CAMP NEAR BERLIN, MD., October
29, 1862.
I am very glad you were so much pleased with Mr. Dehon. His
visit to you was in truth a great compliment, because it was the sole cause of
his stopping in Philadelphia. His son is a very clever young man, about
twenty-two years of age, whom I accidentally encountered when I was in command
of the Army Corps, and very much in want of staff officers. He was recommended
to me by young Williams,1 on Rickett's staff, who simply said he was
a gentleman. I have been so much pleased with him, that after my return to the
Division, I retained him, although I hardly had that right, he belonging to
another division. His father, who has been a Boston democrat, was very
prominent in getting up the Twelfth Regiment for Fletcher Webster. I presume
this favor to him, for it was a favor, did much towards impressing him
agreeably in regard to me. Now you will say this is my modesty and usual
underrating of my exceeding great abilities. I must confess I was not aware
that I was such a hero as you say the public declare me to be, and I fear it
will take more than newspaper correspondents and your great love to make me
believe I am anything more than an ordinary soldier conscientiously doing his
duty. One thing, however, I am willing to admit, and that is, that I consider
myself as good as most of my neighbors, and without great vanity may say that I
believe myself to be better than some who are much higher.
As to the termination of the war, I see no prospect of such
a desirable result. A war so unnecessary must last till one or the other side
is brought to its senses by the oppressive burdens that ensue. As yet, this
state of affairs has not been reached. The South accepts ruin, and is willing
to have all its material interests destroyed if it can only secure its
independence. The North, owing to the villainous system of paper money, the
postponement of taxation and of the draft, has not yet realized the true
condition of the country.
__________
1 John Worthington Williams, of Philadelphia.
SOURCE: George Meade, The Life and Letters of George
Gordon Meade, Vol. 1, p. 322
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