Details
[CIVIL WAR]. MEADE, George G. Autograph letter signed ("Geo. G. Meade") to an unidentified recipient ("Dear Genl."), Head-Quarters, Army of the Potomac; 20 August 1863. 2 pages, 8vo. Fine.
"LEE IS ONLY 15 MILES OFF, AND MAY AT ANY TIME FORCE ACTION ON US". Meade's correspondent may have suffered a wound at Gettysburg, and the letter inexorably reverts to the menacing presence of Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia. Meade's defensive tone shows how gravely he had been shaken by the titanic clash at Gettysburg six weeks earlier: "I can have no objections to your assisting Genl. Hooker in the preparation of his report as I am fully aware of what value your services will be....I am sorry to hear your wound still troubles you, but these things cannot be helped. The carte-de-visite sent by you is very graphic & expressive--if nothing worse than this happens to me I shall be a fortunate man." He declines to grant leave to two men, as "I have refused all leaves except in cases of the greatest emergency. There is not much doing now but Lee is only 15 miles off, and may at any time force action on us. Hoping you will soon get well, and wishing you all prosperity and happiness...."
"LEE IS ONLY 15 MILES OFF, AND MAY AT ANY TIME FORCE ACTION ON US". Meade's correspondent may have suffered a wound at Gettysburg, and the letter inexorably reverts to the menacing presence of Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia. Meade's defensive tone shows how gravely he had been shaken by the titanic clash at Gettysburg six weeks earlier: "I can have no objections to your assisting Genl. Hooker in the preparation of his report as I am fully aware of what value your services will be....I am sorry to hear your wound still troubles you, but these things cannot be helped. The carte-de-visite sent by you is very graphic & expressive--if nothing worse than this happens to me I shall be a fortunate man." He declines to grant leave to two men, as "I have refused all leaves except in cases of the greatest emergency. There is not much doing now but Lee is only 15 miles off, and may at any time force action on us. Hoping you will soon get well, and wishing you all prosperity and happiness...."