General George G. Meade is number 6 on our famous folks top 10 list of Civil War Generals. Here are ten more facts about the general:
- George Meade was a Civil War hero, who led the Union Army to victory at the Battle of Gettysburg.
- He was known for his strategic planning and strong leadership skills.
- Meade was born on December 31, 1815 in Cadiz, Spain to an American family.
- He attended West Point and graduated in 1835, ranking 19th in his class.
- Before the Civil War, Meade served in the Mexican-American War and on the western frontier.
- He was appointed as a brigadier general in the Union army in 1861.
- Meade played a key role in several important battles, including the Battle of Antietam.
- Meade was made commander of the Army of the Potomac in June 1863, just days before the Battle of Gettysburg.
- After the war, Meade continued his military career, serving as the commander of various military districts.
- Meade retired from the army in 1868 and died on November 6, 1872 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
General George G. Meade after war
After the Civil War, Meade was named the head of the Military Division of the Atlantic, where he was responsible for overseeing military operations in the Eastern United States. He also served as the Chief Engineer of the Army and was involved in the construction of several important military projects, including the fortifications of Washington, D.C.
Meade retired from the military in 1868 and settled in Philadelphia, where he lived for the rest of his life. He died on November 6, 1872, at the age of 56. Today, Meade is remembered as one of the most important figures of the American Civil War and as a hero who fought for the Union and helped preserve the United States.
Here is the bibliography for Civil War Generals for this blog post.