Centreville, Aug. 31, 1863.
I told you last week that Stanton had ordered a Court of
Inquiry about some horses taken from us by Mosby, — his order said “horses
taken from Thirteenth New York Cavalry.” I wrote at once that the horses were
lost by Second Massachusetts Cavalry, my regiment, and that I wished to take
the blame, if there was any, until the court settled where it belonged. He made
General Stoneman President of the Court, and that vexed me, for all such courts
hurt a fellow's chances, and Stoneman had intimated that he was likely to give
me command of one of his three Cavalry Depots, which would have been very
pleasant winter-quarters. Now, whatever the court may find, I do not consider
myself at all to blame, and really I shall not care for the finding, but I am
ashamed to say that last week my pride was somewhat hurt and I felt a good deal
annoyed, although Heintzelman had told me he was more than satisfied, was
gratified at what had been done. In our arrangements for catching Mosby, as he
took off the horses, Captain ——, one of my best fellows, had the most important
post; — he went insane in the afternoon, and Mosby's gang got enough the start
to escape us.
SOURCE: Edward Waldo Emerson, Life and Letters of
Charles Russell Lowell, p. 298-9
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