Meade: Victor of Gettysburg

Military Profiles

by Richard A. Sauers

Most students of the American Civil War know the name George Gordon Meade, but few can tell you about the man. With this addition to Potomac’s Military Profiles series, historian Richard Sauers examines the life of one of the Union Army’s most notable generals. Rising from the Union officer corps to lead the previously ill-fated Army of the Potomac, Meade took command only hours before his forces stumbled upon Robert E. Lee’s Confederates at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, in 1863. He led his men to victory in one of the most famous battles in history, but Meade was soon embroiled in political battles with fellow generals and Washington politicians. Despite detractors’ efforts to question Meade’s judgment and smear his reputation—efforts often exacerbated by the general’s own volatile temper and undiplomatic behavior—he continued to put duty to his country and his men first. When Ulysses S. Grant was named lieutenant general in charge of all Union forces, Grant made his headquarters with the Army of the Potomac and soon overshadowed Meade. Sauers chronicles the tense relationship that developed between the two men and the effect it had on the crucial last days of the war. Sauers’s concise but authoritative biography sheds new light on one of the Civil War’s most significant leaders. His book, the only new biography of Meade to appear in over thirty years, should spark renewed study of this brave but overlooked general.

Genres: Civil War, History

128 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2004

Reviews

[Tyler · Rating 4 out of 5]

George Meade Victor of Gettysburg is a great book for information on the civil war. This book takes place in the 1800's on the battle feild of the civil war. George Meade was the commander and cheif of the army of the Potomac. But he did not start out the George was actually born in spain and moved to the U.S because of financial problems. At 16 he went to a military school and graduated as an engineer. He then was a brigader for the third crop of the atlantic. He then started working his way up to higher positions. He then left and was a surveyer. He rejoined and worked up to the leader of the Potomac replacing Joseph Hooker three days before Gettysburg. George lead the Potomac army south defeating General Lee. George Meade is a brave and relentless person. This book not only helped me learn about the civil war but entertained me while i was reading.