The Portland daily press., 1872-11-08
Major Gen. George G. Meade

One after another the men who endeared
themselves to the country by their patriotic
devotion to its cause, no less than their bril-
liant achievements. are passing away. Far.
ragut, Thomas, Rawl:ns are now followed by
Meade whose name is linked with the history
of the Army of the Potomac. Like Grant,
Thomas, Sherman, Farragut, Sheridan and
every other great leader who achieved the
most brilliant reputation and now are held in
the highest honor, Gen. Meade's record is
untarnished by disgraceful exhibitions of sell
fishness AMI petty jealousies that have forever
blemished the character of so many generals
Maj. Gen. Meade was born in Cadiz, Spain
where his father was resident as Consul oil
the United States, in 1916, and graduated al
West Point, June 80, 1885. He comes oil
good stock; to his fathers diplomatic talent
and persistence the United States owes the
acquisition of the territory OF Florida and an
important portion of Southern Alabama.
Maj. Gen. Meade entered the army as I'd
Lieutenant of artillery, but remained only
about year, and having resigned his COM
mission in October, 1896, lived in retirement
nearly six years. On the 10Th of July, 1912,
he received the appointment of Second Lieu
tenant of Typographical Engineers, and, in
that capacity, served through the Mexican
war, distinguishing himself in the battles OF
Palo Alto and Monterey. He was breyeted
First Lieutenant September %, 1S47, for
bravery at Monterey; was engaged in the
geodetic survey of the northern lakes from
1855 to 1861, and ON the organization of the
Pennsylvania Reserve Corps under Gen.
Mccall was appointed Brigadier General,
August 81, 1861, and entrusted with one of
the three brigades.
Gen. Meade was at the battle of Mechanics
vile on the 10Th of june 1852, and also took
part in that of Gaines Mill on the next dav.
A few days afterward he was wounded. but
not seriously. At the battle of Antietam.
September 7, 1861, he had two horses killed
under him, and was again slightly wounded
In the battle of Fredei icksburg in December
1862, when the Union forces, under General
Burnside, after severe fighting, were defeat
ed with great loss, Meade distinguished him
self by display of courage, and two DAYS af-
terward superseded General Butterfeld in
command of the Fifth Army Corps. On the
2Sth of June, 1868, General Meade was ap-
pointed Commander-in-Chief of the Army of
the Potomac. He commenced his career in
this capacity by defeating the Confederate
forces. un Ell General Lee, at the battle of
Gettysburg This success made him for a
time the most popular of Federal command
ers, and he held his position at the head of
the Union forces until the nomination of
Gen, Grant, in April, 1864, as COMMANDMENT
Chief Meade served under Grant, in his
memorable campaign against Richmond, and
continued to exercise the command of the
Army OF the Potomac until the final triumph
at Appomattox in April 1866
After the close of the war Gen. Meade was
assigned 10 the Department of the East with
headquarters at Philadelphia. In ApriI 1864
when the Fenlans invaded the Dominion. he
went TO Passport and assumed the direction
of the United States forces. Under the rn-
construction act of Congress he was assi-ned
at the suggestion of Gen. Grant
as the military commander of that
department which included Georgia and
most judcousiy. performed the delicate duties
of an Office partly military and partly civil
At the conclusion of his work there. he was
again transferred to the Department of the
East which command he held at the time of
his death. In 1865, Harvard College con-
ierred upon him the degree of L. L. d. and
ne was valued member of several learned
societies.