September 24,
1863
Yesterday we were favored with the presence of Sir Henry Holland,
the Queen's physician, who is one of the liveliest old birds for one of
seventy-five that ever was seen. He travels two months every year, and has
already been four or five times in these United States. Dr. Letterman, the
Medical Director, put him in an ambulance, and Colonel Townsend and myself
completed the party. What pains wounded people may suffer in ambulances, I know
not; but I do know that, when driven at a trot, over open fields and through
little ditches, the jolting is not to be expressed in words. But the royal
medical person maintained his equanimity wonderfully and continued to smile, as
if he were having a nice drive over a turnpike. First he was halted on a rising
spot, when he could see four batteries of horse artillery, which did defile
before him, to his great admiration. Then we bumped him six miles farther, to
the Headquarters of the 12th Corps, close to the river. Here he hobnobbed with
General Slocum, and then got on a horse and rode about the camps. After which
he was taken to a safe spot, whence he could behold the Rebels and their
earthworks. He returned quite fresh and departed in a most amiable mood.
There seems to me no particular prospect of a battle. I
thought this morning, that we should have a great fight within a couple of
days; but movements, which I dare say you will read of in the papers before
this letter reaches you, have just knocked it. Entre nous, I believe in
my heart that at this moment there is no reason why the whole of Lee's army
should not be either cut to pieces, or in precipitate flight on Richmond. In
saying this to you, I accuse nobody and betray no secrets, but merely state my
opinion. Your bricks and mortar may be of the best; but, if there are three or
four chief architects, none of whom can agree where to lay the first brick, the
house will rise slowly.
SOURCE: George R. Agassiz, Editor, Meade’s
Headquarters, 1863-1865: Letters of Colonel Theodore Lyman from the Wilderness
to Appomattox, p. 21-2
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