Headquarters Army Of Potomac Letters for the years 1864 thru 1865

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 15 June 1864

Orders were immediately given to halt the waggon-train, now passing the bridge, and allow the 9th Corps to pass over and push on towards Petersburg

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 16 June 1864

At four in the morning they began to ferry over the 5th Corps; of this, two divisions were loaded from Wilcox's wharf and two from a wharf near the bridge; the bridge itself being in constant use for the passage of the main train.

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 17 June 1864

At daylight Potter, of the 9th Corps, assaulted the enemy's works at a point near what was then our left. He took the works very handsomely, with four guns and 350 prisoners, and had his horse shot under him.

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 18 June 1864

A general attack was planned for an early hour, so Headquarters, which had lain down late, had scarce a chance to turn over once before it was routed out again, just at day light.

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 19 June 1864

I was again selected, as the man having good clothes, to undertake the mission.

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 23 June 1864

About this time a Vermont captain (bless his soul !) went and actually did something saucy and audacious.

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 24 June 1864

It is praise not to be pitched into by the Great Peppery : and he is very kind to me. To be sure, I watch him, as one would a big trout on a small hook, and those who don't, catch volleys at all hours!

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 25 June 1864

not only has it been remarkably broiling, but this region is so beclouded with dust and smoke of burning forests, and so unrelieved by any green grass, or water, that the heat is doubled.

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 1 July 1864

I took advantage of the propinquity of the nigger division (which had come to fill part of the 6th Corps line, during its absence) to show the unbleached brethren to my Imperial commissioners.

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 4 July 1864

What shall I say of the Fourth? Our celebration could not well amount to much ; the men have to stay too close in camp to do such things.

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 5 July 1864

I forgot to tell you that yesterday there appeared a waggon of the Sanitary Commission bearing a gift for the comfort of Headquarters. With it came the agent, Mr. Johnson, a dried-up Philadelphian, of a serious countenance.

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 6 July 1864

As to the A. of P., it is sitting here, trying to get some fresh cabbages, not very successfully, so far the last issue, I am told, furnished one small one to every fifteen men.

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 7 July 1864

I paid a visit to Brigadier-General Barlow, who, as the day was hot, was lying in his tent, neatly attired in his shirt and drawers, and listening to his band, that was playing without.

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 10 July 1864

Sometimes I feel like saying to the Rebels: "You're a brave set of men, as ever were; and honest the mass of you. Take what territory you have left and your nigs, and go and live with your own delusions."

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 12 July 1864

We live very much after the way of Arabs, when you think of it nomadic, staying sometimes a day, sometimes a month in a place, and then leaving it, with all the bowers and wells that cost so much pains.

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 13 July 1864

But our attempt to bag the raiders may be somewhat like the domestic rural scene of surrounding an escaped pig in the vegetable garden. Don't you know how half a dozen men will get in a circle about him, and then cautiously advance, with an expressio

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 20 July 1864

Our camp was this morning taken by assault by a cavalcade which turned out to be Major-General Ben F. Butler and a portion of his Staff. He is the strangest sight on a horse you ever saw

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 22 July 1864

I had one of the most amusing excursions that I have had during the campaign really quite a picnic.

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 24 July 1864

This drought has been in one respect beneficial : it has kept the soldiers from using surface water and forced them to dig wells, whence healthy water may be got.

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 30 July 1864

You must know that there has always been a point on Burnside's line that was quite near that of the enemy, say 250 feet. A mine was begun there over a month since, and has been quite finished for a week.

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 31 July 1864

You must know that all the time they were putting in the powder they could hear the enemy digging pretty near them, over their heads; for they had suspected we were mining, and had begun digging, to try to find it

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 1 August 1864

I waked at about six in the morning and heard the General say, "Very well, then, let the truce be from five to nine." Whereby I knew that Beauregard had agreed to a cessation of hostilities for the burial of the dead

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 4 August 1864

This was quite a festal day for us. The General, accompanied by the Frenchies, Rosencrantz, Bache, Biddle and myself, paid a grand visit to Butler. Butler was in high feather.

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 6 August 1864

I took a limited ride along our flank defences, where I discovered a patriotic sentry, sitting with his back to where the enemy might be supposed to come, and reading a novel!

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 8 August 1864

As soldiers in the field the Germans are nearly useless; our experience is, they have no native courage to compare with Americans. Then they do not understand a word that is said to them - these new ones.

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 9 August 1864

in a few minutes came a telegraph from Grant, at City Point, saying that an ordnance barge had blown up, with considerable loss of life.

