December 15, 1861 (Saturday): Hooker-The Iceman Cometh

Cockpit Point from the Potomac-Click to Enlarge

HEADQUARTERS HOOKER’S DIVISION,

Camp Baker, Lower Potomac, December 15, 1861.

Brig. Gen. S. WILLIAMS,

      Adjutant-General, Army of the Potomac:

   To-day the enemy have exposed a battery of two pieces on a bluff bank, nearly midway between Cockpit and Shipping Points.  It is directly across the river from the head of Stump Neck.  The battery is concealed from view by the forest in which it is planted, but from the reports of the pieces and the accuracy of fire it is the opinion that the reports of the pieces and the accuracy of fire it is the opinion that the guns were taken from what is called the Maryland field battery of 12-pounders, which is encamped in the vicinity.  We will know more of this in a day of two.  The river is narrower at this point by a quarter of a mile than at Shipping Point, but as the channel hugs our shore a little closer than at Budd’s Ferry, the difference of range cannot be material.  I am not yet prepared to say that it will add to the annoyance of vessels navigating the river.

   I desire to call the attention of the Major-General Commanding to the hazards of my position from the closing of the river by ice.  From the present time until the 1^st of March the navigation is liable to be interrupted from this cause, and in 1855 it was continuously suspended for a period of six weeks.  It is not an unusual occurrence for the Potomac to be frozen over to its mouth.  This will prevent supplies reaching us either from Washington or Baltimore.

   I have not visited Liverpool Point for several days, but learn that our mechanics are making good progress with our store-house.

   Very respectfully, &c,

                                                                                    JOSEPH HOOKER,

                                                                        Brigadier-General, Commanding Division.

Official Records, Series I., Vol. 5, Part 1, Page 687.

The Potomac rarely freezes over to the mouth, at least for the past 30 years, but portions still do.  The battery at Cockpit Point was built on a bluff 75 feet above the river.  The Confederate blockade of the Potomac successfully cut the capital off from military goods as well as commodities for civilians.