Letter

Danl. Butterfield to Joseph Hooker, May 2, 1863

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAO,

May 2, 1863—3.30 p. m. General HOOKER: Only balloon ascension wind permitted, at 1 p. m., reports no movements visible on any of the roads seen. Enemy remain about same opposite Sedgwick. DANL. BUTTERFIELD, Z Major-General. May 2, 1863—3.45 p. m. General HooKER: Balloon reports a brigade of enemy left from opposite our upper crossing at 3 p. m. Crossed Deep Run, and is now moving to the right, toward Banks’ Ford. They have also disappeared from opposite our extreme left, below lower crossing. DANL. BUTTERFIELD, Major-General, Chief of Staff. (Copy to generals at Banks’ Ford and to General Gibbon.) HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE Potomac, May 2, 1863—4 p. m. General HOOKER: Signal officer reports, 3 p. m., sixteen pieces artillery seen. moving on Ridge road, in direction of Chancellorsville. Four wagons accompany the batteries. Four regiments of infantry retiring from Sedgwick’s front. DANL. BUTTERFIELD, Major-General. MAy 2, 1863—4.27 p. m. General HOOKER: The column reported by balloon at 3 p. m. as moving toward Banks’ Ford are 2ew reported as having taken the Plank road leading from Fredericksburg. . May 2, 1863—4.55 p. m. Commanding Officer, Sixth Corps: Signal at Phillips’ house reports enemy evacuating your front. DANL. BUTTERFIELD, Major-General, Chief of Staff. May 2, 1863—5 p. m. Commanding Officer, Sixth Corps : Lowe reports the enemy have entirely withdrawn their advanced line, with exception of a small picket force. Lowe reports they have also disappeared from opposite our extreme left, below the town crossing.

. DANL. BUTTERFIELD,

Editor's Notes
From: Operations in N. Virginia, W. Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Pt. 1. Summary: Major-General Butterfield informs General Hooker of Confederate troop movements detected by balloon and signal officers near Fredericksburg during the Chancellorsville campaign on May 2, 1863.
Sources
The War of the Rebellion: Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 25, Part 1 View original source ↗