Headquarters Army Of The Potomac, February 4, 1865.
I hear from Washington the vote on my confirmation was
thirty-two to five. I have not heard the names of my opponents, but their
number is about what I expected, and I have no doubt they are all like
Chandler, men whose opposition is rather creditable to you.
As to the Peace Commissioners, I presume their arrival will
make a great stir; I have written you what passed between us when I called on
them. I understand they afterwards went down to Fortress Monroe, where they
met, some say, the President, and others, Mr. Seward. To-day they returned to
Richmond, but what was the result of their visit no one knows. At the present
moment, 8 P. M., the artillery on our lines is in full blast, clearly proving
that at this moment there is no peace. I fear there is not much chance of any
agreement between the contending parties until more decided successes are
gained on our side.
I would have liked to have sent a few lines to Johnny Wise
by the Commissioners, but they went up the river, and did not pass through my
lines.
SOURCE: George Meade, The Life and Letters of George
Gordon Meade, Vol. 2, p. 260
