From " Battles and Leaders of the Civil War" Vol 3
Duplicate copies of the President's order, changing the command, were made, authenticated by the signature of the adjutant-general, and addressed, severally, to Generals Hooker and Meade. General James A. Hardie, chief of staff of Sec of War, and a personal friend of both of the officers concerned, was then called into the conference room and directed to start at once for Frederick City and, without disclosing his presence or business, make his way to General Meade and give him to understand that the order for him to assume command of the army was intended to be as unquestionable and peremptory as any that a soldier could receive. He was then, as representative of the President, to take General Meade to the headquarters of General Hooker and transfer the command from the later to the former......Hardie undertook to break the news to Hooker, who did not need to be told anything after seeing who his visitors were. It was a bitter moment for all, for Hooker had construed favorably the delay in responding to his tender of resignation, and could not wholly mask the revulsion of feeling."

Yes, Hooker had tendered his resignation- he wanted the troops at Harper's Ferry put under his command- but he never expected it to be accepted. Lincoln and Seward had been looking to replace Hooker, and his tender provided the occasion. That, and Lee's troops north of the Potomac, assembling for battle.

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1982 300SD " Wotan" ..On the road as of Jan 8, 2007 with Historic Tags