Meade After Gettysburg

Meade’s victory at Gettysburg was a remarkable achievement.  In a matter of just a few days, he had taken command of the Army of the Potomac, 90,000 strong, and led it to victory in the largest and bloodiest battle ever fought in North America. Yet Meade was criticized after Gettysburg. Lee was able to escape back into Virginia, and the war continued. 

In March 1864, Ulysses S. Grant was promoted to lieutenant general and given command of all Union armies. Grant came to the Eastern Theatre to fight against Lee in Virginia, causing many to believe he replaced Meade. Instead, Grant simply oversaw Meade, giving him specific orders. Essentially, this minimized Meade's role in the 1864 fighting. That year, Grant used Meade's Army of the Potomac to bludgeon Lee in Virginia. In May and June, during the Overland Campaign, the two armies met in a series of fierce and bloody…