At the Cabinet council Seward expressed great apprehension
of a break-up of the British Ministry. I see in the papers an intimation that
should Roebuck's motion for a recognition of the Confederacy prevail, Earl
Russell would resign. I have no fears that the motion will prevail. The
English, though mischievously inclined, are not demented. I wish the policy of
our Secretary of State, who assumes to be wise, was as discreet as theirs. He
handed me consular dispatches from Mr. Dudley at Liverpool and is exceedingly
alarmed; fears England will let all the ironclads and rovers go out, and that
the sea robbers will plunder and destroy our commerce. Mr. Dudley is an
excellent consul, vigilant, but somewhat, and excusably, nervous, and he
naturally presents the facts which he gets in a form that will not do injustice
to the activity and zeal of the consul. Seward gives, and always has given, the
fullest credit to the wildest rumors.
Some remarks on the great error of General Meade in
permitting Lee and the Rebel army with all their plunder to escape led the
President to say he would not yet give up that officer. “He has committed,”
said the President, “a terrible mistake, but we will try him farther.” No one
expressed his approval, but Seward said, “Excepting the escape of Lee, Meade
has shown ability.” It was evident that the retention of Meade had been
decided.
In a conversation with General Wadsworth, who called on me,
I learned that at the council of the general officers, Meade was disposed to
make an attack, and was supported by Wadsworth, Howard, and Pleasonton, but
Sedgwick, Sykes, and the older regular officers dissented. Meade, rightly
disposed but timid and irresolute, hesitated and delayed until too late. Want
of decision and self-reliance in an emergency has cost him and the country
dear, for had he fallen upon Lee it could hardly have been otherwise than the
capture of most of the Rebel army.
The surrender of Port Hudson is undoubtedly a fact. It could
not hold out after the fall of Vicksburg. We have information also that Sherman
has caught up with and beaten Johnston.
SOURCE: Gideon Welles, Diary of Gideon Welles,
Secretary of the Navy Under Lincoln and Johnson, Vol. 1: 1861 – March 30,
1864, p. 374-5
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