Headquarters Army Of The Potomac, February 11, 1865.
I see the Tribune, with its usual malice, charges the
recent movement as a failure, and puts the blame on me. I told Grant, before
the movement was made, it would be misunderstood and called a failure. But he
promised to telegraph to Washington what we intended to do, thinking by this to
avoid this misapprehension. His telegram, if he sent one, was never published,
nor has any of his or my telegrams to him about the affair been made public.
Now, the facts of the case are that I accomplished a great deal more than was
designed, and though the Fifth Corps at one time was forced back, yet we
repulsed the enemy the day before, had been driving him all that day, and the
next day drove him into his works, and on the whole the success was with us. It
is rather hard under these circumstances to be abused; but I suppose I must
make up my mind to be abused by this set, never mind what happens, Willie's1
regiment was in the thickest of the fight and suffered severely, but I believe
behaved very well.
There is now here an artist in bronze, of the name of
Simmons, who is sculpturing a life-size head of me, of which he intends casting
a medallion in bronze. His work is pronounced excellent, and he promises to
present you a copy, so you will have your Meade art gallery increased. Grant is
still away.
_______________
1
William Sergeant, brother of Mrs. Meade.
SOURCE: George Meade, The Life and Letters of George
Gordon Meade, Vol. 2, p. 262-3
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