CAMP NEAR BERLIN, MD., October
28, 1862.
Day before yesterday we received orders to move to this
place. We immediately started in a pouring rain, and marched some nine miles
before nightfall. The next day the weather fortunately changed and we reached
here in good time. This place is opposite Leesburg, already several corps have
crossed the river, and we hear our people are in Leesburg. It is also reported
that we have occupied Winchester with our cavalry, without opposition, but this
is not very reliable. At any rate we are about advancing, and it is for the
enemy to say whether or not he will dispute our march, as I have before written
to you, I hope he will, as the nearer we find him the better for us, and the
more dangerous for him. This fact, however, leads me to believe he will fall
back to the line of the Rappahannock, which will compel us to march some
distance before we can get into his vicinity. I think my division will cross
the river to-morrow. We have a pontoon bridge at this point, and bridges at
Harper's Ferry some six miles above here. The army is crossing at both places,
and I suppose will continue to advance towards Richmond until they meet with
opposition.
I see the papers state that McClellan has written the
Department at Washington that he has been fully supplied with everything as
fast as he called for it. This is false, and I know it to be false. I saw in
another paper that the excuse given by the Department, for failing to supply
the army, was the large and unexpected losses encountered in the Pope campaign.
SOURCE: George Meade, The Life and Letters of George
Gordon Meade, Vol. 1, p. 321
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