Camp At Aldie, Va., June 25, 1863.
Reynolds's honors, commanding the right wing, only lasted
two days, for as soon as we got to Manassas, General Hooker informed him he
would communicate direct with corps commanders. Reynolds was at first quite
indignant, and took it into his head that Hooker expected our withdrawal from
the Rappahannock was going to be disputed, and that he had selected him for a
scapegoat to bear the brunt of the shock. Everything, however, passed off
quietly, as Lee was well on his way up the Valley of the Shenandoah, and A. P.
Hill, who was left to guard Fredericksburg, was glad enough to let us go, that
he might follow Lee, as he has done and rejoined him, although we could readily
have prevented him, and in my judgment should have done so. What Lee's object
is in moving up the valley is not yet clearly developed. He has massed his army
between Winchester and Martinsburg. The invasion of Maryland and Pennsylvania,
so far as I can gather, has as yet been a mere foraging expedition, collecting
supplies and horses for his army. He does not, at the latest accounts, seem to
have crossed any of his good troops; he has perhaps been waiting for Hill, also
to see what Hooker and the authorities at Washington were going to do, before
he struck a blow. That he has assumed the offensive and is going to strike a
blow there can be no doubt, and that it will be a very formidable one is
equally certain, unless his forces have been very much exaggerated. He is said
to have collected over ninety thousand infantry and fifteen thousand cavalry,
with a large amount of artillery. Hooker has at present no such force to oppose
him, but I trust the Government will reinforce Hooker with troops that have
been scattered at Suffolk, Baltimore, Washington and other places, and that
such will be the case seems probable, from a despatch I received from
headquarters yesterday, asking me if I would like to have the Pennsylvania
Reserves attached to my corps. I replied, promptly: “Yes; they or any other
reinforcements that could be obtained.” I understand the Reserves are seven
thousand strong, which will be a very decided addition to my present weak
corps. I have seen very few papers lately, and therefore know little or nothing
of what is going on. I see you are still troubled with visions of my being
placed in command. I thought that had all blown over, and I think it has,
except in your imagination, and that of some others of my kind friends. I have
no doubt great efforts have been made to get McClellan back, and advantage has
been taken of the excitement produced by the invasion of Maryland to push his
claims; but his friends ought to see that his restoration is out of the
question, so long as the present Administration remains in office, and that
until they can remove Stanton and Chase, all hope of restoring McClellan is
idle. I have no doubt, as you surmise, his friends would look with no favor on
my being placed in command. They could not say I was an unprincipled intriguer,
who had risen by criticising and defaming my predecessors and superiors. They
could not say I was incompetent, because I have not been tried, and so far as I
have been tried I have been singularly successful. They could not say I had
never been under fire, because it is notorious no general officer, not even
Fighting Joe himself, has been in more battles, or more exposed, than my record
evidences. The only thing they can say, and I am willing to admit the justice
of the argument, is that it remains to be seen whether I have the capacity to
handle successfully a large army. I do not stand, however, any chance, because
I have no friends, political or others, who press or advance my claims or
pretensions, and there are so many others who are pressed by influential
politicians that it is folly to think I stand any chance upon mere merit alone.
Besides, I have not the vanity to think my capacity so pre-eminent, and I know
there are plenty of others equally competent with myself, though their names
may not have been so much mentioned. For these reasons I have never indulged in
any dreams of ambition, contented to await events, and do my duty in the sphere
it pleases God to place me in, and I really think it would be as well for you
to take the same philosophical view; but do you know, I think your ambition
is being roused and that you are beginning to be bitten with the dazzling
prospect of having for a husband a commanding general of an army. How is this?
This is a beautiful country we are now in, and we are
reveling in lovely landscapes, with such luxuries as fresh butter, milk, eggs,
lamb, chickens and other delicacies, to which we have for a long time been
strangers. There are some nice people about here, though strong
"secesh." I went the other day to see a fine view, which is to be had
from the Monroe estate. It is at present in the hands of a Major Fairfax, who
is on Longstreet's staff. While on the ground I received a polite message from
Mrs. Fairfax, saying she would be glad to see me and show me the house,
whereupon I called, and found her very affable and ladylike and very courteous.
I apologized for my intrusion, but she said she did not so consider it; that
she was always glad to see the officers of our army, knowing they took an
interest in the place from its having been the former residence of a President
of the United States. She referred to the war in a delicate manner, and said
her husband, the Major, was at home when Pleasanton attacked Aldie, and that he
had barely time to mount his horse and get off before their people were obliged
to retire. I spent a half-hour chatting with her and left. Generally the women,
when they find you are a gentleman, and not violent and bloodthirsty in your
feelings, are disposed to be civil and affable.
Young Morrow, of George's company, has returned from
Richmond. He told George that he saw a great deal of Beckham when he was first
captured, who inquired very particularly after me.
Everything is very quiet here. The enemy have a small
cavalry force watching us, but no signs of their army this side of the Blue
Ridge. At what moment they may show themselves, or when we will advance, is
more than I can tell. I hear nothing whatever from headquarters, and am as much
in the dark as to proposed plans here on the ground as you are in Philadelphia.
This is what Joe Hooker thinks profound sagacity — keeping his corps
commanders, who are to execute his plans, in total ignorance of them until they
are developed in the execution of orders.
SOURCE: George Meade, The Life and Letters of George
Gordon Meade, Vol. 1, p. 387-9
