General Meade.. Why Keep Him Around?

5fish

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Many if not all followers of Civil War history have wonder form time to time why Gen. Grant kept Gen. Meade in charge of the AoP. Historians and history buffs all thought because Gen. Meade did win Gettysburg, he was not afraid to fight, and he was competent general.

I beg to deffer with this insight to why Gen. Grant kept Gen Meade as commander of the AoP. After reading the Official reports about Shiloh where Gen. Grant writes glowing praise on Sherman and ignores Gen, Prentiss, and writes token praise of the other generals who fought to whole the line against the rebels at Shiloh, I believe Gen. Grant kept Gen. Meade on for one purpose only!

GEN. Grant kept GEN. MEADE around to be the scape goat if the Overland Campaign went bad!!!


After reading about how Gen. Grant and Gen. Halleck back stabbed Gen. Lew Wallace, I can see that Gen. Grant was not this naive political person but man who would sacrifice others for his own political gains and ends.

History treats Gen, Grant as a non-political person but think to get ahead an reach the high offices of the military you must be political. The man Gen Grant was not naive at politics or he would have never became the Head of all the armies.

Again Historians have failed to give us an honest image of a man named Grant, just like with Gen. Lee's image...

Why?

Gen. Meade was to be the fall guy if thing went bad against Gen. Lee!!!
 

Jim Klag

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GEN. Grant kept GEN. MEADE around to be the scape goat if the Overland Campaign went bad!!!
Meade was kept around because Grant originally had no intention of staying in the eastern theater and needed a competent AOP commander to be around when he left. Additionally Grant had to keep his eye on multiple forces simultaneously and could not give his undivided attention to the AOP. When at the Wilderness Grant saw the incompetence of the AOP command structure he decided to stay in the east. Grant had already had it made clear to him that the buck stopped with him by Lincoln and his representatives so it would have been useless to put forth scapegoats and he knew it.
 
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5fish

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Here is one ;letter to his wife ... where he thinking he going to be tarnished...

Letter from Major General George Meade to his wife
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, 9 P. M., June 5,18 Since our last battle on the 3d inst. [Cold Harbor] we have been comparatively quiet. The enemy has tried his hand once or twice at the offensive, and in each case has been repulsed and severely punished. This evening after dark, he made a furious attack, but was everywhere repulsed. The sound of the artillery and musketry has just died away. Indeed we are pretty much engaged all the time, from early in the morning late at night. I don't believe the military history of the world can offer a parallel to the protracted and severe fighting which this army has sustained for the last thirty days. You would suppose, with all this severe fighting, our severe losses, constant marches, many in the night, that the physical powers of the men would be exhausted. I have no doubt in time it will tell on them, but as yet they show no evidence of it.
I feel a satisfaction in knowing that my record is clear, and that the results of this campaign are the clearest indications I could wish of sound judgment, both at Williamsport and Mine Run. In every instance that we have attacked the enemy in an entrenched position have failed, except in the case of Hancock's attack at Spottsylvania [sic], which was a surprise discreditable to the enemy. So, likewise whenever the enemy has attacked us in position, he has been repulsed I think Grant has had his eyes opened, and is willing to admit now Virginia and Lee's army is not Tennessee and Bragg's army. Whether the people will ever realize this fact remains to be seen.


Snip... He was not at the surrender... red head step child...

After fate denied Meade a place in Wilmer McLean’s parlor on April 9, he wrote his wife: “I don’t believe the truth ever will be known, and I have a great contempt for History. Only let the war be finished, and I returned to you and the dear children, and I will be satisfied.”

Snip... page 277... Meade was an extra...


 

diane

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If Meade had been a Confederate, he would have resigned! His pride was hurt and he was often frustrated by Grant's micro-management and buddies like Sheridan - Meade would have gladly tied Sheridan into a little knot and thrown him down a well. But - he was the first general who made Lee sit up and take real notice, and he was the first to give Lee a true defeat. It's surprising how many people don't know Meade was the victor of Gettysburg. However, Meade didn't love the press and they didn't love him, and he got crosswise of Lincoln by failing to destroy the ANV after Gettysburg. The weather really didn't permit him to do so but it looked to Lincoln like another wimpy general. He was wrong, but there it was. Meade was a good soldier, very devoted to his country and to his duty as a soldier. I think he shows sterling character in putting his own pride on the back burner for the good of the service. Pretty vexatious position - Grant was constantly grabbing the steering wheel while the vehicle was in motion and made himself the unofficial commander of the AoP, but Meade was not targeted by him personally or politically. Grant's position as head of all the Union armies technically cut him out of what he loved most - fighting. Fighting Lee was something he simply couldn't pass up - and I do believe he was the only one who could have beaten Lee. Meade had a streak of caution that hindered the bold action needed. He was not at the surrender because he was a day late and a dollar short - he was still on the way from Washington DC. Just missed a party he definitely should have been at! However, the next day he arrived and went to see Lee. As with Grant, Lee didn't recognize his old pal Meade but after a little awkwardness they had a good long chat. (Kind of suspect Lee's failure to recognize people at Appomattox was a little bit of a back-handed insult! He recognized people fine before and after...)
 
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