General Meade: Lee is Just 15 Miles Away and "May at Any Time Force Action on Us.”

Meade has no objections to General Marcy assisting General Hooker with the preparation of his report: “I am well aware of what value your services will be,” he says, “should the question be referred to me.” He is sorry to hear that Marcy is still troubled by his wound – “these things can not be helped” – and has received the “very graphic” carte-de-visite Marcy sent, commenting that “if nothing worse than this happens to me I shall be a fortunate man.” He regrets he cannot allow leaves for Perkins and Oliver, but is refusing all leaves except in the cases of the greatest emergency. Not much is going on, he closes – except that Lee is just fifteen miles away and “may at any time force action on us.”

Autograph Letter Signed, 2 pages, octavo, Head Quarters, Army of the Potomac, August 20, 1863. To General Randolph Barnes Marcy.