How Did George Meade Contribute To The Civil War

General George Meade (1815-1872) made many important contributions to history during the Civil War. Initially, he had little desire for a military career and went into the civil engineering industry until joining the Corps of Topographical Engineers. He fought bravely and strategically in many different battles before becoming commander of the Union Army of the Potomac and fighting in Gettysburg, a battle thought to be the turning point of the Civil War. His achievements were plentiful and important in the outcome of the Civil War as well as the creation of modern day America.

George Meade was a highly successful soldier and a man with a talent for engineering. After graduating the United States Military Academy, Meade pursued a civilian

As www.civilwartrust.org states, “During the battle of Gettysburg, although still new to the command of his army, and suffering great losses of such leaders as John Reynolds, Meade was able to both hold off Lee’s attacks and finally smash the Confederate army on the third day.” Confederate efforts to breach Meade’s well strategized lines during the attack of ‘Pickett’s Charge’ failed miserably and resulted in numerous casualties and caused a mass retreat off enemy land. Meade however approached the situation with caution and did not go after Lee’s army as they stumbled back across the Mason-Dixon line. According to www.history.com, “Meade immediately came under harsh criticism—in particular from President Abraham Lincoln—for what was seen as his failure to destroy Lee’s battered army, which had escaped across the Potomac River before it could be intercepted.” President Lincoln and Northern media firmly believed that Meade had missed a golden opportunity to destroy Lee’s army and, combined with General Grant’s victory at Vicksburg, the war could have been ended as a result. Meade had many accomplishments throughout his lifetime but Gettysburg was his most predominant

According to www.history.com, “He spent the 1850s in the Army Corps of Topographical Engineers building lighthouses and breakwaters on the Atlantic coast, and also helped conduct the first geodetic survey of the Great Lakes.” Meade, best known for his military career, was also talented in the engineering field and helped survey new territories for rail lines. According to www.history.com, “He spent the 1850s in the Army Corps of Topographical Engineers building lighthouses and breakwaters on the Atlantic coast, and also helped conduct the first geodetic survey of the Great Lakes.” Meade, best known for his military career and conduct at Gettysburg, was also talented in the engineering field and helped survey new territories for rail lines and build various buildings. After the start of the Civil War, he was made Brigadier General and proved himself worthy in the Second Battle of Bull Run, being given command of a division shortly after. According to www.history.com, “One of Meade’s brightest moments came during the otherwise disastrous Battle of Fredericksburg in December 1862.” During the battle, Meade’s commanding division was one of the only to breach the Confederates heavily-fortified lines granting him a promotion to Major General of volunteers. He eventually went