Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Brigadier General George G. Meade to Margaretta Sergeant Meade, November 16, 1862

CAMP NEAR RAPPAHANNOCK STATION, November 16, 1862.

To-day is Sunday. No church bells, or stream of well-dressed people on their way to church, or eloquent appeals from the pulpit for us poor fellows, doomed to practically set aside some of the most prominent of God's laws, in reference to charity and love to our neighbors.

No orders have yet been received for our division to move, though it is understood Burnside's project has been approved and the movement towards Fredericksburg has commenced. I suppose some time in the course of to-day, or perhaps in the night, our orders will come. I have seen no one since leaving Warrenton, not even Reynolds, who has spent most of his time at that place pow-wowing with the big Indians, so that I am not posted up in plans, hopes, or fears. Seymour has been relieved from duty with this army, at his own request, that he might go to a warmer climate. He left us this morning. Seymour was an excellent soldier, of good judgment, cool courage, and in time of action of great and valuable assistance, as I found at South Mountain and Antietam. As these are considerations of the utmost importance, his loss will be seriously felt by me. I have now but one brigadier under me, and he a promotion from one of the Reserve regiments — a very good man. The other two brigades are commanded by colonels, both West Pointers — one, Magilton, the other Sinclair, a young officer of artillery, will, I think, prove efficient and of assistance.

SOURCE: George Meade, The Life and Letters of George Gordon Meade, Vol. 1, p. 328-9

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