Headquarters Army Of The Potomac, June 30, 1864.
I am sorry to tell you we have had quite a serious disaster.
A whole division of cavalry, which was sent about a week ago to destroy the
roads out of Petersburg, after accomplishing their work, were met on their
return by three divisions of the enemy's cavalry, supported by infantry, and
after an honorable struggle were overpowered and dispersed. A large number have
gotten in, but the greater portion are as yet missing, and I fear are in the
hands of the enemy. I feel justified in telling you, though it is in the
strictest confidence, that the sending this command was against my
judgment, as I anticipated just this result, and I desired to wait till we
could concentrate our cavalry before making an attempt to cut the enemy's
communications, but I was overruled. Now the result is, that our cavalry is no
longer superior in numbers to the enemy, and, what is worse, has lost its
prestige.
These ups and downs in war are to be expected, and perhaps are
intended to prevent over-exultation and its consequences.
I cannot imagine where the report originated that this army
was to be withdrawn, or on what grounds it was predicted. Such an act would be
suicidal and could only result in the triumph of the enemy. No one here has
ever dreamed of such a thing, though there may be different opinions as to the
precise period when Richmond will fall.
SOURCE: George Meade, The Life and Letters of George
Gordon Meade, Vol. 2, p. 209-10
No comments:
Post a Comment