Headquarters Army Of The Potomac, October 30, 1863.
You seem to be very
much puzzled about my retreat, as you misname it. It was not a retreat, but a
withdrawal of the army — manoeuvring to get into a proper position to offer
battle, and made to prevent Lee from compelling me to fight at a disadvantage.
Had I been able to ascertain his movements, I would have given him battle the
day Warren was attacked; but I was misled by information which induced me to
believe he was farther ahead. As it afterwards turned out, I was ahead of him;
which was the object I was trying to attain before fighting. It was greatly to
my interest to fight, and I was most anxious to do so, but I would not do so
with all the advantages on his side, and the certainty that if the battle went
against me I could not extricate the army from its perilous position. I don't
suppose I shall ever get credit for my motives, except with the army. The
soldiers realize the necessity of not letting the enemy have the game in their
hands entirely; hence they cheerfully submitted to all the hardships, such as
night and forced marches, that I was compelled to impose on them.
SOURCE: George
Meade, The Life and Letters of George Gordon Meade, Vol. 2, p. 154-5
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