Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-11-17

later On IN. 18th OF October. from the
vicinity OF Centervile General Mea's
telegraphel Halleck asking Tor ihtoiina
ton OF General Lees movements "''
announcing that "it IL Impossible 10 nv
this army until I know something mo-
definite OF the movements OF the s".y
Everything indicated that the 'ohie',e ~
army was between Bun kun anu ""
Rappahaunock, but a rumor hau teae"
General Meade that its head had spl.N
ed again In the lower SHENANDOAH an
ley. Upon this. General Halieck' seen'lns
" having lost all patience with his SUD
ordiuate's Ignorance OF the situation IN
which he was a chief factor, and mani
fest inability 10 procure accurate infof-
nation Of General Lees movements or
divine HIS intentions. answered MN III lhe
following tart strain:
WAR DEPARTMENT.
WASHINGTON, october is. 1858.
MaJor-General Meade. Army Of the Po-
tomac:
The attack on Charlestown was not In
great force. Enemy finally rcpulsed.
General Sullivan has promised details
but none received. Lee Is unquesuonabiy
bullying you. IL you cannot ascertain
his movements, / certainly cannot. III
you pursue and fight him, | think you
will find out where he Is. | know OF no
other way. III. W. HAL-E'h'
General in-Chicf
The sneerlng tone OF this dispatch was
of itself sufficient 10 arouse the temper
OF n much more placid man than General
Meade under normal circumstances but
at this iuncture there were two extraor-
binary considerations which made II to
him peculiarly aggrayating. As SHOWN
above. the peppery Union commander was
already chafng under the knowledge
that his movements Of the previous ten
days had been unsatisfactory TO his SUI
periors. and that his falling back upon
Washington before an nsSior enemy
with whom he had been t<tking a gene
raj engagement ever sineA Gettysburg
had caused dstrust OF ~ capacity a.
well as desire to again meet his able con
federate antagonist: secondly Halleck, Of
all the others. had he.n most urgent for
an offensive stand against General Lee
from the inception OF his movement as
well as a covert critic from day 10 DAY
Of the continued retreat Of the FEDERAL
army from the Rapdan.
ME,DE's REPLY.
General Meade was not a man 70 tame
Is submit TO bullying. even nom su-
rerior. and one cannot help admirng the
firm spirit with which h. now resented
Hallecks attitude. rs well as the manner
Of Il. This was his quick retort:
HDQ'TRS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
October Is, lSs5-S.3o p. VI.
Major-General Halleck:
Your telegram Of =. NJ. just received.
II you have any orders 10 give me, | am
prepared TO receive and obey them, but |
must insist on being spared the in'iicuon
Of such truisms In the guise OF opin-
ions as you have recently honored me
with, particularly as they have not been
asked for. l take this occasion 70 repeat
what / have before stated-that II my
course. based on my own judgment, does
not meet with approval. | ought to be-
and | desire 70 be. relieved from COM
mand. GEORGE @. MEADE,
Major-General Commanding.
General Halleck was undoubtedly an
able clear-heade1 adviser 10 his govern
ment. The one blot upon the character OF
this ACCOMPLISHED man was an Inherent
disposition To browbeat subOrdinates-an
overbearing habit that had its first pubic
illustration in his treatment Of the mod
est unassumng Grant early In NJ, ana
subsequently Sherman, at the close or the
war But when. in turn. he met a pull
dozer like General Meade. he seemed 10
lack the necessary moral courage TO carry
the game through with high hand. He
weakened.
on the next day, on the excuse that
his "trulsms" were merely telegraphed
as the best mode Of conveying to the
general in the field the wishes Of the
government" Halleck apologized to Meade
in the most handsome manner. II his
language had "unintentionally given Of
fence" And In a spirit that showed him
10 be a true soldier and n gentleman,
Meade replied. Your explanation Of your
intentions is accepted, and l thank you
for H."
4 word more. General Meade doggedly
persisted IN his policy Of clrcumspection'
and was henceforward left 10 his own
devices In the conduct Of the campaign
without suggestion or comment from
Washington. General l. p. his purpose ac-
complished, slowly retired To the Kappa
hammock, behind which b. prepared to 20
into winter quarters, General Meade eau
tiously following. watching closely for a
favorable opportunity 10 deliver battle.
| on November 9Th he suddenly and Un x
| pectedly attacked Confederate redoubt
at Rappahannock Station. with over
whelming numbers making considerable
captures. and successfully forcing a pas
| sage Of the river This compelled a
| change Of plan on General Lees part. and
he retired still further behind the Rapi-
| dan again. This event demonstrated that
! General Meade 10 more lacked the nerve
| to take the offensive under favorable cir
I cumstances. when his judgment dictated
II than to resent the unJust.hable bully
/ ing OF Halleck.
LESLIE j. PERRY.
Washington. November Il, 1885.
l