Roads had been destroyed by the marching of mighty masses and the rolling of thousands of heavy wheels.

Horses often sank nearly to the knee when they trod new paths through the muddy fields.

There was mud, mud everywhere.
Hooker, moreover, was confronted by a long line of earthworks and other intrenchments, extending for twenty miles along the Rappahannock, and defended by the victors of Fredericksburg.

After that disastrous day the Northern masses at home were not so eager for a battle.

The country realized that it was not well to rush a foe, led by men like Lee and Jackson.
But Hooker was a brave and confident man.