Sunday, January 5, 2014

Brigadier General George G. Meade to Margaretta Sergeant Meade, June 24, 1862

CAMP NEAR NEW BRIDGE, VA., June 24,1862.

We have been in a pleasant state of excitement for the last twenty-four hours, under the impression that the enemy were disposed to attack our right flank in force, in which case the first onset would be received by our division. The result of this little expectation is our being under arms from before daylight (3 A. M.) till nightfall, and the almost total destruction of one's rest at night by constant and frequent orders, messages, etc., occurring from hour to hour. The trouble about the whole thing is that the men become wearied with these constant stampedes, as they are called, and it becomes more and more difficult to get them out at any prescribed time, they saying, "Oh, it's the old cry of wolf!" and I am really afraid we shall carry out the old fable, and when the wolf does come, be unprepared. I don't intend, however, that such shall be the case with my command, and am making myself very unpopular by insisting on the utmost vigilance and requiring all hands to be up and ready by daylight every morning, whether we have a stampede or not.

Last evening Reynolds made a reconnoissance of the enemy's position, driving in their pickets, stirring them up generally and making them display their force. I think he had two or three men wounded in the affair. This morning all seems quiet, though late last night it was the impression of the superior officers on our side that we should be attacked. To be sure, there was a very heavy fall of rain during the night, overflowing the Chickahominy Swamp, and most probably preventing any attack, had they designed making one.

SOURCE: George Meade, The Life and Letters of George Gordon Meade, Vol. 1, p. 278

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