October 10, 1864
General Humphreys deserted
us to-night, for a brief leave — no, of course I mean he went early this
morning, having taken his breakfast before us. The good General is fond of
sitting awhile and talking after meals. He discourses sometimes on the art
military and said it was “a godlike occupation”! “Ah,” he said, “war is a very
bad thing in the sequel, but before and during a battle it is a fine thing!” (Note
by T. L. — I don't see it.) The Commander has been death on riding round
lately on his jog-trotter, to inspect and mouse over works. He is mighty smart
at such things, and if a line is run fifty feet out of position, he sees it
like a flash. It is very creditable to our engineers, that, though a part of
our works were laid out after dark, no corrections have been made in the
general position. I had the honor to follow George about, as he rode round the
country. In the camps, one sees the modes of punishment adopted. One ingenious
Colonel had erected a horizontal bar, about a dozen feet from the ground, and
supported at each end by a post. On this elevated perch he causes malefactors
to sit all the day long, to their great discomfort and repentance. In the 9th
Corps, they had put some barrels on the breastworks, and, on these high
pedestals, made the men stand. They had run away in the fight and had great
placards of “Coward” on them. A pretty severe punishment if they had any shame
left. This is a grubby little letter, for my tent has been invaded by various
silly, chattering, idle officers.
SOURCE: George R. Agassiz, Editor, Meade’s
Headquarters, 1863-1865: Letters of Colonel Theodore Lyman from the Wilderness
to Appomattox, p. 243
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