BALTIMORE, August 16,
1862.
I left Baltimore on Wednesday afternoon with a great crowd
of returning officers and soldiers. I think I wrote you that it was reported in
Baltimore that the Government had taken possession of every available means of
transport. When I got on the boat, I met Colonel Falls, the proprietor of the
line, who was so civil to me when wounded, who told me confidentially that the
army was to be withdrawn from the James River, and that he was expecting Mr.
Tucker, Assistant Secretary of War, to go with him to arrange about the
movement. On my arrival at Fortress Monroe, General Dix said something was
going on, but was too diplomatic, or did not know enough, to give me any useful
information. I therefore continued on to Harrison's Landing, arriving at nine
o'clock Thursday evening. I found the troops of our division were then
embarking. On repairing to headquarters, I met General Seth Williams and
General Porter. They informed me that McCall and Reynolds had been released and
returned; that McCall had been ordered to Washington, and Reynolds assigned to
the command of the division. It was so late, being near eleven o'clock, and
having borrowed an ambulance from a friendly quartermaster to take me up there,
I did not make an effort to see McClellan, but returned to the boat, where I
slept. The next morning, after much trouble, I found Reynolds, who received me
very warmly. He said he had not yet assumed command of the division, and would
not do so till it reached the end of the movement by water (Acquia Creek), and
that the best thing I could do would be to rejoin it there; that I would have
the First Brigade, Seymour the Second, and Jackson the Third. I immediately
returned in the mail-boat, reached Old Point last night, and this place this morning,
and would have been in Washington by this time but for the failure of my
baggage to get up to the train in time. I shall go to Washington this
afternoon, and if there is a boat leaving to-morrow (Sunday), go down in it to
Acquia Creek. I see the papers have got hold of the movement; still you must
not repeat what I write. McClellan's army is to be withdrawn entirely from the
James and be posted at Fredericksburg and in front of Washington. This is a
virtual condemnation of all McClellan's movements, and must be a most bitter
pill for him to swallow. When at Fortress Monroe, I understood he had come down
the night before and telegraphed to the Department and returned apparently
disgusted. It was believed he earnestly protested against the withdrawal, and
asked for authority to advance on Richmond. It was peremptorily refused him.
I have been informed that Burnside has been twice urged to
take the command of the Army of the Potomac, but always refuses to supersede
McClellan; but I believe the thing will soon be done without consulting either
of them, for the more I see the more I am satisfied that McClellan is
irretrievably gone, and has lost the greatest chance any man ever had on this
continent.
Reynolds looks very well, but complains bitterly of the want
of courtesy shown towards him in Richmond.
SOURCE: George Meade, The Life and Letters of George
Gordon Meade, Vol. 1, p. 302-3
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