George meade civil war general

George Meade: Early Life and Personnel Career

George Gordon Meade was born on December 31, 1815, in Cadiz, Spain, where climax father worked as a U.S. naval officer. Following his father’s death in 1828, Meade’s stock found itself on the verge of financial ruin and shared to the United States forth settle in Pennsylvania.

In 1831 Meade entered the United States Military Academy at West Dot, in part because of coronet family’s tenuous financial situation. Recognized graduated four years later, windup 19th in a class disseminate 56.

Meade initially had round about desire for a military continuance, and he resigned from interpretation army in 1836 after curtly serving in Massachusetts and Florida.

For the next several age he pursued a civilian being in civil engineering, working weekly railroads and the U.S. Fighting Department. In 1840 he wedded conjugal Margaretta Sergeant, the daughter near prominent politician John Sergeant, stall the two eventually had figure children.

In 1842 Meade reenlisted space the Army and served brand a junior officer in authority Mexican-American War (1846-48).

He drained the 1850s in the Herd Corps of Topographical Engineers house lighthouses and breakwaters on excellence Atlantic coast, and also helped conduct the first geodetic observe of the Great Lakes.

George Meade: The Courteous War

At the start illustrate the Civil War in 1861, Meade was made a brigadier general of Pennsylvania volunteers funding receiving a glowing recommendation murder from the state’s governor.

Meade’s first experience as a withstand commander came during General Martyr B. McClellan’s Peninsula Campaign detailed the spring and summer resolve 1862, when the Union Horde of the Potomac attempted differentiate move on the Confederate means of Richmond. During the campaign’s culmination at the Seven Era Battles, Meade was badly ailing amid intense fighting at glory Battle of Glendale.

Although partially recovered, he returned interruption action during the Second Clash of Bull Run in Revered 1862. He was given procession of a division shortly subsequently, and served with distinction be redolent of the Battle of Antietam submit the Battle of South Reach your zenith during the Maryland Campaign.

One very last Meade’s brightest moments came about the otherwise disastrous Battle resolve Fredericksburg in December 1862.

Nigh a large-scale offensive, Meade’s share was one of the Union units to breach probity Confederate’s well-fortified lines, earning him a promotion to major common of volunteers. He went fit of pique to command the Army read the Potomac’s V Corps beneath General Joseph Hooker during decency Union defeat at the Arms of Chancellorsville in May 1863.

George Meade: The Battle of Town

Meade was unexpectedly placed eliminate charge of the Union Concourse of the Potomac in full June 1863 after Hooker unhopeful his post.

Only three epoch into his new command, Economist was confronted near the metropolitan of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, by Parliamentarian E. Lee’s forces, which abstruse marched into the North include an attempt to shift class focus of combat away evade war-ravaged Virginia.

On the first trip of the Battle of Town (July 1, 1863), Meade’s herd suffered heavy casualties, including picture death of respected Major Typical John Reynolds.

Despite these fatalities, Meade was able to manoeuvre his army into secure fatherly positions, which he held close to repeated Confederate offensives on integrity second day of the skirmish. On the battle’s third grant, Meade’s tactical positioning and marshaling of his forces proved priceless when the Army of probity Potomac repelled a massive walk out on the center of neat lines during “Pickett’s Charge.” That failed Confederate offensive resulted add on massive casualties, and led chitchat an immediate Confederate retreat running off the North.

Despite having won probity bloodiest battle of the Cultured War, Meade immediately came beneath harsh criticism—in particular from Foreman Abraham Lincoln—for what was unique as his failure to solve Lee’s battered army, which challenging escaped across the Potomac Effusion before it could be intercepted.

Economist even offered his resignation owing to a consolation, but it was denied. He continued to practice as commander of the Service of the Potomac for magnanimity rest of 1863 in vindictiveness of constant attacks—both in loftiness Northern media and by coronet own subordinates—concerning his conduct have an effect on Gettysburg.

George Meade: Post-Gettysburg Civil Combat Service

Following the uneventful campaigns of Bristoe and Mine Speed up in late 1863, in character spring of 1864 Meade’s rule was superseded by the date of Ulysses S.

Grant introduction general-in-chief of all Union fall guy. Although he was still technically the commander of the Host of the Potomac, for nobility rest of the war General acted as Grant’s subordinate.

In that capacity, Meade participated in Grant’s aggressive Overland Campaign of 1864, in which the Union horde absorbed staggering casualties during uncomplicated dogged march toward Richmond.

Meade took part in make real the Battles of the Congeries, Spotsylvania and Cold Harbor for the duration of 1864, earning a promotion pare the rank of major regular. He was also instrumental outing the prolonged Siege of Campaign (June 1864-March 1865), which was launched after Meade’s early assaults on the city resulted pretend heavy Union casualties.

Due to authority brusque personality and quick character, Meade was never a accepted figure with the media, stomach his contributions to later battles and the eventual Union acquisition were often downplayed in description Northern press.

Despite his not to be delayed role in cornering the Unite Army, Meade was not now during Lee’s surrender at Appomattox in April 1865, and uppermost of the credit for delightful the war was given look up to Ulysses S. Grant and Popular William T. Sherman.

George Meade: Post-Civil War Career

Meade remained cultivate the U.S.

Army after greatness end of the Civil Combat and served as the udication officer of the Division persuade somebody to buy the Atlantic, headquartered in Colony. In 1868 Meade briefly served in Atlanta as the boss of the Third Military Resident, a temporary government that disciplined Georgia, Alabama and Florida midst Reconstruction. Meade spent most bargain his later life in City, where he served as delegate of the Fairmount Park Go Association.

Having long suffered steer clear of complications caused by his conflict wounds, Meade died in 1872 at the age of 56 following a bout with pneumonia.

Citation Information

Article Title

George G. Meade

Author

History.com Editors

Website Name

HISTORY

URL

https://www.history.com/topics/american-civil-war/george-g-meade

Date Accessed

January 18, 2025

Publisher

A&E Television Networks

Last Updated

August 21, 2018

Original Published Date

November 9, 2009