George Meade
Like a number of other young men of his generation, George Gordon Meade had entered West Point as an alternative to paying for a college education he could not afford. He never intended to make the army his career, and he possessed neither a soldierly appearance nor a soldierly temperament. His command presence was nil, and he was notoriously irritable and famous for fits of anger. Politically inept, he was abrasive, readily giving as well as taking offense. Yet he had a strong sense of duty, placed a high value on loyalty, was fearless in combat, and, at his best, took a methodical approach to war-fighting, from logistics to engagement.
As a subordinate commander, leading a brigade, a division, or a corps, he was aggressive, taking more initiative than most other Union generals. When he ascended to independent command as leader of the Army of the Potomac, however, he fell back on his natural tendency to caution. Calm, steady, competent, a good judge of men, and a leader willing to empower his subordinates, Meade assumed command of the Army of the Potomac from a badly shaken Joseph Hooker, who made no attempt to create a seamless transition of leadership. Three days after he took over, Meade fought the Battle of Gettysburg and managed to wring a critical turning-point victory using entirely defensive tactics. His failure to pursue the defeated Robert E. Lee, however, almost certainly prolonged the war unnecessarily, and his performance after Gettysburg, still as Army of the Potomac commander but very much in the shadow of Ulysses S. Grant, was adequate at best, careless at worst, and generally lackluster.
HISTORIANS RATING: TWO STARS AND A HALF STARS
I'm good with all of that. Ever wonder "what if Grant never goes East?" I don't think Meade could have done it by himself. Maybe Hancock eventually takes over command. Or the politically connected Sickles somehow convinces his powerful friends to get him the appointment. Who knows?
_________________ Gen. Blake Strickler Confederate General-in-Chief El Presidente 2010 - 2012
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