CAMP OPPOSITE
FREDERICKSBURG, May 30, 1862.
It would appear from your letter that the Great Stampede,
or, as it is called, the “Third Uprising of the North,” had not reached 2037
Pine Street1 on the 25th instant, though it must have been in the
city at the time. We, who are in the midst of the troubles and dangers, are
greatly amused to see the terrible excitement produced in Philadelphia, New
York and Boston by the inglorious retreat of Banks before a force but little
larger than his own. McDowell has gone to Manassas, and has taken every one
with him except our division, who have now the honor of holding Fredericksburg
and the railroad from thence to Acquia Creek. Had not the enemy, in
anticipation and fear of our advance, destroyed all the bridges on the rail and
other roads between this point and a place some ten miles this side of
Richmond, thus preventing their advance rapidly, as well as ours, I should
look, now that we are reduced to one division (about ten thousand men), to
their concentrating and coming down suddenly on us. This is their true game,
from which they will perhaps be diverted by McDowell's movements, and their own
work — placing obstructions to their rapid movements. At the latest accounts
they had all retired from our front and gone back either to Richmond or
Gordonsville. Still, they are much more enterprising than we are, and we are on
the lookout all the time.
__________
1 Home of General Meade's family.
SOURCE: George Meade, The Life and Letters of George
Gordon Meade, Vol. 1, p. 269
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