of any that we occupied during the war. The quarters of the Thirty-sixth were regarded by the men with especial pride.
Here the regiment remained for six weeks. During this time much attention was given to regimental, brigade, and division drills. About five hours each day were devoted to these exercises, and they were of great value in perfecting the discipline and adding to the efficiency of the regiment.
On Wednesday, February 18th, we learned that Captain Goodell, of Company C, had been commissioned major of the regiment, vice Barker, resigned. February 25th, General Dix, who was in command at Fortress Monroe, reviewed the Ninth Corps. The day was a beautiful one, and the review a most brilliant and successful affair. Colonel Bowman and Lieutenant-Colonel Norton both being absent, Major Goodell commanded the regiment,—his first appearance in his new rank.
On Sunday, March 1st, Chaplain Canfield preached on the character of Washington. It was our first religious service since New Year's. March 11th, with other regiments in our brigade, we attended a flag presentation at the quarters of the Eighth Michigan. Unexpectedly, on the evening of March 18th, we received orders to be in readiness to move with five days' cooked rations.
Great had been our enjoyment of the sunny side of a soldier's life which we experienced at this place; and it was not without regret that we received the order to leave the comfortable quarters on which so much time and labor had been expended. Many pleasant circumstances had combined to make this a most desirable encampment. In the first place, we were in convenient communication with our friends at home; some of them visited us, also the wives of several of the officers, and the camp had quite a home-like appearance. Then, too, we received, from time to time, many well-filled boxes, and numerous other tokens of regard which friends at home had prepared for us. A severe and protracted storm delayed our departure, and some of these boxes which had been anxiously awaited, and which we should have failed to receive had it not been for the delay, made the closing days of our camp-life at Newport News almost a continual feast. The scenes that followed the arrival of these boxes were often amusing as well as touching. For example: a day or two before our departure several boxes were received by a squad of about fifteen men from one town. At the opening of the boxes all were present, and as their contents were distributed these sun-browned and apparently rough men, in the gladness of their hearts, laughed, sung, and chatted like children. Impromptu speeches were made, abounding in the most extravagant praise of those who had joined in filling these richly-laden boxes. In the midst of this hilarity one proposed seriously that God should be acknowledged in this reception of these generous gifts. In a moment all heads were uncovered and bowed in reverent silence, while one of the number gave thanks to the Giver of all good for favors so kindly bestowed; and then, in tenderest words and choked utterance, commended to His protection and care, the loved ones at home who had been so thoughtful of them.
The storm having passed, we struck our tents on the afternoon of March 22d, and marched to the landing at Newport News. There seven of the companies embarked on the steamer "Kennebec," the remaining three companies,—B, C, K,—on the steamer "Mary Washington," with the Forty-fifth Pennsylvania.