U.S. President Lincoln relieves General Burnside as commander of the Army of the Potomac, replacing him with General Hooker 160 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 25 1863)

1860s, American Civil War, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'Lincoln PBS 1992 - Part 2' (Lincoln replaces Burnside with Hooker at 30:53)

(Sunday, January 25, 1863, 10:00 a.m. local time; during the American Civil War) — U.S. President Abraham Lincoln relieved Maj. Gen. Ambrose Burnside as commander of the Army of the Potomac today and replaced him with Maj. Gen. Joseph “Fighting Joe” Hooker.

Burnside, who took over from George McClellan in November 1862, is mainly remembered for the disastrous defeat at Fredericksburg in December 1862.

Hooker had served in the Seminole Wars and the Mexican–American War, receiving three brevet promotions, before resigning from the Army.

At the start of the Civil War, he joined the Union side as a brigadier general, distinguishing himself at Williamsburg, Antietam, and Fredericksburg, after which he was given command of the Army of the Potomac.