Senator John C. Calhoun to Senator Herschel V. Johnson,* November 1, 1849

Fort Hill 1st Nov. 1849.

MY DEAR SIR, The enclosed is a speech of Mr Meade¹ to his constituents, on the slavery question.

It is able and bold, and I send it as evidence of the increasing spirit of the old dominion on that vital question. Coming from the quarter it does it may contribute something to merge party feelings with you and rouse the spirit of your legislature.

I do trust your state will back the Mississippi movement. If they should and the other southern states should follow, I feel assured it would do more than anything else to bring the question to a speedy issue. It cannot be made too soon for us, but I have written you so fully on the subject that to add more would be little else than to repeat what I have already written.

With best regards to Mrs. J.

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* Text derived from a copy furnished by Mr. Fred M. Steele, of Chicago, the owner of the original. Herschel V. Johnson, judge of the superior court of Georgia, was afterwards governor of that State, candidate for Vice-President on the Douglas ticket in 1860, and a Confederate senator.

¹ Richard Kidder Meade, of Virginia, Member of Congress, 1847-1853. Speech of R. K. Meade on Restricting Slavery in the Territories, August, 1849, pp. 13.

SOURCE: J. Franklin Jameson, Editor, Annual Report of the American Historical Association for the Year 1899, Volume II, Calhoun’s Correspondence: Fourth Annual Report of the Historical Manuscripts Commission, Correspondence of John C. Calhoun, p. 773

Major-General George G. Meade to Margaretta Sergeant Mead, December 11, 1863

Headquarters Army Of The Potomac, December 11, 1863.

I have not heard a word from Washington, but from what I see in the papers, and what I hear from officers returning from Washington, I take it my supersedure is decided upon, and the only question is who is to succeed me. I understand the President and Secretary Chase are very anxious to bring Hooker back; but Halleck and Stanton will undoubtedly oppose this. A compromise may perhaps be made by bringing Thomas¹ here, and giving Hooker Thomas's army.

I have very kind letters from Gibbon and Hancock, both hoping I will not be relieved, and each saying they had not lost a particle of confidence in me. Many officers in the army have expressed the same feeling, and I really believe the voice of the army will sustain me. This, though, goes for nothing in Washington. I will not go to Washington to be snubbed by these people; they may relieve me, but I will preserve my dignity.

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¹ Major-General George H. Thomas, commanding the Army of the Cumberland.

SOURCE: George Meade, The Life and Letters of George Gordon Meade, Vol. 2, p. 160-1

General Robert E. Lee to Mrs. Julia E. Haskins Meade, August 9, 1862

HEADQUARTERS ARMY NORTHERN VIGINIA,

August 9, 1862.

MY DEAR MADAM:

It is fitting that I should sorrow with you in the untimely death of your gallant son. In him our country has lost a most accomplished, brave, and skilful officer, who bade fair to serve her in the highest ranks of the profession. In the campaign of the Peninsula he devoted himself to his work with distinguished zeal and intelligence. Under my own eye he had labored with untiring energy, and performed invaluable service in the field. During the eventful week of the battles on the Chickahominy he distinguished himself by his bravery, making bold and skilful reconnaissances which contributed much to the success of our arms. It was his incessant labor and great exposure during that week, alas! which proved fatal to this noble young patriot. May the God of the widow and the fatherless give consolation to his mother and orphan sisters in this great sorrow.

I am most respectfully yours,

R. E. LEE.

MRS. R. K. MEADE.

SOURCES: John William Jones, Life and Letters of Robert Edward Lee: Soldier and Man, p. 472