February 6, 1863---The New Army

FEBRUARY 6, 1863:  

General Joseph Hooker continues with his reorganization of the Army of The Potomac---he orders black marketeering quartermasters to be sacked, he improves the distribution of rations, he orders that more bakeries are to be built, and specifies that the troops are to be given fresh bread, potatoes, and onions at least three times per week. New sanitary regulations are to be enforced, and the cleanest camps compete for the reward of furloughs. Furloughs in general are to be more frequent and better-regulated, hospitals to be cleaner and more capacious, and drill to be more frequent and more professional. He founds a new program for better officer training. Over the coming weeks morale improves significantly.