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 11 August 1864

Sheridan has been appointed to command all the upper Potomac forces, which is saying that he is to command all the troops to drive Early out of the Shenandoah Valley.

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 12 August 1864

I did not yet mention that I had seen Colonel Thomas, who commands a negro brigade. A singular thing happened to him. He went out during the truce to superintend, and, when the truce was over, he undertook to return to the works, but took a wrong tur

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 13 August 1864

As I drew near, I heard the sound as of minstrelsy and playing on the psaltry and upon the harp; to wit, a brass band, tooting away at a great rate. This was an unaccustomed noise, for Burnside is commonly not musical

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 14 August 1864

General Parke got back from his sick leave and took command of the 9th Corps. He is a very pleasant-looking man and liked apparently by everyone.

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 16 August 1864

Express orders were given to put in the best troops and have the division generals lead them if necessary. General Meade made examinations in person of the enemy's lines

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 18 August 1864

Last night I had got well into the first sound sleep, when images of war began to intrude on my dreams, and these, taking on a more corporeal form, gradually waked me enough to prove to my mind that there was a big racket going on.

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 19 August 1864

To-day I have been with the General to General Warren, who with the 5th Corps seized the Weldon railroad yesterday. It is touching a tiger's cubs to get on that road!

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 20 August 1864

A brigade of cavalry passed last night, coming from Deep Bottom, and reported this morning to General Warren, to cover his flank and rear, and help destroy the railroad.

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 21 August 1864

Last night, Hancock, with his two remaining divisions, marched from Deep Bottom and took position on our left, ready to support Warren.

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 23 August 1864

To-day I performed an act of military charity, by sending, per flag-of-truce boat, some coffee and sugar to Joe Hayes and Arthur Sedgwick.

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 24 August 1864

What you say of Meade's want of success is, as a fact, true; but what I don't understand is, that the successes are Grant's but the failures Meade's. In point of reality the whole is Grant's

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 25 August 1864

There has been more fighting to-day. Hancock, at Reams station, was destroying the railroad (Weldon) and holding a position

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 26 August 1864

It may be laid down as a general principle, that it is a bad thing, in a musket or a man, to go off at half-cock.

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 28 September 1864

It is late; I am somewhat tired and sleepy; I must be up early to-morrow, and many friends keep coming in to say "How are you?"

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 29 September 1864

The 6.45 P.M. train, which bore me, on Monday, from the ancient town of Beverly, did arrive in very good season in Boston, where I hired a citizen, in the hack line, to convey me with speed and safety to the Worcester depot.

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 30 September 1864

If the General will ride out at 8.30 A.M., and get back at 10.30 P.M., and fight a good part of the day, how am I to feel wakeful and lively to write to you?

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 2 October 1864

There were more Christian Commissioners, who were joined by those who had come with me. The funniest people you ever saw ! Their great and overshadowing anxiety was dinner

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 2 October 1864

The engineers were trotting round briskly, you may depend, ordering a redoubt here and a battery there, all intent on fencing in our new property. Luckily, the soil is very light and easy to dig, for our earthworks have now to be measured by miles.

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 3 October 1864

Rosey drew me aside with an air of mystery and told me that the whole army was ordered to be packed and ready at four the next morning, all prepared to march at a moment's notice.

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 3 October 1864

He was the young gentleman, you know, of whom the Reb paper said it was unworthy an honest officer to clasp the hand dipped in the gore of their brethren, even though cased in a glove of delicate kid

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 4 October 1864

The General rode along the whole front of the new line and carefully examined it, accompanied by his Staff and by the taciturn Roebling.

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 6 October 1864

Poor Biddle! I always begin his name with "poor." He was detailed to examine the trenches occupied by the 2d Corps, and see that the pickets were properly arranged.

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 7 October 1864

General Grant was on a flying visit to Washington to-day. I like to have him down here: first, he gives a General balance and steadiness ; then, what is most important, he can order just order what groceries he pleases, and no questions asked

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 10 October 1864

The Commander has been death on riding round lately on his jog-trotter, to inspect and mouse over works. He is mighty smart at such things, and if a line is run fifty feet out of position, he sees it like a flash.

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 11 October 1864

Did I tell you of the two spies, last night?

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 14 October 1864

How shall I vote? I don't know that I shall be given the chance; but, if I am, I shall vote for the blue-blooded Abraham.

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 17 October 1864

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.

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 27 October 1864

I caught the greatest pelting with all sorts of artillery projectiles to-day, you ever saw, but no hurt therefrom.

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 28 October 1864

I called our movement a grand reconnaissance in force; it would be more fair to call it an "attempt," whose success depended on the enemy not having certain advantages of position.

