Lot 163: MEADE, George Gordon (1815-1872), Major General. Autograph letter signed ("Geo. G. Meade"), to Brigadier General William Farrar Smith ("Baldy"), Head Quarters, Army of the Potomac, 11 December 1863. 3 pages, 8vo, integral blank.

MEADE, George Gordon (1815-1872), Major General. Autograph letter signed ("Geo. G. Meade"), to Brigadier General William Farrar Smith ("Baldy"), Head Quarters, Army of the Potomac, 11 December 1863. 3 pages, 8vo, integral blank. "IF YOU EVER HAVE THE MISFORTUNE TO GET COMMAND OF AN ARMY...I TRUST...YOU WILL HAVE BETTER LUCK THAN I HAVE FOUND" MEADE BLAMES HIS SUBORDINATES FOR HIS FAILURE TO PURSUE LEE'S ARMY AFTER GETTYSBURG. A most unusual letter of Meade, predicting he will "have my head cut off" and be retired in disgrace for his failure to exploit the Union victory and take advantage of Lee's flight. He thanks Smith for his his "complimentary notice of my official report of Gettysburgh. I regret very much that the paragraph referring to yourself & Crouch was not so satisfactory. I assure it was my desire to make it so....That you considered yourself removed from Genl. Couch's orders I was not aware of, as in fact Genl. Couch had by the news of the Genl. in Chief been placed under my orders with his whole command." He congratulates Smith on his success at Chattanooga, and adds "Before this reaches you, you will have learned of the unfortunate results of my late movements...I do not know whether the facts of the case will ever become public, but I may say here that what I considered well laid plans were frustrated by the slowness & incompetence of subordinates upon whose action their execution depended. I am in daily expectation of having my head cut off, and numerous scriveners assign as my successor one of the Generals now with you. I trust I shall be able to bear my retirement with as much fortitude & equableness as I have my elevation." For 10 agonizing days Lincoln hoped Meade would renew his attack: "If Gen. Meade can complete his work so gloriously prosecuted thus far, by the literal or substantial destruction of Lee's army, the rebellion will be over." But Meade had been badly shaken by the carnage and moved too slowly, allowing Lee to slip back into Virginia. "Our army held the war in the hollow of their hand," a distraught Lincoln complained, "and they would not close it!"