- Joined
- Dec 30, 2019
I have never discovered the nature of the trouble between Doubleday and Meade. As a student of Gettysburg, I am a bit of a fan of Doubleday and Meade, and also Buford. However, I have sometimes wondered if Buford's message to Pleasanton at 3:30 p.m. on July 1, 1863, was perhaps the root, or at least the excuse, for Meade passing over Doubleday in favor of Newton. Buford's message stated in pertinent part: "General Reynolds was killed early this morning. In my opinion, there seems to be do directing person." It's hard to know if that last sentence was a knock on Doubleday or Howard. However, given that Buford seems focused on the fighting on the Cashtown Road, one would believe that he was focused west of town, i.e. on the First Corps.In a long career in the US Army, July 1 was probably Abner Doubleday's finest hour as a soldier, right when the AotP needed someone to step up after Reynolds' death. It's a shame that he and Meade hated one another and that Doubleday has faded into the background of Gettysburg.
Ryan
Incidentally, Doubleday was senior to Newton among A.O.P. generals as of the day Hooker was relieved.