Who is General Meade
General Meade confronted Lee’s army just three days after taking command. The place? Gettysburg Pennsylvania… and it would be the bloodiest and most dramatic battle of the war. At first Meade was heralded a hero who finally turned the tide of the awful war but just as quickly the General was hit with an onslaught of political and newspaper attacks. Meade soldiered on under U. S. Grant and Lincoln, focused on the task at hand, and ultimately led the Army of the Potomac to win the war.
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Been Here Before
Polarized political parties, partisan newspaper attacks, false new stories, war heroes and villains and a controversial President leading the country through major crisis, leaked Congressional testimony, and Congressional Committee out to destroy career of a general who does not share political ideology. This was United States in the 1860’s.
Does it feel familiar? There is no denying parallels we see in our current political climate and social fabric of the nation. It is fascinating but also downright scary as history has recorded well what happened next…
Yikes
Confusion Clarified
General Meade uses first hand accounts including letters from Meade himself to give a comprehensive view of a turbulent and confusing time. The civil war was fought militarily but it was also fought politically and this book gives a better understanding of how that happened in both theaters and what that meant.
Forgotten Facts: At the onset, the Union simply wanted to suppress the rebels and reunite the country. The goals evolved and Emancipation of all slaves became the second focus. Understanding this and may other facts make it easier to comprehend how and why it was such a confusing and emotional time.
Book Review
The Civil War was never my thing when I was young. Quite frankly I though it was an ‘Old People Pastime’. Now, being a grown up in this modern time, I think it’s important to study it not just for history sake but for social understanding as well. General Meade took a sticky and convoluted subject and laid it out in a meaningful way. It’s a novel so it reads as a grand story rather than a textbook so the author is able to provide context and nuances that are necessary to understanding this time in American History. It’s a story of humanity.
When General Lee invited General Meade into the camp after surrender and they talked, men who knew Meade from before the war ran to him and were thrilled to see him again…old friends. Lee took a go at Meade for how grey Meade had become. Meade retorted back that it is Lee who was the cause of most of that grey. I cried. It was such a human moment. And the only way to truly understand the American Civil War is to understand the human moments of it for it is much more than battle dates and places.
Meade and our cousin, Lincoln
Six days after Lee’s surrender, Meade was still enjoying victory when he received the news. Lincoln had been killed. Meade had grown very fond of Lincoln and the sense of loss was deep and knowing what the affect would be on the men, it was now up to Meade to tell his soldiers the news. He barely could.
In celebration of the war ending and union being preserved, just one month later Meade marched his eighty thousand men from Capitol Hill past massive cheering crowds. There was a sense of pride and accomplishment for he had survived the war, survived the smear campaign, and brought the war to an end. Then the White House came to view and George Meade felt great loss. He dismounted and stood there with other officers, without Lincoln, and saluted the men as they marched by…The numbers of soldiers were great. It took six hours. I cried again.
Oh…yes, according to Ancestry.Com Abraham Lincoln is my 5th Cousin. Abe’s Grandfather is a direct ancestor of mine as well. Want to see something? Check out this photo! Both my father and Abe are super tall and lanky, have a ‘strong profile’ and crazy hair that you cannot tame.
Take Aways
It’s never an easy decision to sit down and read a book like this. Given the topic it is known there will be blood shed and difficult things to read. I believe it is imperative we do so to not only better our undemanding of history and our selves but to avoid making repeat mistakes.
For all our faults, I believe the United States is a great country. It provides opportunities for its citizens that no other country does. I also believe we are at a crossroads as social views have evolved and political parties are currently polarized. It would be good if people took the time to read books such as this and to think about how we can be part of a new solution for solutions will only come from people working together and working together comes from informed citizens willing to talk.
I have a history buff in the family who would love this book…and wow! Related to Abe Lincoln! That’s a pretty cool family tie to brag about!
Yeah…he was my favorite President so I was pretty excited to learn this! Plus I have ALWAYS said my father looks like Lincoln so that was fun to point out to him as well.
History is so interesting and important to learn! I think it makes is to much better when you get a more “human” touch to it too. Thank you for sharing!
I could not agree more! So interesting and if you don’t put the human into it, we will absolutely repeat it. Us humans are just that way… LOL
How cool to find out you are related to Abe Lincoln – fascinating. I love history, even when it’s difficult to read. I also liked your conclusion that by reading we learn from past mistakes – so true!
