Meade Meade

[MikeyB]

Was July 3rd the apex of Meade's career? I know that he very competently handled the AOP for the rest of the war and Grant seemed to like him well enough. But were there any other post-Gettysburg flashes of brilliance or banner days for Meade that get overshadowed by his success at Gettysburg? Or did he truly peak at Pickett's Charge?

 

[JOHN42768]

That is a tough act to follow

 

[MikeyB]

That is a tough act to follow

that is true!

 

[jackt62]

I must give credit to Meade for abandoning a planned assault on the strong Confederate lines at Mine Run in December 1863 (at the behest of G. Warren). He was thoughtful enough to resist the backbenchers who were always calling for aggressive actions no matter what the potential cost/benefit was.

 

[Pete Longstreet]

Given the positions Meade was put in, he performed well. Gettysburg for example, he received command of the Army just days before that great battle. Although Meade takes some heat for not pursuing the Confederates, his army was just as tired as Lee's after 3 days of battle. He also had to conduct his operations with Grant by his side. Grant comes from the west, and remains with Meade throughout Appomattox. It's hard to say if Pickett's charge was the apex of Meade's career... or by Grant coming east, he took the spotlight off of Meade, thus making it appear as Meade's career stalled after Gettysburg.

 

[Civil War Week By Week]

I believe Meade did reach the apex of his career at Gettysburg mostly because of the importance of Gettysburg and it was before Grant came to the east. Once Grant arrived its hard to say what was him and what was Meade.

 

[Andy Cardinal]

Grant himself gave Meade a lot more credit than most of his contemporaries and most modern writers have. I'm not sure Meade was a brilliant commander, but he was a good soldier -- and those are usually in short supply.

I would argue that July 2 was actually Meade's best day as opposed to July 3.

 

[jackt62]

Meade's performance at Gettysburg was enough to cement his future reputation. It's important to remember that he continued to lead the AotP for the remainder of the war, unlike the previous commanders who failed to live up to expectations. Certainly, Meade was always overshadowed by Grant, but that shouldn't distract from Meade's effective command of the AotP from Gettysburg to Appomattox.

 

[Josh The Lighthouse Guy]

He was thoughtful enough to resist the backbenchers who were always calling for aggressive actions no matter what the potential cost/benefit was.

That was also Meade's weakness. He put together some good plans, but lacked the aggressiveness to execute them effectively. He was too afraid of being blamed for failure so he was unwilling to take risks.

I agree with the previous poster who called Meade a "good soldier." He was a solid, dutiful, respectful, respected general. He just didn't have "it." He was never going to lead the AOTP to victory over a Lee-led ANV, not without someone like Grant.

 

[jmere]

Was July 3rd the apex of Meade's career? I know that he very competently handled the AOP for the rest of the war and Grant seemed to like him well enough. But were there any other post-Gettysburg flashes of brilliance or banner days for Meade that get overshadowed by his success at Gettysburg? Or did he truly peak at Pickett's Charge?

The argument can be made that Pickett's Charge was anticlimactic. Maybe the apex is when Meade decides to stay and fight at Gettysburg. Thoughts?

When discussing Meade's apex, it must be noted that he was the final commander of the Army of the Potomac. (Keep in mind Burnside only lasted about 77.) Maybe his tenure as the AOP commander should be considered the apex. Again, thoughts?

 

[Jamieva]

That was also Meade's weakness. He put together some good plans, but lacked the aggressiveness to execute them effectively. He was too afraid of being blamed for failure so he was unwilling to take risks.

I agree with the previous poster who called Meade a "good soldier." He was a solid, dutiful, respectful, respected general. He just didn't have "it." He was never going to lead the AOTP to victory over a Lee-led ANV, not without someone like Grant.

he wasn't really given free reign to do what he wanted in the fall of 63. Halleck micro managed him, dictated his avenue of advance etc

 

[Morrow7x]

I know this post is kinda old, but I thought you might find an 'entertainment' piece that showed up on MSN today interesting... Apparently, Tom Hanks plays Meade in an episode of the much-hyped "1883".

"In real life General George Meade was a Spanish-born Civil War general who led the Union to victory after the defeat of Confederate General Robert E. Lee at the Battle of Gettysburg."

MSN

 

[Nathan Stuart]

Meade was a naturally careful and cautious General who had the benefit of good ground at Gettysburg to mount a successful defense.

What was more impressive was that he was only appointed (from Corps command) to lead the entire Army of the Potomac on June 28, two days before the battle.

 

[wausaubob]

Grant himself gave Meade a lot more credit than most of his contemporaries and most modern writers have. I'm not sure Meade was a brilliant commander, but he was a good soldier -- and those are usually in short supply.

I would argue that July 2 was actually Meade's best day as opposed to July 3.

The army was significantly more professional starting with Hooker and through the rest of the war. The press and the people may have wanted a more charismatic general, and that was not Meade. But Grant needed was someone to manage, and keep the army together, while he gathered in how to do things in Virginia.
The Army of the Potomac went through some terrible things in the summer of 1864. But it stayed together, and that had to with Meade and Ingalls and the army's water transport capability. Every officer who was part of that deserves the credit.
In the end, the II, V and VI corps were all commanded by Meade men, and all performed well. As @leftyhunter and I like to kick around, it doesn't matter who wins the most battles, who wins the last battle is what matters most. Meade held together the army that Sheridan and Grant used to save the US a summer of black flag warfare in 1865.

 

[Drew]

Meade held together the army that Sheridan and Grant used to save the US a summer of black flag warfare in 1865.

Sheridan? WTF did he do, other than escape Wade Hampton's cavalry in his underwear?

I respect George Meade, but Dirty Phil has no place in a thread bearing Meade's name.

 

[leftyhunter]

Sheridan? WTF did he do, other than escape Wade Hampton's cavalry in his underwear?

I respect George Meade, but Dirty Phil has no place in a thread bearing Meade's name.

Sheridan performers brilliantly in the Shendoah Valley and that's good enough.
Leftyhunter