. . no special difficulty was
apprehended in executing the order." In the vicinity of Fredericksburg,
shortly after midnight, a fog appears to have arisen from the river,
which considerably impeded the movements of the Sixth Corps. This
Hooker knew from Sedgwick's report, which he was bound to believe,
unless evidence existed to show the contrary. "As will be seen, the
order was peremptory, and would have justified him in losing every man
of his command in its execution."
Hooker also states that Warren was sent to Sedgwick on account of his
familiarity with the ground, and to impress upon the latter the
necessity of strict compliance with the order.
"I supposed, and am still of the opinion, that, if Gen. Sedgwick's men
had shouldered arms and advanced at the time named, he would have
encountered less resistance and suffered less loss; but, as it was,
it was late when he went into Fredericksburg, and before he was in
readiness to attack the heights in rear of the town, which was about
eleven o'clock A.M. on the 3d, the enemy had observed his movement,
and concentrated almost their entire force at that point to oppose him.
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