Headquarters Army of the Potomac,
Tuesday Evening,
January 10, 1865.
I reached City Point at 6 P. M. to-day. I found the cause of
my recall to be as I expected. General Grant had received information of Lee's
sending off two divisions of troops, and was, and is, under the impression that
it is the commencement of the evacuation of Richmond. Should this prove to be
the case, or should Lee materially weaken his force, we will take the
initiative, and for this contingency I was required. I explained to General
Grant Sergeant's1 condition and my earnest desire to remain with
him. He expressed regret he had not known all I told him, and promised to let
me return to Philadelphia as soon as this affair was settled. As I do not
believe Lee is going to give us any chance, I am in hopes it will not be long
before I return. I telegraphed you this morning from Fortress Monroe, because
we had last night an accident on the bay, which I feared might be exaggerated
in the papers, and you alarmed. The night was dark and foggy, and we were run
into by a schooner. Fortunately the damage was confined to the upper works, and
although four lives were lost, and several bruised, we received no material
injury, and our boat continued on. For a time, however, before the extent of
the injury was known, there was much alarm and excitement on board our boat,
which was unusually crowded, owing to the ice on the Potomac.
The great subject of discussion in the army is the recent
relieving of General Butler.2 He was relieved by the President, on
Grant's request. The particular cause had not been made public.
It is hardly necessary I should tell you how much I have
suffered since I left you. All I can do is earnestly to pray God to have mercy
on dear Sergeant and yourself, and to give you strength to bear up under the
affliction you are visited with. My heart is too full to write more.
_______________
1 Son of General Meade.
2 General Benjamin F. Butler, commanding the
Federal troops, failed to take Fort Fisher, Wilmington, N. C., and withdrew
Dec. 25, 1864.
SOURCE: George Meade, The Life and Letters of George
Gordon Meade, Vol. 2, p. 255
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