George Meade, The Life and Letters of George Gordon Meade, Major-General United States Army
George Gordon Meade, Ed.

[39] taking a sick leave; but I am very confident there is no apprehension of that kind, and I believe Dr. Craig offered to get me out, more from his kindness of heart, having taken a fancy to me, and seeing there was no particular use in my remaining, and presuming I was very anxious to join you and our dear children. I hope you will not blame me for the course I have taken, and, rest assured, whenever I conceive a change of climate to be necessary, I will not hesitate an instant about going.

Since I last wrote the weather has been much more favorable, the sun having actually shone for two days, which it had not done before for six weeks. My jaundice, too, is almost entirely gone, my appetite and spirits returned, and altogether life is another thing to what it was a week ago. I now congratulate myself very much for having refused a sick-leave; for although I was sure I should get well here, yet I did not expect to be restored so soon.

There are a thousand reports in the camp, making the period of our remaining almost any length from one month to a year; but I presume the truth is nothing is known about it, even at Washington, and my own opinion is that it depends entirely on the negotiations with Mexico which are at present being carried on. We will without doubt await the termination of these. Should it be favorable, and the questions at issue be settled, we will be withdrawn; but, should it be unfavorable, I think we will be thrown forward to occupy the line of boundary as claimed by the United States, and take forcible possession of it and let Mexico do what she can. In the first case, I should suppose next spring would be ample time to come to a definite conclusion, and I might therefore look to getting out in April or May; but should the second case occur, there would be no telling how long we might be kept here. As to the Tortugas, I fear there is but little chance of my getting there. I have a letter from Pemberton, of the 16th of November. He says they have been three weeks at the Tortugas, and expect to finish by the middle of this month; and if they have as good luck in favorable weather as they already have experienced, they will finish the whole by May, about the time I hope to get away from here. I have therefore pretty much made up my mind to being absent from you till next summer, and this I shall consider good luck. If I only keep my health I shall be contented, hard as is the separation from you and