Headquarters Army Of The Potomac, April 2, 1864.
I left Washington this morning, bidding dear Pennie1
good-bye at the hotel, which he was to leave half an hour after me. He has had
a pretty pleasant time, and his visit has been a source of great happiness to
me.
I enclose you a letter I addressed the Department,2
with an autograph reply from the President.3 I feel quite sure the
President meant to be very kind and complimentary in paying me the
distinguished honor of writing a reply in his own hand, and under this
conviction I am bound to be satisfied. You will perceive, however, that the
main point of my request is avoided, namely, my desire that the letter of
Historicus should be submitted, with my letter, to General Sickles, and if he
acknowledged or endorsed it, then I wished a court of inquiry, not otherwise.
However, Mr. Stanton told me the true reason, which was that it was concluded
submitting the letter to Sickles was only playing into his hands; that a court
of inquiry, if called at my request, although it might exonerate me, yet it
would not necessarily criminate him; and that, on the whole, it was deemed best
not to take any action. Butterfield, I hear, was very bitter in his testimony,
and made wonderful revelations. I went before the committee yesterday and
replied only to his assertion that I instructed him to draw up an order to
retreat. This I emphatically denied; also denied any knowledge of his having
drawn up such an order; presented documentary evidence to show that, if I had
any such idea, that my orders and despatches were contradictory, and referred
to numerous officers who ought to have and would have known if I entertained
any idea of the kind.4
I find I have three warm friends on the committee — Odell of
New York, Gooch of Massachusetts, and Harding of Oregon. It is believed Wade,
of Ohio, is favorably inclined. If either he or one of the others should prove
so, it would make a majority in my favor. Old Zach Chandler is my bitterest foe
and will show me no quarter. While going up to Washington I had a long and
satisfactory talk with Grant, who has expressed himself and acted towards me in
the most friendly manner. Among other things he said he heard Horace Greeley
had been in Washington, demanding my removal, and that Thomas be brought here.
Grant said, if he saw Greeley he should tell him that when he wanted the advice
of a political editor in selecting generals, he would call on him. The
President, Secretary, indeed every one I met, were civil and affable to me.
_______________
1 Spencer Meade, son of General Meade.
2 For letter mentioned, see Appendix M.
3 For letter mentioned, see Appendix N.
4 This attack on General Meade was continued
until long after the war, and even after his death, when, in defence of General
Meade, Colonel Meade published in 1883 a pamphlet entitled, "Did General
Meade Deaire to Retreat at the Battle of Gettysburg?" For pamphlet, see
Appendix Y.
SOURCE: George Meade, The Life and Letters of George
Gordon Meade, Vol. 2, p. 186-7
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