On the following day, as already stated, I visited General Meade, commanding the Army of the Potomac, at his headquarters at Brandy Station, north of the Rapidan.

I had known General Meade slightly in the Mexican war, but had not met him since until this visit.

I was a stranger to most of the Army of the Potomac, I might say to all except the officers of the regular army who had served in the Mexican war.
There had been some changes ordered in the organization of that army before my promotion.

One was the consolidation of five corps into three, thus throwing some officers of rank out of important commands.
Meade evidently thought that I might want to make still one more change not yet ordered.

He said to me that I might want an officer who had served with me in the West, mentioning Sherman specially, to take his place.