December 12, 1864
Clear and cold we
have had it this day, blowy this morning but still in the evening. Last night
it blew in a tremendous manner. My tent flapped in a way that reminded one of
being at sea, and my chimney, for the first time got mad and actually smoked.
My only consolation was that the General's smoked a great deal worse. He made
quite a bon-mot at breakfast, despite the smoke: “Grant says the
Confederates, in their endeavors to get men, have robbed the cradle and the
grave; if that is the case, I must say their ghosts and babies fight
very well!” I did not fail to ride out and see the raiders come in. The head of
the column arrived about noon, or an hour before. I was much amused by a
battery, the first thing that I met; one of the drivers was deeply intent on
getting his pair of horses over a bad bridge, but, midst all his anxiety and
pains on this head, he did not fail to keep tight hold of a very old
rush-bottomed chair, which he carefully held in one hand! How far he had
brought it or what he meant to do with it, I know not, but his face wore an
expression which said: “You may take my life but you can't have this very old
rush-bottomed chair which I have been at much pains to steal.” Then came the
infantry, with a good deal of weary straggling, and looking pretty cold, poor
fellows; then another battery spattered with mud; then a drove of beef cattle,
in the midst of which marched cows, calves, and steers that never more will
graze on Rebel farms. Finally a posse of stragglers and ambulances and waggons,
all putting the best speed on to get to a camping-place. I pitied the poor
bucks who, for six days, had endured every fatigue and hardship.
SOURCE: George R. Agassiz, Editor, Meade’s
Headquarters, 1863-1865: Letters of Colonel Theodore Lyman from the Wilderness
to Appomattox, p. 297-8
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