Headquarters Army Of The Potomac,
Burksville, Va., April 24, 1865.
I received last evening your letter of the 20th, and was
sorry to learn you had so narrowly escaped being mobbed, particularly after the
credit you had gained for being the first to display mourning. It certainly was
very culpable on the part of –––, after taking upon himself the duty of
decorating your house, to neglect it as he did. In such times of excitement
some allowance must be made for vulgar and ignorant people, and you must be
over careful to avoid giving offense, whether justly or otherwise.
Major Henry's letter is very handsome and very creditable to
him; I return it herewith. Some one had sent me an extract from the proceedings
of the City Councils, containing Mr. Gratz's letter to Councils, and the
resolution accepting Mr. Gratz's gift. No letter came with this printed slip,
but it posted me up in the great honor that had been conferred upon me.
Some days ago the Ninth Corps was detached from this army
and ordered to Washington — destination unknown (but surmised to be Missouri).
Yesterday the Sixth Corps was ordered to Danville, to be there under Sheridan's
orders; so that I am reduced to two corps — one the Fifth, guarding the
railroad from here to Petersburg; the other, the Second, at this point. I
presume one of them will soon be ordered away, probably the Second, to guard
the railroad from here to Danville. Being reduced then to one corps, I trust
the common sense of my superiors will see the absurdity of calling me the
commander of an army, and that I shall be relieved and some other duty assigned
me.
SOURCE: George Meade, The Life and Letters of George
Gordon Meade, Vol. 2, p. 276
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