Mott's division, that had hitherto behaved so badly, was
broken up and put with Birney — a sad record for Hooker's fighting men!
Napoleon said that food, clothing, discipline, and arms were one quarter, and
morale the other three quarters. You cannot be long midst hard fighting without
having this brought home to you. This day was a marked one, for being fine,
nearly the whole of it; we have been having a quantity of rain and a fine bit
was quite a wonder. There did appear a singular specimen to behold, at my tent,
a J. Bull — a Fusileer — a doctor. Think of an English fusileer surgeon — what
a combination! He walked on the tips of his toes, with his knees bent, was
dressed in full uniform, and had a smirk on his face as much as to say: “Now I
know a good deal; and I am coming to see; and I am not going to be put off.”
Poor Medical Director McParlin was horribly bored with him; but finally got him
to the 6th Corps hospital, where I afterwards saw him, running round with some
large instrument. I hope they didn't let him do much to the wounded. We were
honored at dinner by the company of Governor Sprague and Sherman of the Senate.
The Governor is a brisk, sparrowy little man with perky black eyes, which were
shaded by an enormous straw hat. He is very courageous, and went riding about
in various exposed spots. Sherman is the tallest and flattest of mortals — I
mean physically. He is so flat you wonder where his lungs and other vitals may
be placed. He seems a very moderate and sensible man.
SOURCE: George R. Agassiz, Editor, Meade’s
Headquarters, 1863-1865: Letters of Colonel Theodore Lyman from the Wilderness
to Appomattox, p. 114-5
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