March 10, 1865
What think you we
did yesterday? We had a “Matinee Musicale,” at the Chapel of the 50th New York
Engineers. Nothing but high-toned amusements, now-a-day, you will perceive. In
truth I was very glad to go to it, as good music always gives me pleasure. The
band was the noted one of the New Jersey brigade, and consisted of over thirty
pieces. But the great feature was Captain Halsted, aidede-camp to General
Wright, in capacity of Max Maretzek, Carl Bergmann, Muzio, or any other musical
director you please. It appears that the Captain is a fine musician, and that
his ears are straight, though his eyes are not. There was a large assemblage of
the fashion and nobility of the environs of Petersburg, though most of the
first families of Virginia were unavoidably detained in the city. We had a
batch of ladies, who, by the way, seem suddenly to have gone mad on visiting
this army. No petticoat is allowed to stay within our lines, but they run up
from City Point and return in the afternoon. Poor little Mrs. Webb accompanied
the General to our monkish encampment and tried, in a winning way, to hint to
General Meade that she ought to remain a day or two; but the Chief, though of a
tender disposition towards the opposite sex, hath a god higher than a hooped
skirt, to wit, orders, and his hooked nose became as a polite bit of flint unto
any such propositions. And so, poor little Mrs. Webb, aforesaid, had to bid her
Andrew adieu. The batch of ladies above mentioned were to me unknown! I was
told, however, there was a daughter of Simon Cameron, a great speck in money,
to whom Crawford was very devoted. Then there was Miss Something of Kentucky,
who was a perfect flying battery, and melted the hearts of the swains in thim
parts; particularly the heart of Lieutenant Wm. Worth, our companion-in-arms, to
whom she gave a ring, before either was quite sure of the other's name! In
fact, I think her parents must have given her a three-week vacation and a
porte-monnaie and said: “Go! Get a husband; or give place to Maria Jane, your
next younger sister.” The gallant Humphreys gave us a review of Miles's
division, on top of the concert; whereat General Meade, followed by a
bespattered crowd of generals, Staff officers and orderlies, galloped wildly
down the line, to my great amusement, as the black mare could take care of
herself, but some of the more heavy-legged went perilously floundering in
mud-holes and soft sands.
SOURCE: George R. Agassiz, Editor, Meade’s
Headquarters, 1863-1865: Letters of Colonel Theodore Lyman from the Wilderness
to Appomattox, p. 317-8
