Gen. Barnes's brigade assisted in taking up the bridges; and all were safely withdrawn by four P.M. on Wednesday, under superintendence of Major Spaulding of the engineer brigade.
All who participated in this retreat will remember the precarious position of the masses of troops, huddled together at the bridge-heads as in a cul-de-sac, during this eventful night, and the long-drawn breath of relief as the hours after dawn passed, and no further disposition to attack was manifested by Lee. This general was doubtless profoundly grateful that the Army of the Potomac should retire across the Rappahannock, and leave his troops to the hard-earned rest they needed so much more than ourselves; but little thanks are due to Hooker, who was, it seems, on the north side of the river during these critical moments, that the casualties of the campaign were not doubled by a final assault on the part of Lee, while we lay in this perilous situation, and the unmolested retreat turned into another passage of the Beresina. Providentially, the artillery of the Army of Northern Virginia had expended almost its last round of ammunition previous to this time.
But several hospitals of wounded, in care of a number of medical officers and stewards, were left behind, to be removed a few days later under a flag of truce.
The respective losses of the two armies are thus officially given:—
FEDERAL LOSS.
General Headquarters and Engineers... 9
First Corps ........ 299
Second Corps........ 1,923
Third Corps ........ 4,119
Fifth Corps ........ 700
Sixth Corps ........ 4,610
Eleventh Corps........ 2,412
Twelfth Corps........ 2,822
Pleasonton's Brigade...... 202
Cavalry Corps under Stoneman.... 189
———
17,285
CONFEDERATE LOSS.
Jackson's Corps,—
Early's division....... 851
A. P. Hill's division...... 2,583
Trimble's (Colston) division.... 1,868
D. H. Hill's (Rodes) division.... 2,178
Longstreet's Corps,— Anderson's division...... 1,180
McLaws's division ...... 1,379
Artillery......... 227
Cavalry......... 11
———
10,277
Prisoners......... 2,000
———
12,277
Both armies now returned to their ancient encampments, elation as general on one side as disappointment was profound upon the other.
Hooker says in his testimony before the Committee on the Conduct of the War: "I lost under those operations" (viz., the Chancellorsville campaign) "one piece artillery, I think five or six wagons, and one ambulance. Of course, many of the Eleventh Corps lost their arms and knapsacks."
The Confederates, however, claim to have captured nineteen thousand five hundred stand of small arms, seventeen colors, and much ammunition. And, while acknowledging a loss of eight guns, it is asserted by them that they captured thirteen.
The orders issued to the Army of the Potomac and the Army of Northern Virginia by their respective commanders, on the return of the forces to the shelter of their old camps, need no comment. They are characteristic to a degree.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
May 6, 1863.
GENERAL ORDERS NO. 49.