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 29 October 1864

Having been seized with a powerful suspicion that the valiant Frenchmen would fain squat, to speak in Western phrase...

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 30 October 1864

"Grant says I must write a report of the whole campaign," says the General, in the discontented voice of a schoolboy who has been set a long exercise.

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 6 November 1864

I can say with certainty that there is not a General in this army from whom the nigs might expect a judicious helping hand more than from Meade.

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 10 November 1864

They have been singularly niggardly to us about election returns ; but we have reliable intelligence to-night that Lincoln is re-elected, the coarse, honest, good-natured, tolerably able man !

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 11 November 1864

The McClellan procession might have spared their tapers, as he has gone up, poor Mac, a victim to his friends ! His has been a career manque, and a hard time he has had, and low he has fallen.

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 12 November 1864

We have the usual play of rumor about cabinets everybody seems inclined to heave out Stanton: some to heave him up to the Supreme Court some to heave him down to unknown depths of nothingness.

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 13 November 1864

We had a Lieutenant-Colonel C- , a Britisher, up for a visit; he is commander of the forces in that tropical climate of New Brunswick.

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 14 November 1864

There came over, for a visit, the Colonel Russell, of the funny turn, who commands now a brigade of negro troops. He has always something funny to relate of their manners and customs.

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 16 November 1864

They have made Sheridan a Major-General in the Regular Army. I think he deserves it for that remarkable battle of Cedar Creek.

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 18 November 1864

A number of beef cattle, in a pen near Yellow Tavern, were seized, in the night, with one of those panics for which oxen are noted, and to which the name "stampede" was originally applied.

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 19 November 1864

The rain continued, being cold, by way of variety, and from the northeast; whereby it happened that we got no mail.

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 22 November 1864

General Humphreys bestirred himself to give rational entertainment to the two Englanders; and so General Meade ordered a couple of brigades of cavalry turned out and a horse-battery.

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 24 November 1864

All day the waggons were distributing turkeys to the patriots, of whom I believe all got some, sooner or later.

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 27 November 1864

The day was further remarkable for the departure of my dear General Humphreys to take command of the 2d Army Corps. For Hancock has got a leave of absence, and will doubt less be put to recruiting fresh troops

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 28 November 1864

I was surprised they did not fire upon us, as there was a great crowd and evidently several generals among us. But I believe they never shoot. The pickets, on either side, are within close musket-range but have no appearance of hostility.

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 29 November 1864

I did not have room to tell you of the ingenious inventions of General Butler for the destruction of the enemy. He never is happy unless he has half a dozen contrivances on hand.

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 30 November 1864

Did you hear how the Hon. Nesmith, whom I have mentioned, discovered the real cause of the defeat at the first Bull Run?

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 1 December 1864

At daylight General Gregg made a start, with nearly his whole cavalry division, for Stony Creek station.

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 3 December 1864

At the end of each month, General Meade sends up his pay-rolls, that is, a large printed sheet which each officer fills up, stating what the Government owes him, and say ing that he hasn't cheated Uncle Sam

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 5 December 1864

My head has indeed been singularly empty for letter-writing; when a man talks about weather to his own wife he must be pretty hard up.

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 6 December 1864

There arrived Captain Alden, with 253 brevets, of all grades, for the Army of the Potomac. Do you know what a brevet is, and the force thereof? A brevet commission gives the dignity, but not always the pay or the authority, of the rank it confers.

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 8 December 1864

There came down an elephant of a young Englishman, who, if there be brains in his skull, they are so well concealed that nobody has found them hereabout.

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 9 December 1864

Miles's division of the 2d Corps was sent to aid the cavalry in forcing Hatcher's Run. They marched out early and found several regiments holding the crossing

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 10 December 1864

Miles, with the troops which had been sent to reinforce him, maintained a threatening attitude near Hatcher's Run till afternoon, when he was ordered to withdraw again to our lines.

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 11 December 1864

Sherman has disappeared in Georgia and nobody knows what awful strategy he contemplates.

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 12 December 1864

I did not fail to ride out and see the raiders come in. The head of the column arrived about noon, or an hour before.

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 13 December 1864

As the Rebels have known the fact for some time, and as the newspapers have hinted at it in unmistakable terms, I conceive there is no impropriety in my saying that we have now with us the 6th Corps once again.

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 14 December 1864

General Winthrop said his brigade bivouacked in a cornfield; it blew, snowed and sleeted all night, and when reveille beat in the morning, you could only see what seemed a field full of dead bodies

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 2 March 1865

You would not give us much credit for a chance to move, could you see the country; the ground everywhere saturated and rotten, and giving precarious tenure even to single horses, or waggons.

