Headquarters Army Of The Potomac, December 6, 1864.
To-night my commission, or rather letter of appointment, as
major general in the regular army, to date from August 18th, 1864, has arrived.
George1 has also received the appointment of major, by brevet, for
gallantry and meritorious conduct on the campaign. Jim Biddle is also made
lieutenant colonel, by brevet, for the same reasons. These appointments do not
give them any increase of pay, but are an acknowledgment of the performance of
their duty, and as such are much valued. I think I have reason to be proud that
all my recommendations, amounting to two hundred, have been approved.
To-morrow I send off an expedition under Warren, which I
trust will result in something decisive, as we are all anxious to have matters
on a more settled basis than they now are before the winter.
I feel some anxiety about Thomas in Tennessee. I think I
wrote you some time ago, when I first heard of Sherman's movement, that its
success would depend on Thomas's capacity to cope with Hood. I think it was
expected Sherman's movement would draw Hood back to Georgia, but I anticipated
just what he appears to be doing — a bold push for Kentucky, which, if he
succeeds in, will far outbalance any success Sherman may have in going from
Atlanta to the sea coast. Sherman took with him the largest part of his army,
when he did not expect to meet any organized opposition, leaving Thomas with
the lesser force to confront and oppose Hood, with the whole of his organized
forces. I trust old Thomas will come out all right, but the news is calculated
to create anxiety.
_______________
1 Son of General Meade.
SOURCE: George Meade, The Life and Letters of George
Gordon Meade, Vol. 2, p. 249-50
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