Headquarters Army Of The Potomac,
November 25, 1864.
On my return from my visit to General Grant, I found your
letter of the 23d inst. General Grant told me that, as soon as he spoke to the
President, the President acknowledged the justice of his statements, and said
he had hesitated when appointing Sheridan on the very ground of its seeming
injustice to me, and he at once, at General Grant's suggestion, ordered the
Secretary to make out my appointment, to date from August 19th, the day of the
capture of the Weldon Railroad, thus making me rank Sheridan and placing me
fourth in rank in the regular army. Grant virtually acknowledged that my theory
of Sheridan's appointment was the correct one, and that without doubt, had the
matter been suggested at the time, I would have been appointed a few days in
advance.
As justice is thus finally done me, I am satisfied — indeed,
I question, if left to me, whether I should have desired my appointment
announced in the way Sheridan's has been. At one thiing I am particularly
gratified, and that is at this evidence of Grant's truthfulness and sincerity.
I am willing to admit, as he does himself, that his omissions have resulted
unfavorably to me, but I am satisfied he is really and truly friendly to me. I
like Grant, and always have done so, notwithstanding I saw certain elements in
his character which were operating disadvantageously to me.
To-morrow I am going with General Grant to visit General
Butler's famo us canal at Dutch Gap.
Grant does not think Mr. Stanton will be removed, or that he desires the
Chief-Justiceship. He says Stanton is as
staunch a friend of mine as ever, and that the President spoke most handsomely
of me.
You will perhaps not be surprised to learn that Mr. Cropsey
has again gotten himself into trouble. I received to-day a letter from General
Hancock, complaining of Mr. Cropsey's account of our recent movement. I told
General Hancock to put his complaints in the form of charges and I would have
Mr. Cropsey tried by a commission, and abide by its decision.
Hancock leaves us to-morrow, he having a leave of absence,
after which he will be assigned to recruiting duty. Humphreys takes his place.
The change in my position has rendered it unnecessary to have an officer of
Humphreys's rank, as chief-of-staff. I deemed it due to him to suggest his name
as Hancock's successor.
Butler has finally succeeded in getting the colored troops
with this army, replacing them with an equal number of white troops. He is
going to organize a corps of colored troops, and expects to do very great
things with them.
SOURCE: George Meade, The Life and Letters of George
Gordon Meade, Vol. 2, p. 247-8
