Following the Union catastrophe that was the Battle of Fredericksburg, commanding General Ambrose E. Burnside tendered his resignation as the head of the Army of the Potomac. In his place, President Abraham Lincoln would appoint Union Major General Joseph Hooker (Brothers, 1). At this time MG Hooker was faced with fixing severe organizational problems and boosting moral in a demoralized Army of the Potomac that had suffered loses in previous battles. “The reason for the Army of the Potomac’s lackluster performance extended beyond the unimaginative tactics and strategy of its previous commanding generals it was based on severe organizational problems required correction as well”(Sears,61). As MG Hooker assessed, the organizational problems …show more content…
MG Hookers inability to effectively assess, lead, and direct took a further hit when he was physically incapacitated when a shell hit his headquarters near where he was standing. He was knocked unconscious and shell-shocked for the several critical hours on the morning of 3 May (Sears, 348). Since it was not clear to what degree MG Hooker was mentally affected, he remained in command. This with the loses to the force being received, furthered rendered important decisions in a timely manner that might have retained or even regained some momentum for the Union (Sears, 348). Last part of MG Hookers defensive plan was for General Sedgwick to move through Fredericksburg and attack the Confederate flank, “this did not occur cause of Sedgwicks and slow movement” (Sears, 349). This failure in the plan shows that MG Hookers subordinate did not only understand his described plan, but further illustrates the lack of direction and continued assessment of the battle by MG Hooker. Collectively all of these developments caused the Army of the Potomac to lose the initiative and render it unable to mass for a decisive strike at General Lee’s