General Butterfield Orders General Couch to Meet General Meade

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COUCH, Darius N. (1822 - 1897) Union major general who led a division at Second Bull Run, Antietam, Chancellorsville and Fredericksburg. Disgusted with Hooker, he offered to resign and was instead transfered to the West. Military Telegraph sent by Major General Daniel Butterfield to Major General Darius Couch, 1p. octavo, pencil, 1863, signed by Couch as recieved on verso, it reads in part: “...Gen. Hooker directs taht you eastablish with Genl. Meade at Ely’s Ford Rappadan or vicinity tonight. Use a pontoon boat, raft, or swim a horse if necessary across Rappahanoock about its junction. Send the following to Genls. Meade & Slocum - The Genl learns that pontoon bridges has been made use of for crossing cavalry. He prefers that a dragoon should have crossed the Rappahannock. If fords at Germina and Ely’s should be impracticable for Artillery, cross infantry without waiting for artillery - without trains and drive the Enemy from before U.S. Ford....Send Genls Meade & Slocum also if you have it copy of dispatch. Do not let the dispatches get captured. VG.

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