information staggered me at first, for I knew well the great

responsibilities of such a position; moreover, I was but slightly

acquainted with military operations in Virginia, and then, too, the

higher officers of the Army of the Potomac were little known to me,

so at the moment I felt loth to undergo the trials of the new

position. Indeed, I knew not a soul in Washington except General

Grant and General Halleck, and them but slightly, and no one in

General Meade's army, from the commanding general down, except a few

(Editor：library)