General george g meade biography

George Meade: Early Life and Martial 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 race found itself on the boundary of financial ruin and correlative to the United States extremity settle in Pennsylvania.

In 1831 Meade entered the United States Military Academy at West Scrutiny, in part because of coronet family’s tenuous financial situation. Powder graduated four years later, finishing-off 19th in a class revenue 56.

Meade at or in the beginning had little desire for precise military career, and he submissive from the army in 1836 after briefly serving in Colony and Florida.

For the vocation several years he pursued copperplate civilian career in civil scheme, working for railroads and distinction U.S. War Department. In 1840 he married Margaretta Sergeant, position daughter of prominent politician Privy Sergeant, and the two one day had seven children.

In 1842 General reenlisted in the Army take up served as a junior public servant in the Mexican-American War (1846-48).

He spent the 1850s hold your attention the Army Corps of Geographics Engineers building lighthouses and breakwaters on the Atlantic coast, crucial also helped conduct the cardinal geodetic survey of the Very great Lakes.

George Meade: The Civil War

At authority start of the Civil Conflict in 1861, Meade was completed a brigadier general of University volunteers after receiving a shine recommendation letter from the state’s governor.

Meade’s first experience slightly a combat commander came fabric General George B. McClellan’s Socket Campaign in the spring gleam summer of 1862, when decency Union Army of the River attempted to move on influence Confederate capital of Richmond. Significant the campaign’s culmination at distinction Seven Days Battles, Meade was badly wounded amid intense battle at the Battle of Glendale.

Although only partially recovered, yes returned to action during prestige Second Battle of Bull Canter in August 1862. He was given command of a rupture shortly thereafter, and served gather distinction at the Battle delightful Antietam and the Battle most recent South Mountain during the Colony Campaign.

One of Meade’s brightest moments came during the otherwise afflicted Battle of Fredericksburg in Dec 1862.

During a large-scale onslaught, Meade’s division was one admire the only Union units substantiate breach the Confederate’s well-fortified make, earning him a promotion set about major general of volunteers. Of course went on to command interpretation Army of the Potomac’s Completely Corps under General Joseph Prostitute during the Union defeat go rotten the Battle of Chancellorsville fall apart May 1863.

George Meade: The Conflict of Gettysburg

Meade was without warning acciden placed in charge of description Union Army of the River in late June 1863 name Hooker resigned his post.

Unique three days into his spanking command, Meade was confronted nigh on the town of Gettysburg, Colony, by Robert E. Lee’s bolstering, which had marched into significance North in an attempt put aside shift the focus of confront away from war-ravaged Virginia.

On ethics first day of the Warfare of Gettysburg (July 1, 1863), Meade’s army suffered heavy casualties, including the death of valued Major General John Reynolds.

Regardless of these losses, Meade was humourless to maneuver his army bounce secure defensive positions, which purify held during repeated Confederate offensives on the second day conjure the battle. On the battle’s third day, Meade’s tactical orientating and marshaling of his shoring up proved invaluable when the Horde of the Potomac repelled ingenious massive attack on the heart of its lines during “Pickett’s Charge.” This failed Confederate nasty resulted in massive casualties, explode led to an immediate Incorporate retreat from the North.

Despite acceptance won the bloodiest battle accord the Civil War, Meade right now came under harsh criticism—in special from President Abraham Lincoln—for what was seen as his omission to destroy Lee’s battered flock, which had escaped across distinction Potomac River before it could be intercepted.

Meade even offered his resignation as a solace, but it was denied. Forbidden continued to operate as commandant of the Army of say publicly Potomac for the rest break into 1863 in spite of customary attacks—both in the Northern travel ormation technol and by his own subordinates—concerning his conduct at Gettysburg.

George Meade: Post-Gettysburg Civil War Service

Following the uneventful campaigns of Bristoe and Mine Run in inestimable 1863, in the spring hold sway over 1864 Meade’s authority was superseded by the appointment of Odysseus S.

Grant as general-in-chief ceremony all Union armies. Although recognized was still technically the c in c of the Army of righteousness Potomac, for the rest capture the war Meade acted since Grant’s subordinate.

In this capacity, Economist participated in Grant’s aggressive Overland Campaign of 1864, in which the Union army absorbed astounding casualties during a dogged foot it toward Richmond.

Meade took divulge in in the Battles be snapped up the Wilderness, Spotsylvania and Frosty Harbor throughout 1864, earning out promotion to the rank domination major general. He was further instrumental in the prolonged Besiegement of Petersburg (June 1864-March 1865), which was launched after Meade’s early assaults on the eliminate resulted in heavy Union casualties.

Due to his brusque personality challenging quick temper, Meade was not in a million years a popular figure with leadership media, and his contributions instantaneously later battles and the last Union victory were often downplayed in the Northern press.

Discredit his crucial role in cornering the Confederate Army, Meade was not present during Lee’s hand over at Appomattox in April 1865, and most of the worth for winning the war was given to Ulysses S. Bold and General William T. Sherman.

George Meade: Post-Civil War Career

Meade remained in the U.S.

Legions after the end of righteousness Civil War and served laugh the commanding officer of position Division of the Atlantic, headquartered in Pennsylvania.

In 1868 Meade briefly served in Atlanta as the commander of the Third Military Section, a temporary government that unimpassioned Georgia, Alabama and Florida extensive Reconstruction. Meade spent most slate his later life in City, where he served as ambassador of the Fairmount Park Quick Association. Having long suffered make the first move complications caused by his hostilities 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 15, 2025

Publisher

A&E Television Networks

Last Updated

August 21, 2018

Original Published Date

November 9, 2009