Headquarters Army Of The Potomac, July 12,1864.
I received to-night your letter of the 10th, and am glad to
see you are not excited about the rebel invasion. This is a bold stroke of
Lee's to endeavor to procure the withdrawal of this army from its menacing
attitude, and to prevent the sending of reinforcements to Grant. The manoeuvre
thus far has been successful, as not only has the Sixth Corps been sent away,
but the Nineteenth Corps (twenty thousand strong), which was to reinforce us,
has been diverted to Washington. This loss of strength will practically prevent
our doing anything in the way of offensive movements until the campaign in
Maryland is settled and the rebels so crippled as to quiet all apprehensions of
their return. I understand Ord has been sent to Baltimore to command, in place
of Wallace, defeated, and that Howe has been sent to supersede Sigel. Augur is
in Washington, and Hunter coming from Cumberland. The danger is that with so
many commanders, independent of each other (I ought to have mentioned Couch
also), and their forces so scattered, that the rebs will have it all their own
way to commit depredations and collect supplies, and when our troops leave the
places they are now guarding, and attempt the offensive, that before they can
concentrate, the rebs will fall upon some portion and whip them in detail. I
consider the situation as critical; not that I believe the enemy can effect
anything permanent, but I fear they will so embarrass and check our operations
as to paralyze our efforts and prolong the period when we can collect enough
troops here to do the work before us.
Hancock told me to-day he had been confidentially informed
it was intended to remove me from command, and that he was to be my successor.
He would not give me his authority, but said it was reliable. He did not know
the grounds on which this action was to be based. This seemed to me so
preposterous that I could not help laughing, but Hancock assured me it was
undoubtedly in agitation, and thought I ought to be warned. He said, from what
he could gather, he thought that Grant opposed it, but that he would be
overruled. Hancock thought I would not be relieved entirely, but would be
ordered somewhere, perhaps to Pennsylvania. Now, as my conscience is clear that
I have done my duty to the best of my ability since this campaign commenced,
and as I feel I have been unjustly treated, and have not had the credit I was
and am entitled to, I shall not worry myself about any such outrage as being
relieved without cause. I mention all this confidentially to you, simply as a
preparation for the coming event, should it take place.
There have been recently with the army several Senators and
Representatives; among others, Chandler and Wilkinson of Minnesota. The latter
individual was at General Crawford's. He was very severe on me, showing he
still retained the animus that dictated his attack on me in the Senate last
winter.
SOURCE: George Meade, The Life and Letters of George
Gordon Meade, Vol. 2, p. 211-2
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