Junction. On 27th April, Lincoln, who knows something is going on, telegraphs at 3.30 P. M., "How does it look now?" Hooker replies: "I am not sufficiently advanced to give an opinion." On the 27th an order was sent to Couch, of the Second corps, to move two of his divisions to take post at United States ford, "the movement to be made quietly, and the officers and men to be restrained from exhibiting themselves." Troops to have eight days' rations. Bridge not to be laid at Banks' ford until the night of the 29th. On the 27th, the Fifth corps, Meade's, was moved to Hartwood church, and on the 28th to Kelly's ford. So much for the four corps and one division (Gibbons') that were moving up the river to cross and swing around on the Confederate left and rear. The remaining three corps—viz: First, Third and Sixth—were ordered to cross the river below Fredericksburg at the mouth of Deep run, "Franklin's old crossing," and at Pollock's mill creek—the First and Sixth to be in position to cross on or before 3.30 A. M. of the 29th, and the Third on or before 4.30 A. M. of same day. These three corps were to constitute the left wing of the army—were to hold and amuse General Lee and prevent him from observing the great flank movement of the right wing, and to pursue him, when manœuvred out of his entrenchments, by the approaching hosts on his left-rear.
The aggregate present for duty on 30th April, 1863, in the First corps was 17,130; in Third, 17,859; in Sixth, 22,425; total, 57,414; or taking those actually in line of battle, the present for duty equipped, and we have First corps, 14,728; Third, 16,491; Sixth, 21,182; total, 52,401. Hooker's original left wing was about equal in numbers then to General Lee's whole army, and his right wing, or marching column, of four infantry corps and one cavalry corps, would represent his numerical advantage in strength.
On the 30th, the Third corps was ordered to move by the shortest road on Stafford side to United States ford and Chancellorsville; and at 8 A. M. on that day, Sedgwick was ordered to make a demonstration on Hamilton's crossing, to see whether the Confederates still hugged their defences. On same day, Couch, of Second corps, was ordered to cross United States ford with two of his divisions—the third, Gibbon's, being left at Falmouth. On the night of the 28th, Howard's Eleventh corps crossed Kelly's ford, a force being put over below the ford in boats, which moved up and took possession of it. On the morning of the 29th, the Twelfth and Fifth crossed. The force then over the river moved in two columns for
