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We have had a little rain, which has added greatly to our comfort and allayed somewhat the dust which has been such an annoyance.
We are waiting the return of the Sixth Corps, sent to relieve Washington, after which I suppose we shall begin anew.
Headquarters army of the Potomac, July 23, 1864.
The stories you hear about me, some of which have reached camp, are mere canards. I have never had any quarrel with either General Hancock or Smith.
Hancock is an honest man, and as he always professes the warmest friendship for me, I never doubt his statements; and I am sure I have for him the most friendly feeling and the highest appreciation of his talents.
I am perfectly willing at any time to turn over to him the Army of the Potomac, and wish him joy of his promotion.
We have been very quiet since I last wrote; there are signs of approaching activity.
The army is getting to be quite satisfied with its rest, and ready to try it again.
It would appear from the news from Niagara Falls that the question of peace has been in a measure mooted.
The army would hail an honorable peace with delight, and I do believe, if the question was left to those who do the fighting, an honorable peace would be made in a few hours.
Ord has been placed in Smith's place in command of the Eighteenth Corps, and General Birney has been assigned to the Tenth Corps, largely composed of colored troops.Headquarters army of the Potomac, July 26, 1864.
I consider the peace movement in Canada, and the share Horace Greeley had in it, as most significant.
The New York Times of the 23d has a most important article on the President's ‘To whom it may concern’ proclamation, in which it is argued that Mr. Lincoln was right to make the integrity of the Union a sine qua non, but not to make the abandonment of slavery; that this last is a question for discussion and mutual arrangement, and should not be interposed as a bar to peace negotiations.
It is a pity Mr. Lincoln employed the term ‘abandonment of slavery,’ as it implies its immediate abolition or extinction, to which the South will never agree; at least, not until our military successes have been greater than they have hitherto been, or than they now seem likely to be. Whereas had he said the final adjustment of the 