CAMP NEAR FALMOUTH, VA.,
January 30, 1863.
A good deal of excitement exists in the army from a report
prevailing that the provost marshal of Washington, or rather the head of the
detective police in his department, is in the habit of systematically opening
the letters received and written by officers. For my part I can hardly credit the
statement, and so far as I am concerned am willing it should prove true, for I
cannot see how information obtained in this manner can be used against one. I
have endeavored to the best of my ability to do my duty, and I have never said
a word to any one around me that the most hypercritical could find fault with.
In writing to you, however, the wife of my bosom and the only confidential
friend I have in the world, I have without doubt at times expressed opinions
about men and things, that would not be considered orthodox, but I maintain no
government in the world would take advantage of such confidential intercourse
to find a man guilty, and I don't believe that any of my letters have ever been
opened.
SOURCE: George Meade, The Life and Letters of George
Gordon Meade, Vol. 1, p. 353
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