Portrait, George Gordan Meade, Major General

by American Landscapes

Title

Portrait, George Gordan Meade, Major General

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American Landscapes

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Photograph - Photograph

Description

Photographer: Brady's National Photographic Portrait Galleries
Reproduction Number: LC-DIG-cwpb-05008
Source: Civil war photographs, 1861-1865, Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division.

Union General George Gordon Meade was best known for commanding the Army of the Potomac to victory at the Battle of Gettysburg. Before rising to army command, Meade distinguished himself in several early campaigns, including the Seven Days Battles and Antietam. At the Battle of Fredericksburg in December 1862, Meade led a rare successful breach of the Confederate lines at what is now known as "Slaughter Pen Farm", temporarily breaking through General Stonewall Jackson’s position. However, the lack of support from other Union commanders as planned prevented him from capitalizing on the breakthrough which potentially could have turned the Confederate's right flank, but the opportunity was lost amid the larger Union defeat.

Meade’s leadership abilities and steady temperament earned him command of the Army of the Potomac just days before the Battle of Gettysburg in July 1863. He organized Union defenses and made key decisions that led to a crucial victory, halting Robert E. Lee's invasion of the North. Although sometimes criticized for not aggressively pursuing Lee after the battle, Meade retained command through the end of the war, serving under Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant during the Overland Campaign and the Siege of Petersburg. Despite being overshadowed at times by Grant, Meade’s contributions were vital to Union success by carrying out Grant's explicit instructions, and he remains recognized as one of the war’s most capable and professional commanders.

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August 20th, 2025

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