February 5, 1864.
General Humphreys sent for me and showed me a cipher
correspondence between Butler and Halleck, and Halleck and Sedgwick. B.
telegraphed that large reinforcements had been sent from the Rapid Ann to North
Carolina, and that he wished a demonstration to “draw their forces from
Richmond.” S. replied that, with the exception of some two or three brigades,
nobody had been sent to that place from the army in our front. B. then said he
was going to move on Richmond, or something of the sort, and would like a
demonstration not later than Saturday (to-morrow). S. said it was too short a
time to make any great show and that it would spoil our chances for a surprise
on their works, in future. H. then telegraphed to do, at any rate, what we
could. So Kilpatrick has been sent to their right via Mine Ford, and
Merritt is to threaten Barnett's Ford; and to threaten Raccoon Ford, while the
2d will make a stronger demonstration at Morton's Ford. Old Sedgwick and
General Humphreys are cross at the whole thing, looking on it as childish.
SOURCE: George R. Agassiz, Editor, Meade’s
Headquarters, 1863-1865: Letters of Colonel Theodore Lyman from the Wilderness
to Appomattox, p. 68
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