Headquarters Army Of The Potomac, September 17, 1864.
I wish you would dismiss all politics from your mind; I
think you allow yourself to be unnecessarily harassed about such matters. I
fancy we shall be happy, never mind who is President, if God will only spare my
life, restore me to you and the children, and graciously permit dear Sergeant's
health to be re-established. Besides, politics are so mixed up that, thinking
about them, and trying to unravel their mysteries, is enough to set a quiet
person crazy.
I got a nice note last evening, and a box, from Lyman. The
box had five hundred cigars in it, which he said were a present from his
patriotic sister, Mrs. Howland Shaw, and his wife, so you see how I am honored.
By-the-by, talking of presents, I have never suitably acknowledged Mr. Tier's
handsome present of a box of tea. I wish you would tell him it is most
excellent, just the kind I like, and that all the members of my mess, including
the French officers, one of whom served in China and is therefore a judge, are
equally with myself delighted with the flavor and hold him in most honorable
and grateful remembrance. Poor Colonel de Chanal has received letters from the
Minister of War, who does not seem to be oversatisfied with his reports from
the field, and wants more information about our arsenals and manufacture of
arms and munitions; so the colonel is going to leave us, to travel; which I
regret very much, as he does, for I believe he has become quite attached to our
service and the officers of my staff.
SOURCE: George Meade, The Life and Letters of George
Gordon Meade, Vol. 2, p. 228-9
