Saturday, November 1, 2014

Senator James W. Grimes to Elizabeth Nealley Grimes, May 18, 1864

May 18th. — I wish I could satisfy your fears about the Army of the Potomac. Thus far we have won no victory. We have suffered a terrible loss of killed and wounded (nearly fifty thousand), and Lee is in an impregnable position. J. Grimes commanded the Seventeenth Regiment of Infantry, until he was finally knocked over by a broken shell. He is not much hurt, only bruised, and will return to the army, and try his chances again next Saturday.

I have just returned to my room from dining at Mr. Eames's with Mrs. Julia Ward Howe — for company, Admiral Davis, Foster, of Connecticut, Gurowski, and your husband — a pleasant time, of course. Mrs. Howe gave what she calls a reading, last night. I did not go, but, as she insists upon my going on Friday, I suppose I must comply.

The news from different directions is not at all pleasant to me. I confess that just at this present writing I feel pretty blue.

SOURCE: William Salter, The Life of James W. Grimes, p. 262

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