Richmond, Va., May 5, 1865.
It was intended we should march through the city to-day, but
the condition of the men after their long march from Burksville, and the
appearance of the weather, threatening a storm, the march was postponed till
to-morrow. I think it will take us from eight to ten days to march across. I hope
to be in Alexandria by the fourteenth or fifteenth. I have not seen anyone here
except the Wises and Tuckers. I have heard of a great many people here whom I
formerly knew, but besides my occupation, I have been indisposed to visit any
of them, because I know they all feel bitter, and many are really in distress,
which I am powerless to relieve.
Last evening Markoe Bache, who had been to see his friend
Custis Lee, was told by him that his father, General Lee, would be glad to see
me. I called there to-day and had a long talk with him. I endeavored to
convince him of the expediency and propriety of his taking the oath of
allegiance, not only on his own account, but for the great influence his
example would have over others. General Lee said he had personally no
objections, that he was willing, and intended to submit to the Constitution and
laws of the United States, but that now he was a paroled prisoner of war, and
he was unwilling to change his present status until he could form some idea of
what the policy of the Government was going to be towards the people of the
South. I argued with him that it was impossible for the Government to decide
how they were to be treated, until it was satisfied they had returned to their
allegiance, and that the only practicable way of showing this was by taking the
oath. He admitted that the military power of the Confederacy had been
destroyed, and that practically there was now no Confederate Government. The
Government of the United States was the only one having power and authority,
and those who designed living under it, should evince their determination by
going through this necessary form. He also spoke a great deal of the status of
the negro, which is really the great and formidable question of the day; but I
did not devise any very practicable suggestions. I had a long and interesting
talk, and left him, really sad to think of his position, his necessities, and
the difficulties which surround him.
Lyman has sent me a Boston paper, with a very excellent
article written by himself, which I will send you.
SOURCE: George Meade, The Life and Letters of George
Gordon Meade, Vol. 2, p. 278-9
No comments:
Post a Comment