George G. Meade
George G. Meade was a notable Union general during the American Civil War who graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1835. Initially serving as an engineer in the Mexican-American War, he rose through the ranks during the Civil War, beginning as a brigadier general in command of a Pennsylvania brigade. His commendable leadership during early battles earned him a reputation as a capable commander. In June 1863, following his performance at the Battle of Chancellorsville, he was appointed commander of the Army of the Potomac.
Meade is best known for his role in the pivotal Battle of Gettysburg, which took place from July 1 to July 3, 1863. Under his command, the Union forces achieved a significant victory, effectively halting the Confederate advance into the North. However, Meade faced criticism for not effectively pursuing General Robert E. Lee’s retreating forces, with some historians suggesting that a more aggressive approach could have potentially shortened the war. After Gettysburg, he worked alongside Major General Ulysses S. Grant, whose leadership ultimately guided the Union to victory in 1865. Meade's legacy remains a subject of discussion in Civil War history, reflecting both his accomplishments and the complexities of military command.
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George G. Meade
- Born: December 31, 1815
- Birthplace: Cádiz, Spain
- Died: November 6, 1872
- Place of death: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Full name: George Gordon Meade
Principal wars: Mexican-American War, American Civil War
Principal battles: Chancellorsville (1863), Gettysburg (1863)
Military significance: Meade, named commander of the Army of the Potomac just days before the decisive Battle of Gettysburg in July, 1863, has been criticized for not taking advantage of General Robert E. Lee’s retreat to counterattack and perhaps hasten the end of the Civil War.
George G. Meade, an 1835 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, first saw combat as an army engineer during the Mexican-American War (1846–1848). He began the American Civil War (1861–1865) as a brigadier general in charge of a Pennsylvania brigade of volunteers. Meade’s courage and aggressive leadership in several early battles marked him as a valuable commander. In May, 1863, as a newly appointed major general, he again distinguished himself in the Battle of Chancellorsville. As a result, on June 28, he was appointed commander of the Army of the Potomac, the primary Union force.
Because Robert E. Lee’s Confederate army was moving north, Meade quickly concentrated his forces to protect Baltimore and Washington but did not attack. On June 30, 1863, scouting parties for both armies accidentally met near the small Pennsylvania town of Gettysburg. The next day, the armies attacked. The three-day battle that followed was a turning point in the war. The Northern army emerged victorious, halting the Southern invasion. Meade, however, was later criticized for his failure to reinforce his flanks and hold out fresh reserves, and most importantly, for his failure to pursue Lee’s army when it retreated. Critics argued that if Meade had done so, he could have ended the war. Instead, Meade was joined by Major General Ulysses S. Grant, who in effect assumed command of Meade’s army until the surrender of the confederacy at Appomattox in 1865.
Bibliography
Freeman, Cleaves. Meade of Gettysburg. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1960.
Lyman, Theodore. With Grant and Meade from the Wilderness to Appomattox. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1994.
Meade, George. Life and Letters of General George Gordon Meade. Baltimore, Md.: Butternut & Blue, 1996.