CAMP AT WARRENTON, VA.,
November 7, 1862.
To-day Alexander Coxe1 has arrived. He had a
pretty hard time catching us, and had to ride yesterday nearly fifty miles.
I have not had time to write to you for some days past, as
we have been marching all the time, and owing to the crowded state of the
roads, we have been obliged to leave camp very early in the morning and be
detained till late in getting in. One night it was twelve o'clock before we
went into camp. Soon after I wrote you, our reconnoitering parties ascertained
positively the enemy had been or were falling back from Winchester, when we
immediately started to try and get ahead of them; an operation I never had the
remotest idea we would or could succeed in, as they are much less encumbered
with trains than we are, and are much better marchers. Our corps and division
reached this place last evening, the storm and the necessity of waiting till
the railroad to this place can be opened and supplies thrown forward, have
delayed us somewhat.
I note all you say about George.2 He will have a
comparatively pleasant time, and I will quote for your comfort a part of a
secesh lady's letter recently captured (i.
e. the letter) in which she says: "I want John (her son) to go into
the cavalry, because I see that very few of that arm of the service are either
killed or wounded," which is a fact; we have not lost over a dozen cavalry
officers since the war began.
__________
1 Alexander Brinton Coxe, aide-de-camp to General
Meade.
2 Son of General Meade, lieutenant 6th Pa. Cav. —
"Rush's Lancers."
SOURCE: George Meade, The Life and Letters of George
Gordon Meade, Vol. 1, p. 324-5
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