CAMP NEAR NEW BRIDGE,
VA., June 26, 1862.
Everything is quiet on our part of the line. Yesterday
Heintzelman, on the left, made an advance, which of course was disputed, resulting
in brisk skirmishing, with some loss in killed and wounded on both sides.
Heintzelman gained his point, however, and maintained it. We were under arms
all day, ready to take part in a general action, if one should result. In the
meantime, the batteries opposite to us have been throwing their shot and shell
at us, but without inflicting any injury. There is a report that the great
"Stonewall" Jackson with his army has left Gordonsville and is coming
to Richmond, to turn our right flank. His withdrawal from the Valley of
Virginia would indicate weakness of the army here, for he would never leave so
important a field, and where he had been doing good service, unless it was a
matter of great importance to strengthen their Richmond army. This report, in
connection with the fact that they keep up a great drumming and bugling in
front of us, to make us believe they are in great force, leads me to doubt
whether their army is as strong as represented, and whether they do actually
outnumber us, as some believe.
I yesterday rode to the extreme right of our lines, where
our cavalry are stationed, watching the whole country, to apprise us of any
advance. At one of the outposts, Reynolds, whom I was accompanying on a tour of
inspection, sent for the officer in command of the detachment to give him some
instructions, when I found he was our old neighbor, Benoni Lockwood, who seemed
really glad to see me. The adjutant of the Fourth Pennsylvania Cavalry, now
serving with our division, is your relative, Will Biddle. The health of the
army, at least of our division, is very fair — some little bilious attacks and
diarrhoea, but nothing serious. We have an abundance of good food; no army in
the world was ever better supplied and cared for than ours is, all reports to
the contrary notwithstanding.
SOURCE: George Meade, The Life and Letters of George
Gordon Meade, Vol. 1, p. 278-9
