Headquarters Army of The Potomac, March 24, 1864.
I have been very busy to-day. The much-talked-of order for
reorganizing the Army of the Potomac has at last appeared. Sykes, French and
Newton are relieved. Sedgwick, Hancock and Warren command the three corps. This
evening an order has arrived relieving General Pleasanton, which, although I
did not originate it, yet was, I presume, brought about by my telling the
Secretary that the opposition I had hitherto made to his removal I no longer
should make. As the Secretary has been desirous of relieving him ever since I
have had command, and I have been objecting, he has taken the first chance to
remove him as soon as my objections were withdrawn.
Grant arrived to-day. I met him at the depot near my
headquarters and accompanied him to Culpeper, where I spent several hours and
returned. He was as affable as ever, and seems not at all disposed to interfere
with my army in any details.
I hear Butterfield is in Washington, and is going to swear
that I told him to prepare an order to retreat, and from what Gibbon writes me,
it is evident he did prepare such an order; but I trust by the concurrent
testimony of every other officer on the field, the documentary evidence in the
shape of orders at different periods of the day, and my own sworn statement, to
prove that the preparation of this order was not authorized by me, and that it
was due to Butterfield's own fears. I understand the Secretary is very
indignant at his coming to Washington, and has ordered him back to his post.
Get the last number of the Spirit of the Times, in
which there is a scathing article on Grant, Sherman, McPherson, Schofield and
myself, and lauding, as usual, Joe Hooker.
SOURCE: George Meade, The Life and Letters of George
Gordon Meade, Vol. 2, p. 182-3
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