CAMP OPPOSITE
FREDERICKSBURG, May 31, 1862.
Yesterday General McDowell (who has gone after the enemy who
drove Banks back) telegraphed to General McCall to draw all his troops over to
this side, except such guards as were necessary to keep Fredericksburg quiet
and to watch the roads leading into it, and be prepared to act on the
defensive. To-day we had intelligence from contrabands that a force was
collecting at Spottsylvania Court House, about twelve miles on the other side
of the river; so McCall, to carry out his instructions and be prepared, ordered
Reynolds's brigade back on this side of the river. This movement, somehow or
other, was distorted and magnified, most probably by the telegraph operators,
who keep up a chattering among themselves; for this evening McCall got a
despatch from the President, inquiring by whose authority he was retreating
from Fredericksburg; also one from Mr. Stanton, telling him the news of
Shields's victory at Front Royal, and begging him not to let any discredit fall
on his division. A person who was at Acquia Creek to-day said it was reported
through the operators that the enemy had crossed above us, and that we were
retreating in disorder. Of course this canard went up to Washington and
was carried to the President. The truth is, we have been left here with too
small a force (ten thousand men and thirty pieces of artillery); but McClellan
at Richmond and McDowell in the Valley of the Shenandoah will keep all the
troops they have busy, and they will hardly be able to bring a sufficiently
large force to threaten us. We are, however, prepared for them; but at present
all is quiet.
SOURCE: George Meade, The Life and Letters of George
Gordon Meade, Vol. 1, p. 269-70
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