Howard voted to remain, without reference to the situation of the army, because in his opinion his corps had behaved badly, and he wished to retrieve its reputation.
Slocum was not present.

The final result was that Hooker determined to cross, although the majority of votes were against it.

The votes of Meade and Howard, however, were qualified in such a way as to give the impression they were in favor of a retreat.
Owing to a sudden rise in the river the bridges became too short, and there was some doubt as to the practicability of passing over them, but by taking down one, and piecing the others with it, the difficulty was overcome and the army retired, without being followed up, under cover of thirty-two guns posted on the heights on the opposite bank.

Meade's corps acted as rear guard.
Hooker left his killed and wounded behind, and had lost 14 guns and 20,000 stand of arms.
It only remains to give a brief statement of the operations of Stoneman's cavalry.

These were of no avail as regard the battle of Chancellorsville, for our army was defeated and in full retreat before Lee's main line of communication with Richmond was struck, and then all the damage was repaired in three or four days.