October 17, 1864
It is indeed not difficult to get material for a grumble, if
one will but look about in this world. You see I can't be enthusiastic about
such a government as Lincoln's, when I see, under my nose, the petty tyranny
and persecution they practise against subordinate officers. Now there is
Colonel Collis, a petty, scheming political officer; he sends letters to
newspapers and despatches to Mr. Stanton about the enthusiasm for Lincoln in
the army, etc., etc. Nothing is said to him; that is all right; he has
an opinion, as he ought to have. But there is Lieutenant-Colonel
McMahon, lately Adjutant-General of the 6th Corps, an excellent soldier, whose
brother fell at the head of a charge at Cool Arbor, and who himself had been in
all the battles: he is a McClellan man, as was natural in one of General
Sedgwick's Staff. He talks very openly and strongly about his side, as he has a
right to do. What is the consequence? He is, without any warning, mustered out
of the service! That is to say, a soldier who don't agree with the
Administration must be got rid of; it is nothing in his favor that he has
exposed his life in twenty different actions. You would scarcely credit the
number of such cases as this, cases of petty spite, fitting rather to a
bad-tempered child than to a great and dignified cabinet minister. They suffer
chances of victory to pass, rather than take voters from states. They send down
three brevets of brigadiers, only one of which has been recommended by General
Meade; and all three are men from the much dreaded and uncertain state of
Pennsylvania. Don't think I am a grumbler; all this wickedness and smallness
and selfishness is a part of humanity, and to be expected; but don't ask me to
be enthusiastic for such people. There were a parcel of them down here to-day;
bah! the sight of them is enough!
As we sat at breakfast there came a despatch saying that
Hon. Secretary Stanton, with a long tail, might be looked for, per rail, very
presently. It is an historical fact that General Meade expressed his
gratification at this deep honor, in the following terms: “The devil! I shan't
have time to smoke my cigar.” Immediately I got on my double-barreled coat,
with a sash withal, and a pair of white cotton gloves; but there was plenty of
time to smoke a cigar, for they didn't get along for an hour or two, and then
the greatest posse of large bugs! First, on horseback, Generals Grant, Meigs
(Quartermaster-General), Barnard, Eaton (Commissary-General), Barnes
(Surgeon-General), Fessenden (with a Palmer leg). Then, in ambulances,
Fessenden's papa, the Secretary of the Treasury, a sharp, keen, quiet-looking
man; Hon. Secretary Stanton, who looks like his photographs, only more so; Hon.
Sim. Draper and Mr. Barney, twin New York politicians. The former had a very
large, long nose, and a very round and abrupt waistcoat, so that he resembled a
good-natured pelican, just after a surfeit of sprats. General Meade received
them with his usual high ceremony. He walked out of his tent, with his hands in
his pockets, said, “Hullo, how are you?” and removed one hand, for the purpose
of extending it to Grant, who lighted down from his horse, put his hands in his
pockets, and sat down on a camp chair. The pelican came up and bobbed at
the Meade, as did his friend. We carted them all to see Fort Wadsworth, where
Rosencrantz swears that Mr. Stanton, on being informed that there was only a
picket line between him and the enemy, pulled out his watch and said they
really must be going back! which indeed they did. When the train started with
its precious freight of military and diplomatic jewels, General Meade
accompanied it, with Biddle, Mason and Rosencrantz. It would appear that they
encountered, at City Point, Admiral Porter with Mrs. P. and another lady, who
came, on their return, as far as Hancock's Headquarters. The hospitable H. did
thereat cause supper to be set forth, for it was now dark, and the General,
with much talk and good humor, took root there; for he is death to hold on,
when he gets talking and in company he likes. At nine o'clock came the galliant
Generale, with his aides, whereof Rosencrantz and Mason were bursting to tell
something good; whereas Biddle had a foolish and deprecatory air. It
immediately was related, midst loud shouts, how, at City Point Grant had given
General Meade a bunch of cigars to beguile the way of himself, Admiral Porter,
and some other guests going to the front. The Chief handed them to Biddle,
asking him to take charge of them for the present. Now B. has few equals in the
power of turning things end for end; and so he at once and clearly understood
that he [was] made a sort of almoner of tobacco, and proceeded to distribute
the cigars in the most liberal manner, to everybody who would either smoke or
pocket them! The Staff and bystanders asked no questions, but puffed away at
Grant's prime Havanas. Arrived at Hancock's and supper done, the General said
to Porter: "I think now is the moment to enjoy those good
cigars!" Out comes “Shaw,” the faithful servitor. “Oh, if you please, Major,
the Gen'ral sends his compliments, sir: and would like that bunch of cigars,
sir.” Biddle immediately assumed the attitude indicated in the accompanying
drawing! and the curtain dropped. . . .
SOURCE: George R. Agassiz, Editor, Meade’s
Headquarters, 1863-1865: Letters of Colonel Theodore Lyman from the Wilderness
to Appomattox, p. 247-50
