President Lincoln unfairly criticized General George G. Meade for not attacking the retreating forces of Lee's Army of Northern Virginia. With that said, it needs to be stated that both President Lincoln and his General in Chief, Henry W. Halleck had been closely monitoring the Confederate movements from the Shenandoah Valley after the Confederate victory at Chancellorsville. Along with Major General Joseph Hooker, the three of them allowed Lee to advance through Maryland and into Pennsylvania. Meade replaced General Hooker only three days before the Battle of Gettysburg began. To say this was short notice in light of the damage that Lee could have caused is an understatement. After Meade successfully held back the offensive assaults by General Lee, instead of being hailed a hero, which he was, he was criticized. General Meade was a capable and experienced general. His decision not to challenge Lee's rear guard was a military decision based on on the ground circumstances. Meade was not going to lose men in what he considered to be a futile series of attacks.To be fair, Lincoln failed to remember that even US Grant was not in position to pursue General Beauregard after Grant's victory at Shiloh. Lincoln had no military experience to speak of. It was not for frivolous reasons that Lincoln's Republican Party formed the Congressional Committee to oversee the conduct of the war. And experienced military generals were not speaking about the possibility of having a military dictator run the Union's war efforts. Lincoln was a superb political leader and president. He was not qualified to command even a regiment let alone the massive armies of the Union.
The Commaner of the Army of the Potomac during the Gettysburg Campaign was General George Gordon Meade.
General George Meade
george mead
Major General Alfred Pleasonton commanded the Union's cavalry corps at the Battle of Gettysburg. His cavalry commanders helped to win the Battle of Gettysburg for the Union.
Union General Meade defeated Southern General Lee.
George Gordon Meade
The general nickname for Union soldiers was Billy Yank.
When Union General John Fulton Reynolds was killed on July 1, 1863 at the Battle of Gettysburg, he was replaced by General Abner Doubleday. Doubleday had been the commander of the 3rd division.
Meade commanded the Army of the Potomac at Gettysburg.
Major General Alfred Pleasonton commanded the Union's cavalry corps at the Battle of Gettysburg. His cavalry commanders helped to win the Battle of Gettysburg for the Union.
General Mead assumed the Union command from Hooker on his way to Gettysburg.
Major General George G. Mead was in command of the Union Army of the Potomac at Gettysburg.
Union General Meade defeated Southern General Lee.
The commander of the Union army at Gettysburg was Major General George G. Meade.
George Gordon Meade
General George Meade was the commander of the Union forces at Gettysburg.
He was a Union cavalry general.
The general nickname for Union soldiers was Billy Yank.
George G. Meade
General George Meade