Title
Great News
Description
The cartoon "Great News" possessed an ironic title fitting for its place in time. Featuring two men shaking hands as if in greeting, the first says to the other, "So the Army of the Potomac has crossed the Rappahannock again!" prompting the other to reply with, "Ah! indeed! which way?" This "which way" was in reference to the Battle of Fredericksburg and the subsequent "Mud March" in which the Army of the Potomac had crossed the Rappahannock in their assault upon Fredericksburg only to be repulsed and forced to retreat, once again, across the Rappahannock. By February 7, 1863, the date this cartoon was published, Lincoln had replaced General Ambrose Burnside, the commander responsible for Fredericksburg, with General Joseph Hooker, in hopes that Hooker could restore Union confidence in the war. As the Battle of Fredericksburg had brought an end to the winter offensive which Lincoln hoped would secure Richmond before the spring, it was becoming increasingly necessary that the Union win at least one major offensive battle in order to secure public support for the war.
Source
"Great News", Harper’s Weekly, February 7, 1863.
Date
1863-02-07
Contributor
Joseph Scoggins
Text
"FIRST CITIZEN: 'So the Army of the Potomac has crossed the Rappahannock again!'"
"SECOND CITIZEN: 'Ah! indeed! which way?'"
"SECOND CITIZEN: 'Ah! indeed! which way?'"