May 4, 1863 (Monday): "Do Not Communicate With Washington)

Quartermaster Rufas Ingalls

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
May 4, 1863 - 12 m. Captain WILLIAM G. RANKIN,
At Old Headquarters Army of the Potomac:
    Do not come up here yourself. Perhaps no one had better come just yet. Keep quiet; do not make any excitement. We are in great trouble, but we shall fight out. Do not communicate with Washington on the subject.


    RUFUS INGALLS,
    Chief Quartermaster.


WASHINGTON, D. C.,
May 4, 1863 - 3.10 p. m.
Major-General HOOKER:
     We have news here that the enemy had reoccupied heights above Fredericksburg. Is that so?


     A. LINCOLN.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
May 4, 1863 - 4.20 p. m.
His Excellency the PRESIDENT:
I am informed that it is so, but attach no importance to it.
JOSEPH HOOKER,
Major-General.

    JOHN SEDGWICK,
    Major-General. 

DOWNMAN'S HOUSE,
May 4, [1863]-10 p. m.
Major-General MCLAWS:
     GENERAL: Generals Anderson and Early drove the enemy handsomely form the positions on Downman's Hill beyond the Plank road. General Anderson's left is now on Plank road opposite to Mr. Guest's house, and his line perpendicular to the road. General Early is no his right. I do not yet know how far he has advanced. We cannot find any of the enemy south of the Plank road. But if we let them alone until morning we will find them again intrenched, so I wish to push them over the river to-night. I understand that Kershaw's left is at the toll-gate on the Plank road; Wofford on the right, not up to the road. I want them to advance the right of their line so as to occupy the Plank road, and you to communicate with the left of their line.
     Direct Colonel Alexander to endeavor to arrest all movements across Banks' Ford, or up the river road. Anderson and Early are north of the Plank road.
      I am, very respectfully, yours,


      R. E. LEE,
      General.

BANKS' FORD, VA., May 4, 1863 - 11.50 p. m.
(Received May 5 - 1 a. m.)
General HOOKER, United States Ford:
     My army is hemmed in upon the slope, covered by the guns from the north side of Banks' Ford. If I had only this army to care for, I would withdraw it to-night. Do you operations require that I should jeopardize it by retaining it here? An immediate reply is indispensable, or I may feel obliged to withdraw.


    JOHN SEDGWICK,
    Major-General. 

Official Records, Series I., Vol. 25, Part 2, Pages 401, 412, 860.

The Army of the Potomac had been defeated again.  Lee, without the portion of his army on service with Longstreet at Suffolk, had taken control of the situation and desired more than anything to push Hooker's forces back across the river.  An astute judge of the political element of campaigning he likely knew he would now have the initiative and could attempt a counter stroke designed to change the fortunes of war, which up to his point in 1863 had been decidedly in the Union's favor.