Headquarters Army Of Potomac
March 5, 1864
I found myself late and galloped four miles in about twenty
minutes, only to find I had heated the mare for nothing, insomuch that the
venerable Humphreys had put off dinner to six P.M. That young man of fifty has
gone in his ambulance to see, I presume, some ladies, and I will here and now
wager that we don't dine till eight P.M. Such is his nature. Really he should
be dismissed the service for conduct to the prejudice of good order and
military discipline. Au reste, there never was a nicer old gentleman,
and so boyish and peppery that I continually want to laugh in his face. I am in
fear he won't be confirmed as major-general. There are some persons, the very
dregs of politicians, whom he tried by court-martial, when under him, that now
do all they can against his promotion. I find that politicians, like Sumner and
company, have a way of saying of officers who have had their very clothes shot
off their back and have everywhere displayed the utmost skill and courage, that "their hearts are not in the cause," or "they are not fully with
us"; meaning that these officers do not happen to fully agree with every
political dogma the party may choose to enunciate. I am of the opinion that the
question is: Does such and such an officer fight bravely and with skill? Anyone
who has been under fire will be ready to acknowledge that it is a pretty good
place to test principles; and if a man goes into the thick of it time and
again, I do not ask any better proof of his earnestness. However, it would
appear that Washington people often think the best test of faithfulness is to
stay away from the fighting and make a good many speeches to people who
entirely agree with your sentiments. To my certain knowledge, great exertions
are now making to put a man at the head of this army who has made one of the
most bloody failures of the War, and who is utterly incompetent to the post.
Why is he pushed? Because he professes to be an ultra-Republican, ah, voila!
. . .
Pa Meade is at Washington but I hope to have him back to-morrow.
Behold my prophecy in regard to Killcavalry's raid fulfilled. I have heard many
persons very indignant with him. They said he went to the President and pressed
his plan; told Pleasonton he would not come back alive if he didn't succeed;
that he is a frothy braggart, without brains and not over-stocked with desire
to fall on the field; and that he gets all his reputation by newspapers and
political influence. These charges are not new and I fancy Kill has rather
dished himself. It is painful to think of those poor prisoners hearing the
sound of his guns and hoping a rescue was at hand! Now all that cavalry must be
carried back in steamers, like a parcel of old women going to market! Bah! Pour
moi, I say nothing, as I never criticize superior officers; but I have mine
own opinions, quite strong. However, these raids and the like do not much
affect the War one way or the other. Nor does such a thing as the Florida
reverse. Things have narrowed down now to two or three great centres, and upon
large operations there depends the result. It is a favorite remark of General
Meade, that "there is but one way to put down this rebellion, namely, to
destroy the military power of the Rebels." Their great armies must be
overwhelmed, and there will end their hopes. . . .
[A few days later Lyman left for the North on a three weeks'
leave. While he was dining in Washington, at Willard's, "General Grant1
came in, with his little boy; and was immediately bored by being cheered, and
then shaken by the hand by ol n-oXXoi! He is rather under middle height,
of a spare, strong build; light-brown hair, and short, light-brown beard. His
eyes of a clear blue; forehead high; nose aquiline; jaw squarely set, but not
sensual. His face has three expressions: deep thought; extreme determination;
and great simplicity and calmness."]
_______________
1 On February 29 Congress revived the grade of
Lieutenant-General, and Lincoln had appointed Grant, much in the public eye
since his successful campaign in the West, to that rank, and to command the Armies
of the United States. Motley writes at the time: "In a military point of
view, thank Heaven! the coming man, for whom we have so long been waiting,
seems really to have come."
SOURCE: George R. Agassiz, Editor, Meade’s
Headquarters, 1863-1865: Letters of Colonel Theodore Lyman from the Wilderness
to Appomattox, p. 78-80
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