Executive Mansion
Washington, January 26, 1863
Major General Hooker:
General,
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
a skillful 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 Gen. 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 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 that
the spirit which you have aided to infuse into the Army, of criticizing
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