John Harrison Wilson, The life of Charles Henry Dana

[328] “Crittenden had asked to be relieved because his division is not equal to his rank” ; that certain transports were not clean enough for wounded soldiers; and that one of them was serving “beef to wounded soldiers so fat and gristly that even the well could not eat it.”

On June 8th, at 4 P. M., Dana reported to Stanton, among other things, that two divisions of Warren's corps had taken position to the left of Hancock near Botton's Bridge; that two officers of Grant's staff were with Butler, “making preparatory arrangements for the movement of this army to Bermuda Hundred, and that-possibly the march may begin to-morrow night.”

From the sane despatch it appears that the correspondent of a Cincinnati newspaper had given currency to the report that General Meade, after the battle of the Wilderness, had favored the withdrawal of the army to the north side of the Rappahannock, and that Grant had prevented it. It also appears that Meade, incensed by this report, had that day caused the provost-guard to arrest the offender, and, after parading him through the camps with large placards on his breast and back inscribed “Libeller of the press,” had expelled him from the lines.

On June 9th Dana reported the army as still at Cold Harbor, working under General Barnard's direction at a line of inner intrenchments to cover its withdrawal, which would probably take place the next night; that Meade was much troubled at the report that after the battle of the Wilderness he had counselled retreat; that this report was “entirely untrue,” and that Meade had not shown any weakness of that sort, nor had he once intimated a doubt as to the successful issue of the campaign. As this despatch was sent with Grant's knowledge and approval, it gave great comfort to both Meade and the administration at the time, end should have put the discreditable rumor to rest forever.