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 3 March 1865

General Webb is a good piece of luck, as successor to General Humphreys. He is very jolly and pleasant, while, at the same time, he is a thorough soldier, wide-awake, quick and attentive to detail.

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 4 March 1865

Yesterday the rain gave over partly, and so, in the afternoon, Rosie and I mounted and rode forth to see the new line to the left. The mare knew me and greeted me, in her characteristic way, by trying to kick and bite me.

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 5 March 1865

Gregg, by the way, has resigned. He is a loss to the service, and has commanded a cavalry division very successfully for a long time. I don't know why he went out, since he is a regular officer.

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 6 March 1865

I think I must relate to you a small story which they have as a joke against Major-General Crawford.

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 8 March 1865

At ten A.M. the General got a telegraph (one of those charming City Point surprises) saying that a train was just then starting, holding a dozen of womenkind and a certain force of the male sex

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 10 March 1865

What think you we did yesterday? We had a "Matinee Musicale," at the Chapel of the 50th New York Engineers. Nothing but high-toned amusements, now-a-day, you will perceive.

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 11 March 1865

From Grant we got a despatch that he would come up, with some ladies and gentlemen, to see our left and to review a few troops.

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 13 March 1865

We have a long telegram from Sheridan, dated Columbia (a small place on the James, between Lynchburg and Richmond). His raid has been a complete surprise.

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 18 March 1865

This morning I sent you a telegraph, which may be rather late, I fear, though I sent it at the earliest chance. It was to ask you to pay a day's visit here, and see the army, as a curiosity. Mrs. Meade is coming with a party in a special boat from Wa

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 25 March 1865

We may indeed call this a many-sided field-day : a break fast with a pleasure party, an assault and a recapture of an entrenched line, a review by the President of a division of infantry, and sharp fighting at sundry points of a front of eighteen mil

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 26 March 1865

Our train went briskly up to the front and stopped not far from the little rustic chapel you saw; for there was General Parke with his Staff, waiting to receive the General and report the morning's work

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 28 March 1865

I fancy a heavy infantry force will move to our left and rear, to mask and protect a great movement of cavalry with Sheridan at its head

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 29 March 1865

This has been a day of manoeuvre and not much fighting. To-morrow may see something more serious.

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 30 March 1865

I take advantage of a rainy morning to draw you a map and start a letter, to explain and recount the deeds of yesterday. . . .

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 31 March 1865

The rain held up about ten A.M. and the sun once more shone. By this time our lines, running east and west, had been moved due north, till they rested their right on Hatcher's Run, north of the Crow house

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 1 April 1865

You will see the April Fool was on the Rebels; for they did not know that, the night before, we had sent down an entire corps of infantry (the 5th) to aid the worsted Sheridan.

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 2 April 1865

Last night was a busy one and a noisy. Some battery or other was playing the whole time, and, now and then, they would all wake up at once; while the skirmishers kept rushing at each other and firing, sometimes almost by volleys.

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 2 April 1865

We began our day early, for, about light, I heard Duane say, outside my tent: "They have evacuated Petersburg." Sure enough, they were gone

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 4 April 1865

Grant had camped there, too, and had confirmed the rumor that Richmond was in our hands; also had stated that Sheridan, in his pursuit towards Amelia Court House, reported much abandoned property

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 5 April 1865

Last night, at 9.30, came a note from Sheridan, dated at Jetersville, saying that he was there, entrenched, with the 5th Corps and a part of the cavalry; that the whole Rebel army was in his front trying to get off its trains

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 6 April 1865

We are pelting after Old Lee as hard as the poor dough boys legs can go. I estimate our prisoners at 16,000, with lots of guns and colors.

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 7 April 1865

Nothing can more surprise one than a sudden view of this great viaduct, in a country like Virginia, where public works are almost unknown. It is a rail way bridge, nearly 2500 feet long, over the valley of the Appomattox

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 8 April 1865

We have been making our usual little picnic to-day say nineteen miles and have got about half-way between Burkeville Junction and Lynchburg.

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 9 April 1865

It was a strange spectacle, to see the officers laughing and giving each other $500 notes of a government that has been considered as firmly established by our English friends!

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 17 April 1865

Now, when I should be only overflowing with joy and thankfulness at these great results, I keep finding myself boiling and fuming over the personal neglect of General Meade

Headquarters Army Of Potomac, VA - 23 April 1865

Monday April 10 is a day worthy of description, because I saw the remains of our great opponent, the Army of Northern Virginia.