April 13, 1864.
We went to a review of Birney's Division near J. M. Bott's
house. The two brigades are under H. Ward and Alex. Hays. About 5000 men were
actually on the ground. Here saw General Hancock for the first time. He is a
tall, soldierly man, with light-brown hair and a military heavy jaw; and has
the massive features and the heavy folds round the eye that often mark a man of
ability. Then the officers were asked to take a little whiskey chez Botts.
Talked there with his niece, a dwarfish little woman of middle age, who seems a
great invalid. She was all of a tremor, poor woman, by the mere display of
troops, being but nervous and associating them with the fighting she had seen
round the very house. Then there was a refreshment at Birney's Headquarters,
where met Captain Briscoe (said to be the son of an Irish nobleman, etc.,
etc.); also Major Mitchell on General Hancock's Staff. The Russ was delighted
with the politeness and pleased with the troops. Introduced to General
Sheridan, the new Chief of Cavalry — a small, broad-shouldered, squat man, with
black hair and a square head. He is of Irish parents, but looks very like a
Piedmontese. General Wilson, who is probably to have a division, is a slight
person of a light complexion and with rather a pinched face. Sheridan makes
everywhere a favorable impression.
SOURCE: George R. Agassiz, Editor, Meade’s
Headquarters, 1863-1865: Letters of Colonel Theodore Lyman from the Wilderness
to Appomattox, p. 82
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