CAMP OPPOSITE
FREDERICKSBURG, June 1, 1862.
Your letter of the 29th came to-day, and I should judge from
its tenor that the stampede in Philadelphia this day (Sunday) week must have been
pretty great. It does seem to me strange that sensible people can be so carried
away by their fears as to lose all their reasoning powers. How could the enemy,
even supposing their forces amounted to the exaggerated numbers stated — namely,
thirty thousand — injure Washington, when Banks had ten thousand, there were
twenty thousand in and around Washington, and we had here within a few hours'
call forty thousand, to say nothing of the numbers that could be sent in a few
hours from the Northern cities? As it is, the boldness and temerity of the
enemy will probably result in their discomfiture, for McDowell is in their rear
with thirty thousand men, and Banks, largely reinforced, is in their front, and
it will be hard work to get themselves out of our clutches, if our people are
as quick in their movements as they should be. Last night Mr. Assistant
Secretary Scott made his appearance, to inquire into the canard (telegraphed
to Washington by the operators), that the enemy were advancing and we
retreating. He stayed several hours with McCall, and among other things told
him, "it was thought in Washington (that is, Mr. Stanton thought) that if
McClellan would fight he would win. That his delay was exhausting and weakening
his army, while the enemy were all the time being reinforced."
Do you see how handsomely Kearney speaks of Poe at
Williamsburgh?
SOURCE: George Meade, The Life and Letters of George
Gordon Meade, Vol. 1, p. 270-1
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