CAMP PIERPONT, VA., November
28, 1861.
If you remember what I told you before I came here, you will
recollect that I always said McClellan had to be tried. That while he had shown
in other positions talents and a mental organization leading to the belief that
he was one who would make himself equal to the position, yet that fact had yet
to be established. I fear he allows himself to be too much biased by personal
influences and old associations. He has already in my judgment committed two
grave errors. First, in whitewashing Stone, who was and is responsible for the
Ball's Bluff disaster, greater in my judgment than Bull Run, inasmuch as it was
clearly the result of bad generalship. Secondly, in permitting himself to be
biased by tittle-tattle about McCall, and visiting his censure of that officer
on the whole division under his command. Both these instances show a want of
moral courage, without which no man can be a great commander.
We had a little excitement yesterday, in a scout from our
division by our cavalry. They went some fourteen miles in front, capturing one
of the enemy's pickets, and on their return were fired into by a party, whom
they repulsed, killing several and bringing in eleven prisoners. Colonel Bayard
(a young man you may remember at the first review, from the protuberance on his
cheek, produced by an arrow wound), the commander, behaved with conspicuous
gallantry. One of the prisoners confessed he took deliberate aim at him. He had
two balls through his clothes and his horse killed under him.
SOURCE: George Meade, The Life and Letters of George
Gordon Meade, Vol. 1, p. 232
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