June 29, 1863, The New York Herald
IMPORTANT MILITARY CHANGE.
THE NEW COMMANDER.
MAJOR GENERAL GEORGE G. MEAD, THE NEW COMMANDER OF THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC.
Major General George G. Meade, the new commander of the Army of the Potomac, was born in Spain, about the year 1815, of American parents. His father was at the time of his birth a very wealthy man, and was residing in Barcelona, Spain, where Captain Meade, now commanding the North Carolina, and the subject of our sketch, were born. The two boys were brought to this country; one was educated for the navy, which he entered in 1826, and the other for the army.
HIS ENTRANCE INTO WEST POINT, AND GRADUATES.
George G. Meade entered West Point Military Academy as an appointee from the State of Pennsylvania during September, 1831, and graduated on the 30th of June 1835, standing number nineteen in his class, which has produced such men as Generals Morell, Naglee, Haupt, Patrick, Martindale, Roberts, and others, as well as Postmaster General Montgomery Blair, &c.
HE ENTERED THE ARMY AND RESIGNED.
He was appointed to the army from the District of Columbia and entered the service as brevet second lieutenant of the Third artillery on the first of July, 1835. He did not receive his full commission until December 31, 1835, when he was made a full second lieutenant. On the 26th of October, 1836, he resigned his connection with the United States Army and was engaged in private pursuits until 1842.
HE IS REAPPOINTED – MEXICO.
On the nineteenth day of May, 1842, he was reappointed to the United States military service as a second lieutenant of Topographical Engineers. In this capacity he joined the troops engaged in the Mexican war. At this time we find the names of his companions in the Topographical Engineer corps were Major Turnbull, Captains Wm. G. Williams, killed at Monterey; Geo. H. Hughes, John McClellan, Thos. B. Luinard, and Joseph E. Johnston (now a rebel General); First Lieutenants Wm. H. Emory (now General), Jacob E. Blake (killed in Mexico), L. Sitgreaves, W. H. Warner (killed by Indians), E. P. Scammon (now General), and C. N. Hager; Second Lieutenants John C. Fremont, J. D. Webster, Geo. Thorn, Martin L. Smith, John Pope (now General), Wm. B. Franklin (now General), and Wm. J. Peck.
HIS CONDUCT IN MEXICO – PROMOTION.
His conduct in Mexico was marked by determination and bravery, and at the battle of Palo Alto he was particularly distinguished, and so mentioned in the official reports. During the several conflicts of Monterey, 21st, 22d and 23d days of September, 1846, he again became distinguished, and for his bravery was brevetted a first lieutenant to date, from September 23, 1846. This brevet was awarded in May, 1847.
During the month of August, 1851, he was promoted to a first lieutenancy of his corps, and on the 19th of May 1856, was further promoted to a captaincy, which rank he held at the breaking out of the rebellion.
THE REBELLION – BRIGADIER GENERAL.
When the rebellion broke out, and President Lincoln called for three hundred thousand volunteers, the Pennsylvania reserve corps was raised and placed under the charge of General McCall, as division commander, and Generals Reynolds, Meade and Ord as brigade commanders. Each of these Brigade Commanders have nobly distinguished themselves during the present war, having all risen to a rank equal with a Marshal of France. General Meade was appointed a brigadier general of volunteers, with a commission to date from August 31, 1861. He was then placed in charge of the Second brigade of that division, and proceeded to organize it at Tennallytown, near the waters of the Potomac, and in this vicinity wintered during 1861-2.
THE ADVANCE OF THE ARMY.
When the Army of the Potomac began to move upon Manassas, during March, 1862, the division in which Gen. Meade served was attached to the First corps, then under General McDowell. With him they remained north of the Rappahannock until after the battle of Hanover Station, when they were added to the Army of the Potomac occupying part of the right wing, with division headquarters in the vicinity of Mechanicsville.
MAJOR OF ENGINEERS – MECHANICSVILLE.
About this time – viz: June 18, 1862 – he was promoted to a majority in the Engineer corps, which rank he still holds in the newly organized Engineer corps of the regular army.
On the 26th of June, 1862, he took part in the famous battle of Mechanicsville, where Gen. Stonewall Jackson made such a terrific dash upon Gen. McClellan’s right wing, and Gens. McCall, Reynolds and others were taken prisoners. His noble conduct and bravery on this occasion were particularly noticed.
