CAMP NEAR FALMOUTH, VA.,
March 17, 1863.
I returned to-day from Washington. I went up day before
yesterday, the 15th, arriving in Washington about 7 P. M. I went to Willard's,
where, as usual, I saw a great many people. Finding Burnside was in the house,
I sent up my name and was ushered into his room, where I found himself and Mrs.
Burnside, the latter a very quiet, lady-like and exceedingly nice personage,
quite pretty and rather younger than I expected to see. Burnside was very glad
to see me, and we had a long talk. Among other things he read me a
correspondence he had had with Franklin. Franklin had called his attention to
the letter which appeared in the Times, said this was known to be
written by Raymond, the editor, and it was generally believed his information
was derived either from Burnside himself or some of his staff. Hence this
letter was considered authority, and as it did him, Franklin, great injustice,
he appealed to his, Burnside's, magnanimity to correct the errors and give
publicity to his correction. Burnside replied that he had not read the article
till Franklin called his attention to it; that he was not responsible for it,
nor was he aware that any of his staff had had any part in its production.
Still, he was bound to say that in its facts it was true; that as to the
inferences drawn from these facts, he had nothing to say about them and must
refer him to Raymond, the reputed author. Several letters had passed, Franklin
trying to get Burnside to (as he, Burnside, expressed it) whitewash him. This
Burnside said he was not going to do; that Franklin must stand on his own
merits and the facts of the case; that he had never made any accusation against
him, except to say that the crossing of the river, being against his,
Franklin's, judgment, he thought Franklin had been wanting in a zealous and
hearty co-operation with his plans. That about the time my attack failed,
hearing from one of his, Burnside's, staff officers, just from the field, that
Franklin was not attacking with the force and vigor he ought to, he immediately
despatched him an order "directing him to attack with his whole force
if necessary," which order he assumed the responsibility of not
executing, and he must now take the consequences, if blame was attached to him
for it.
The next morning I went up to the Capitol, to the committee
room, and found only the clerk present. He said the committee had been awaiting
me some days; that Senators Chandler and Wade were the only two members
present, and now down town; that he would hunt them up, and have them at the
room by three o'clock, if I would return at that hour. At three I again
presented myself to the committee, and found old Ben Wade, Senator from Ohio,
awaiting me. He said the committee wished to examine me in regard to my attack
at Fredericksburg. I told him I presumed such was the object in summoning me,
and with this in view I had brought my official report, which I would read to
him, and if he wanted any more information, I was prepared to give it. After
hearing my report, he said it covered the whole ground, and he would only ask
me one or two questions. First, was I aware that General Burnside, about the
time of my attack, had ordered General Franklin to attack with his whole force?
I answered, "At the time of the battle, No; indeed, I only learned this
fact yesterday evening, from General Burnside himself." Secondly, what, in
my judgment, as a military man, would have been the effect if General Franklin
had, when my attack was successful, advanced his whole line? I said I believed
such a movement would have resulted in the driving back of the enemy's right
wing; though it would, without doubt, have produced a desperate and
hard-contested fight; but when I reflected on the success that attended my
attack, which was made with less than ten thousand men (supports and all), I
could not resist the belief that the attack of fifty thousand men would have
been followed by success. This was all he asked, and except the last question,
the answer to which was a mere matter of opinion, I don't think any one can
take exception to my testimony. My conversations with Burnside and Wade
satisfied me that Franklin was to be made responsible for the failure at
Fredericksburg, and the committee is seeking all the testimony they can procure
to substantiate this theory of theirs. Now, Franklin has, first, his orders, as
received from Burnside, and then the fact that the execution of these orders
was entrusted to Reynolds, for his defense. Before the committee, of course, he
will not be heard, but after their report comes out, it will be incumbent on
him to notice their statements and demand an investigation. I feel very sorry
for Franklin, because I like him, and because he has always been consistently
friendly to me.
After returning from the Capitol, I dined with General and
Mrs. Burnside and Parke. Parke said he was about being left off the list of
major generals, when Burnside's opportune arrival saved him, Halleck giving as
a reason that he had exercised no command since his appointment. Burnside,
however, had his name sent in, and now he is going to supersede Baldy Smith and
take command of the Ninth Corps, which is to accompany Burnside in his new
command, to which he, Burnside, expects to be ordered in a few days.
The best piece of news I learned when in Washington was that
the President was about issuing his proclamation putting in force the
conscription law, and ordering immediately a draft of five hundred thousand
men. Only let him do this, and enforce it and get the men, and the North is
bound to carry the day.
I sometimes feel very nervous about my position, they are
knocking over generals at such a rate. Among others, Wright, who was my beau
ideal of a soldier, and whom I had picked out as the most rising man, has
had his major-generalcy and his command both taken away from him, because he
could not satisfy the extremists of Ohio (anti-slavery) and those of Kentucky
(pro-slavery), but tried by a moderate course to steer between them.
Did I tell you the old Reserves had subscribed fifteen
hundred dollars to present me with a sword, sash, belt, etc.? It is expected
they will be ready about the close of the month, when I am to go, if possible,
to their camp near Washington to receive them.
SOURCE: George Meade, The Life and Letters of George
Gordon Meade, Vol. 1, p. 358-61
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