The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1900-12-13
MEADE UNDER GRANT.
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ness of the woods and underground the
troops acting on the defensive were I'M
seen, while those moving to the attack
could be plainly perceived. This more
than equalized the armies, as il served al
most as effectually as an intrenchment for
the enemy, who acted on the defensive.
The two armies moved in parallel lines
nearly southeasterly, fighting that extra
ordinary series of battles of two months
duration from the Rapidan TO the James
Rivers, in which the Army of the Potomac
lost 10000 men in killed, wounded and
missing.
June IA and Is the Army of the Po-
tomac crossed the James, and the siege
of Richmond and Petersburg commenced,
which lasted until April, 1865. During
this period of nine months operations nu-
merOuS and severe battles and combats
took place with varied success. The break
ing up Of the lines of Petersburg on April
was succeeded by the fall of Richmond
and the flight, fighting and surrender of
Lees army, and with that surrender died
the rebellion.
During these campaigns Gen. Meade
was in the immediate command of the
army and led it on these bloody fields with
marked ability. winning the approval of
Gen. Grant, whO in recommending his
confirmation as Major-General in the
Regular Army, spoke as follows:
Gen. Meade is one of our truest men
and ablest officers. He has been con-
stantly with the Army of the Potomac,
confronting the strongest, best-appointed
and most confident army of the South. He,
therefore, has not had the same opportu-
nifty of winning laurels so distinctly mer-
tied, as have fallen to the lot of other
Generals; but L defy any man to name n
commander who would do more than
Meade has done with the same chances.
Gen. Meade was appointed at my solicit
| tatiOn, after campaign the most pro-
tracted, and covering more seyerely-con-
tested battles, than any of which we have
! any account in history. | have been with
Gen. Meade through the whole campaign,
and l not only made the recommendation
upon conviction that this recognition of
| his services was fully won, but that he
was eminently qualified for the command
such rank would entitle him to-"
The Senate confirmed the appointment
| dating his commission back to Aug. Is,
| 1864. At the close of the war Gen. Meade
returned for a brief season to his home
in Philadelphia, where he was received
| with the highest hOnors and entertained
by the city authorities. A public recep.
ton was given to him at Independence
Hall.
MEADE'S SERVICE AFTER WAR.
In July, 1865, he was placed in com.
mand of the Military Division of the AT
lantic, composed of the Department OF
the East, the Middle Department and the
Departments of Virginia, North Carolina
and South Carolina. His management OF
| this Department was most able and jul
dicious, he promptly Suppressing the Ee
man movements for the invasion of Can
ada. BY the seizure of their arms anG
| ammunition they were forced to abandon
| the expedition, and he preferred to fur
nish the thousands of penniless men witt
transportation home to subjecting the Cit
zens of the border to their riotous anC
sion of the Atlantic, being abolished il
August, 1856, he was assigned to the
command of the Department of the East
and established his headquarters in Phil
adelphia. He was also President of the
Board of Retiring Disabled Officers, Of
the Board of Recommending General OF
hcers for Bferet, and of the Board Of Sc
lecting Depots for Army Clothing in New
York City. H'
In 1868 he was placed in command Of
the Third Military District, comprising
the States of Georgia, Florida and Ala
bama. In regard to the duties that de
yolyed upon him and his discharge Of
them the Hon. Charles Gibbons, in his ad
dress Mt the Memorial meeting in com
memoration Of the work and in sorrow fol-
the death of Gen. Meade, says:
HE was to administer exact justice Il
all men, and enforce among them, as fal
as possible, the golden rules Of righteous
ness. In many parts Of the district there
was no security for life or property. Ii
others creditors were grinding their debt
Ors to death. Labor was deprived by the
operation of the laws of its Just reward
Persons entitled to the benefits of public
charities were denied them on account Of
their color and prisoners in the County
jails were suffering for food. The Gov
nrppr of {fanpUi.1 hoH boa,, frn
office, and took with him the tax book,
and the public funds, and no means were
in hand for carrying on the Government
of the State. Chaos was TO be reduced [,
order, and society reconstructed upon new
foundations. These were the duties t,
which Gen. Meade was callcd.-and The
responsibility for every failure or mistak,
was to be his own.
| THE Convention Of Alabama had pass
ed an ordinance to stay the collection OF
debts, providing that il should go into eff
feet at future period. Creditors took ad
vantage of the interval to enforce theil
claims, and valuable estates were in dan
ger of sacrifice by forced sales, where non,
but creditors could afford to buy. The suf
| ferers called upon Gen. Meade to save
them. While he doubted the constitution
atty of the measure, he ordered that tho
ordinance should take effect Immediately
1t is n question of humanity he said
| anu humanity cAisttu Deioie tonStitu
TONS
by another order he prohibited i'm
prisonment for debt in Georgia until the
people could express their will on the sub
ject; which they did by making his order
the law of the State.
THE laws then existing allowed thu
| Sheriffs 30 cents q day for yictuallin,
white prisoners and 30 cents only fol
black. He ordered and required that al
prisoners, without regard to color, SHOULD
food.
Factors had the first lien on the prod
ucts of the plantation, and this law wa.
not infrequently used to defraud the lab
orers employed in producing the crop Of
all their wages. He corrected the mis-
chief by an order applying the principle.
of the mechanics lien law to the growing
Ecrop, so as to give to the labor which pro
duced it the first lien for its wages.
There was no money in Georgia to car
ry on the Government of the State, and h,
was applied to by the Constitutional Con
ventiOn to issue notes for this purpose, re
deemable at a future day. He prompt!
declined, but proceeded at once to collec
all taxes due the State, took possession o.
the State railroad and operated it will
economy and profit, paid all the Ordinar!
expenses of the Government, and handed
over considerable surplus to the prOpe
officers when the new Government was es
tablshed. 30
Il can do no more than mention thes,
few incidents of his administration in tina
Department, for which / am indebted t,
an accomplished officer of his staff. The,
are sufficient perhaps, for the present pur