GAINES’ MILL – BREVET
The next day he was engaged under Gen. Fitz John Porter in the battle of Gaines’ Mill, and was distinquished that he was nominated for a brevet of lieutenant colonel for distinguished services during the battle. He also took part in some of the subsequent engagements of the seven days’ fight.
NEW MARKET CROSS ROADS – WOUNDED.
At the battle of New Market Cross Roads he was severely wounded, but, under skilful treatment, he recovered, and almost immediately returned to the army, where he took command of the division until the return of Gens. McCall and Reynolds from captivity in Richmond.
THE MARYLAND CAMPAIGN.
When the rebels invaded Maryland and Pennsylvania, after the defeats of Gen. Pope’s army, Gen. Reynolds, who had commanded the division, was then detached to organize the Pennsylvania militia, and Gen. Meade was placed in command of the division of Pennsylvania reserves. He led these troops during the eventful battles of South Mountain and Antietam, and when, at the latter battle, Gen. Hooker was wounded and had to leave the field, Gen. Meade for a short time had charge of the Ninth army corps, formerly under Gen. Reno.
FREDERICKSBURG.
After General Burnside had been placed in charge of the Army of the Potomac, General Reynolds, who formerly commanded the Pennsylvania reserves, after the retirement of General McCall, was ordered to command the whole of the First army corps, and General Meade was formally placed in command of the division of Pennsylvania reserves. At the battle of Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862, he greatly distinguished himself, and his division lost very heavily, the brigade commanders and several field officers being placed hors du combat during the attack on the rebel right. The whole loss of the division was 1,624, being the greatest division loss during the whole of that disastrous fight.
COMMANDER OF FIFTH ARMY CORPS.
On the 15th of December, 1862, two days after this eventful battle, he was ordered to command the fifth army corps formerly under General Fitz John Porter, and more recently under General Butterfield. To enable him properly to hold that position he was appointed by the President a
MAJOR GENERAL OF VOLUNTEERS, and was regularly nominated to the United States Senate during January, 1863. The Senate making certain objections to the lists of appointees, it was revised and General Meade’s name again sent in by the President. During March, 1863, the Senate, in executive session, confirmed the appointment, and General Meade took his rank and commission as major general of United States Volunteers, from November 29, 1862, and assumed the command of the Fifth army corps.
UNDER GENERAL HOOKER.
When General Hooker assumed command of the Army of the Potomac and reorganized the same, he still continued to retain General Meade as the commander of the Fifth army corps, General Butterfield having obtained a position on the staff of the commanding officer. In general orders, dated February 6, 1863, General Meade’s name and command is specified accordingly.
THE ADVANCE UPON CHANCELORSVILLE.
During the advance upon Chancellorsville General Meade corps formed part of the right wing of Hooker’s army. The corps started on its march on the 26th day of April, 1863, and arrived at Kelly’s Ford on the 28th. The next day it crossed the Rappahannock by that ford and the Rapidan by Ely’s Ford. It then pushed on to Chancellorsville, where it arrived on the 30th and engaged the skirmishers of the rebels, taking their rifle pits and temporary works.
CHANCELLORSVILLE.
During the fearful contests of May 2, 3 and 4 General Meade’s corps played its part in the same noble manner that had characterized the troops under his special command since the commencement of the war. It bore its part manfully, and in the end covered the retreat of the whole of Hooker’s army.
THE RECENT FORCED MARCH.
During the recent heavy forced march General Meade’s troops bore up under the heated rays of a tropical sun, and although other corps straggled and hung back, Meade’s corps held its own.
THE FIGHT NEAR UPPERVILLE.
On Sunday, June 21, 1863, in the fight under General Pleasanton’s orders, one of the brigades of Gen. Meade’s corps took an active part and earned an undying fame. This brigade was commanded by Colonel Vincent, and belonged to the First division.
THE REGULARS.
Among other troops recently under General Meade’s command were the regulars under General Sykes. The bravery and endurance with which these men have always acted has told well for the discipline and esprit du corps of the men under the command of General Meade.
PROMOTION TO COMMANDER OF THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC.
Within the last few days General Meade has been placed at the head of “the finest army on the planet,” and it is to be hoped that he will be more successful with the troops than was either General Burnside or General Hooker. The material that composes this army is perhaps the best in the whole world, and will do almost anything if properly led; and, judging by General Meade’s antecedents, there is but little doubt they now will be.