October 3, 1864
Yesterday afternoon
arrived Lieutenant-Colonel Loring and Major L––––. The former looks in better health and immediately
set to work on the duties of his office, as Inspector-General, under the easy
rule of General Parke, who succeeds the rule of Burnside the Fat. L––––, always fancy, comes in much store
clothes, a new shell jacket, double-breasted, and a pair of cerulean riding
tights with a broad gold band, into which, according to report, he must be
assisted by two strong men. Also his sabre newly burnished, and the names of
the battles engraved on it, with other new and elegant touches. He was the
young gentleman, you know, of whom the Reb paper said it was unworthy an honest
officer to clasp the hand dipped in the gore of their brethren, even though
cased in a glove of delicate kid! This was a quiet day, wherein we lay still
and made ourselves comfortable. The “comfortable” meant, with many of the
officers, lying abed till the classic hour of Richard and Robin; for the
General, these last days, has been getting up and riding out at fitful and
uncertain hours. I think, when he feels anxious and responsible himself, that
he likes to keep others a little on the stretch also. So he would give no
orders overnight, but suddenly hop up in the morning and begin to call for
breakfast, orderlies, aides, horses, etc. I am sharp, and, at the first sound
he makes, I am up and speedily dressed; whereas the others get caught and have
to leave suddenly. Biddle is the funniest. There he was, trotting along, the
other morning, talking away, like a spinster who had lost her lap dog. “Well, I
do think it is too bad! The General never tells anyone when he is going
out, and here I am with no breakfast — no breakfast at all!” And here B. opened
his fingers and disclosed one boiled egg! To think of a Major on the General
Staff riding after his General, with the reins in one hand and a boiled egg in
the other!
SOURCE: George R. Agassiz, Editor, Meade’s
Headquarters, 1863-1865: Letters of Colonel Theodore Lyman from the Wilderness
to Appomattox, p. 239-40
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