July 27, 1863

July 27, 1863

---President Lincoln writes a note to Gen. Meade concerning the disposition of the ousted Joseph Hooker:

To GENERAL G. G. MEADE. (Private.)EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, July 27, 1863. 

MAJOR-GENERAL MEADE:
I have not thrown General Hooker away; and therefore I would like to know whether it would be agreeable to you, all things considered, for him to take a corps under you, if he himself is willing to do so. Write me in perfect freedom, with the assurance that I will not subject you to any embarrassment by making your letter or its contents known to any one. I wish to know your wishes before I decide whether to break the subject to him. Do not lean a hair’s breadth against your own feelings, or your judgment of the public service, on the idea of gratifying me. 

Yours truly,
A. LINCOLN

---George Templeton Strong writes in his journal and makes a significant passing remark about the relative racial quality of the blacks, in the wake of successes by black troops in battle:

Both Crane and Mitchell speak highly of the discipline of our new black regiments. . . . The liberated Negroes, now working for wages, behave like Christians, bear no malice, and commit no outrages.  Southern Cuffee seems of higher social grade than Northern Paddy.  The generous and chivalric sons of Erin are under a cloud just now.

---The Richmond Daily Dispatch reprints an article from the Petersburg Express about enterprising black women in the town who have made a lively business of selling dog meat stew to Confederate soldiers:

The Petersburg Express, of Saturday, has the following paragraph, which will cause a weak feeling in the stomach of many of our soldiers, who have taken "snacks" in that town: 

The negro women (two in number) who served cooked dog meat to the soldiers near this city, a day or two since, were caught and a whipping of 39 lashes administered to each. The dish was served in the shape of a Bruns wick stew, in which dog and pork meat were promiscuously mixed, and dealt out to purchasers at the rate of one dollar a snack. Though a singular taste was observed about the meat, the discovery that any portion of it was canine was not made until a considerable part of the stew had been eaten. An examination of the bones was then made, when they were found to be veritable dog bones. We are glad to know that a swift and just punishment was visited upon the women who perpetrated this infamous deception.

The love of money is the root of much evil, and we again advise our soldier friends to be on their guard against eating cheap meat pies, served by irresponsible negro cooks. They know not what they may eat in them.