Command would have devolved to the senior Corps commander Darius N. Couch (II Corps). I think Couch was an able general, but he was plagued by poor health and very touchy. He left the Army of the Potomac more because of his loathing of Joe Hooker rather than his health.Had Joseph Hooker gotten hit by the Cannon ball and killed who would command devolved to? On the field at that time?
Couch was close by Hooker when he went down, but it took him until 9:30 A.M. to arrive, and Joe Hooker seemed to be fine by that time. The most senior man present was Brig. Gen. James H. Van Alen, the head or Hooker's staff at Chancellor house while Daniel Butterfield (Hooker's Chief of Staff) was at Falmouth. BG Van Alen was a wealthy Republican without any military training or experience; he had been inserted into Hooker's staff just 10 days before May 3rd, 1863.Cant remember where Couch was located when Hooker took the hit. Who was the senior man present at Hookers location when he went down?