CAMP NEAR RAPPAHANNOCK
STATION, VA., November 13, 1862.
Day before yesterday we moved to this position, some ten
miles from Warrenton. On the same day McClellan left us, to the regret and
sincere grief of the whole army. Yesterday, I am informed, Generals Halleck and
Meigs made their appearance at Warrenton, and it is understood a grand council
of war is to be held to-day. McClellan has always objected to operating on this
line, and insisted on the James River as being the proper base for operations.
Halleck, under Washington influence, has been trying to force operations on
this line — that is, the Orange and Alexandria Railroad. Now, this road has but
one track, and the distance from Alexandria to Gordonsville is over one hundred
and fifty miles. This distance and the known capacity of the road is insufficient
by one-third to carry the daily supplies required for this army. This fact to
an ordinarily intelligent mind, unbiased by ridiculous fears for the safety of
Washington, ought to be conclusive. The next line, and the one Burnside favors
as a compromise, is the one from Fredericksburg to Richmond. This is open to
the same objection as the other, except it is only seventy-five miles. Still,
it will require a larger army to protect these seventy-five miles and keep open
our communications than it will to attack Richmond itself. What the result of
the council will be, no one can tell; but, as I have above conjectured, it is
probable that, if Burnside proves stubborn, he will be told he must give way to
one who is more reasonable. I also hear that Hooker is at Warrenton, and has
been placed in command of Fitz-John Porter's corps, Porter having been relieved
and ordered to Washington. I have not seen Hooker, as he did not arrive at
Warrenton till after I had left. His having command only of a corps, under Burnside,
in command of the army, and Sumner in command of two corps, is decidedly a
coming down for Hooker, from the expectations the army and the public had been
led to indulge in from the tone of the public press; and confirms what I have
told you, that Hooker talked himself out in Washington. What we are coming to I
cannot tell, but I must confess this interference by politicians with military
men, and these personal intrigues and bickerings among military men, make me
feel very sad and very doubtful of the future. It does seem as if Providence
was against us, and that it was decreed we should not succeed as we ought to.
The assigning of Hooker to Porter's corps leaves Reynolds, I presume,
permanently in command of our corps, and will leave me undisturbed in command
of my division. For this I ought to be, and am, duly grateful, and as some time
since it was the height of my ambition to have a division, I suppose I ought to
be satisfied with its accomplishment, which I would be, if I saw matters going
on in other respects as I think they ought to.
The enemy, who for some time were disposed to dispute our
advance and had constant skirmishing with us, have been quiet for two days
past. They are said to be in force at Culpepper Court House, some eighteen
miles in our front, and Jackson, with a considerable body, is reported as being
yet in the Valley of the Shenandoah, waiting for a good chance to fall on our
rear, and effect one of his bold and audacious raids. I look anxiously to see the
result of McClellan's removal on the public mind.
SOURCE: George Meade, The Life and Letters of George
Gordon Meade, Vol. 1, p. 326-7
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