Yes I’m pretty excited about that. And I agree it is fascinating and worth pushing through the tough stuff.
You know he really does look like Abe, I think he should be involved in reenactments too 🙂 I bet this is a riveting book and as hard as some of it may be to read it’s so important that people do. Will definitely keep this in mind for a rainy day read. Thank you for sharing!
hahaha I have told him that SO MANY times! We have done some historical reenactments but it was War of 1812 or French and Indian War… not Civil War. But yes, I keep pushing him!
I love the picture with Lincoln! Very nice read!
Isn’t that a riot! Imagine if I actually posed him and put him in a period outfit!
I’ve always been interested in this time in American history. I think I’d love this book. Thanks so much for making me aware of it.
Oh I’m so glad! Let me know if you read it and how you like it
Such an interesting era!
so true! It’s an era I’m not super familiar with… there is a ton to learn. A very confusing time.
That’s so cool! What a great discovery about your ancestry!
Isn’t it fun??I love genealogy! It’s like a treasure hunt!
I am going to read this. I absolutely enjoyed the book about the women of the revolution. Because you love crazy weird genealogy and you talked about Gettysburg, my older siblings are direct descendents of Abraham Trostle. Abraham Trostle owned a farm where fighting occurred and the barn is famous for it’s cannonball hole and bullet holes.
Oh that is so cool! I’m weirdly glad to know some places like this are still being kept ‘alive’. (not that there are holes in the family barn) It feels like the world is moving so swiftly we’re forgetting all the hard fought and won lessons our ancestors fought for. HAHA I do love crazy weird genealogy! There are some splendid stories hiding in there!!! Let me know how you liked the book. It was really and pleasently different.
I think often our history can become our future in disguise…if we don’t make an effort to understand it completely (not just the part that supports our viewpoint or agenda) then we can’t possibly understand how to keep from repeating it.
Michele, how beautifully put! I think you hit the nail on the head!!!!
Great history lesson! History was always my favorite subject in school.
LOL I always liked the subject but dang it was presented in such a dry one sided blah kind of way… which is odd because its truly a super dynamic subject that constantly is changing as we learn and understand more
These books are really hard to read, but they are the most helpful in truly understanding the purpose of humanity and appreciating what we have right now and how bad it was at the time. These books truly show that our world becomes a better place, one step at a time and we are the ones who contribute to it. We must all be proactive! Thank you for sharing
Love your thoughts Anna! 100%
This was so interesting. It is so important we stay connected to the past.
I agree! Its my hope this blog shows some fun ways to do just that! Hope you’ll consider subscribing 🙂
I think what you said about reading history is so important. It may have been a hoax but I watched a bunch of kids being asked about history and they did not know the answers. Terrifying.
Unfortunately it probably wasn’t a hoax. I’m continually floored at what the young ones don’t know. I feel like if they did, there would be more appreciation for things… I know I certainly changed my tune when I took the time to learn it.
My son’s love historical books and this looks like an interesting tale. Thanks for sharing!
Oh I’m so glad! It’s a long book for sure but since it reads like a novel it’s a pleasant read. Let me know how he likes it!
hahaha I love the side-by-side with Lincoln, so fun! Thanks for sharing!
right?!?!?! I have said he looks like Lincoln my entire life! Who knew?
Great post! SO much fun when it is a distant relative!! Thanks for the history lesson!
it IS!!!! I love my time on ancestry! I have learned SO much! Glad you enjoyed…
Great picture with Lincoln! I love historical books.
HA! Glad you liked it! Let me know if you read it and how you like the book.
Amazing to find out you are that closely related to Abe! That really brings history to life. How fascinating, and I agree informed citizens willing to talk are really the basis for forming solutions to today’s problems. Great review!
Thank you! Yes…communication is the only way forward. Works at home, works at workplace, works (in theory) for government. 🙂
Wow, that’s really cool about him being your 5th cousin! And I agree these books are hard to read. I read a book recently called ‘No Better Friend’ which took place during WW2. It was really tough to read in parts, but I agree with you that it is important to educate ourselves and ensure these things do not happen again. The suffering people have had to endure is mind blowing. Great post! 😊
Isn’t it?? I’ve always said my father looked like him LOL Yeah, sometimes you have to force yourself to read those… especially the war ones. I was grateful this is was in novel form. Made it way easier. I agree! Every time I think I have it rough I just look at a chunk of history… #pespective