January 20, 1863

January 20, 1863:  The bright weather of Jan. 19 in Virginia gives way to clouds and wind, as Burnside gives the order for the start of his flanking move.  The first of the troops step off at 11:00 AM, much later than the general intended.  Franklin’s and Hooker’s Grand Divisions march all the rest of the day on dry roads, and they reach Banks’s Ford in the evening, and go into bivouac.  At 7:00 PM, the rain begins to fall in torrents.