General Meade

          Why exactly are we all here today? Why is the name of our country still “United States?” Well, it all boils down to a hero of the Civil War – Major General George Gordon Meade. He devised brilliant tactics that led him and the Union to victory in many battles, including the Battle of Gettysburg and the Battle of Shiloh. All of these summed up to a grand victory of the Union. Thus, out nation’s name is still preserved as the “United States,” not the “Union and “Confederates.”

            George Gordon Meade was born on December 31, 1815 in Cadiz, Spain. His father, once a wealthy American merchant, was financially ruined after two siblings, who were married to high stations to both the north and the south. Meanwhile, Meade applied as a student West Point.

            In 1831, Meade officially entered the military academy. For four years, he studied complex military tactics of great British commanders and methods of efficiently maneuvering a large army. Meade ranked nineteenth in a class of fifty-six students.

            After graduating, Meade served the federal government as second Lieutenant Corps of Topographical Engineering. Then he became an officer in the Mexican War. Meade was ordered to become a military engineer. He aided in the construction of lighthouses and water breakers. Meade also performed coastal and geodetic survey work.

            However, George Meade was known most for his honorary service in the Civil War. He was appointed to captain of Corps. After showing dedicated devotion, Meade was promoted to brigadier general.

            He led a furious charge at the Battle of Gettysburg, thus counteracting Pickett’s charge. In addition, he regained the Union’s defensive line. The operation also wiped out one thousand Confederates. Three birds with one stone!

            After his victory at Gettysburg, Lincoln assigned him as General Grant’s subordinate. From the Battle of Gettysburg to the surrender at Appomattox, Meade commanded the Army of Potomac. He fought his army through Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Cold Harbor, and Petersburg. After many courageous battles and years of dedicated service, Meade was rewarded with a title of full, four-star major general.

            Later, Meade led and maintained a smaller army, the Military Division of the Atlantic. The aging major general did not do much military service until the day of his death, November 6, 1872. He was buried in Laurel Hill Cemetary, Philadelphia.

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