April 17, 1865
How wicked we are in this world! — Now, when I should be
only overflowing with joy and thankfulness at these great results, I keep
finding myself boiling and fuming over the personal neglect of General Meade
and the totally undeserved prominence given to Sheridan. Yet Meade is really of
no more consequence in this vast question of all time, than a sailor, who pulls
a good oar, compared with the Atlantic Ocean. The truth will stand out in sober
history, even for him — in the future Motleys and Prescotts. The plain truth
about Meade is, first, that he is an abrupt, harsh man, even to his own
officers, when in active campaign; and secondly, that he, as a rule, will not
even speak to any person connected with the press. They do not dare to address
him. With other generals, how different: at Grant's Headquarters there is a fellow
named Cadwalader, a Herald man, and you see the Lieutenant-General's
Staff officers calling, “Oh, Cad; come here a minute!” That is the style! With
two or three exceptions, Grant is surrounded by the most ordinary set of
plebeians you ever saw. I think he has them on purpose (to avoid advice), for
he is a man who does everything with a specific reason; he is eminently a wise
man. He knows very well Meade's precise capacity and strong points. For
example, if Meade says a certain movement of troops should be made, Grant makes
it, almost as a matter of course, because he is so wise as to know that there
is one of Meade's strong points.
SOURCE: George R. Agassiz, Editor, Meade’s
Headquarters, 1863-1865: Letters of Colonel Theodore Lyman from the Wilderness
to Appomattox, p. 358-9
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