Following two anti-Meade witnesses was a third, General Albion P. Howe. After Howe's testimony Senators Benjamin Wade and Zachariah Chandler felt they had enough evidence to present to President Abraham Lincoln in order to have Meade fired. Instead, at Lincoln's behest, Meade himself would appear before the committee to defend his record during the Gettysburg Campaign.
Excuse Me History is back with a new addendum to "The Gettysburg Campaign." In this mini-series "Meade on Trial", we'll discuss the 1864 hearings held by the United States Congressional Joint Committee on the Conduct of the War. The Joint Committee, led by the Radical Republican Senators Benjamin Wade and Zachariah Chandler, sought answers as to why the Army of the Potomac failed to destroy the Army of Northern Virginia at Gettysburg or along the banks of the Potomac River. The Committee convened in the late winter and early spring of 1864 to investigate the actions of the army during the Gettysburg campaign and General George Meade in particular. Their goal was to remove Meade from command and replace him with a more radically minded general, ideally Joseph Hooker. In this first episode we'll discuss the formation and purpose of the Joint Committee, the Radical Republican plan for the war, and the first two witness testimonies: Daniel Sickles and Abner Doubleday.
The Union Army of the Potomac finally catches up to the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia at Williamsport, Maryland. With the rebels dug in in a series of defensive earthworks, Genera George Meade hesitates to attack and calls a Council of War of his top generals. After a brief respite from the heavy summer rains, General Robert E. Lee seizes the opportunity to begin the evacuation of his army across the Potomac River. Union cavalry under Generals Judson Kilpatrick and John Buford launch an attack on the Confederate rear guard at the Battle of Falling Waters.
Maps and supplemental information on the EMH Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/EMHistory
The Confederate Army reaches the Potomac, but high water levels make the river unfordable for the foreseeable future. General Robert E. Lee orders the construction of a defensive line to cover Williamsport and Falling Waters. The Union Army marches from Gettysburg to Frederick and Middletown, Maryland, before crossing South Mountain. Meade receives a promotion and news of General Ulysses S. Grant's victory at Vicksburg. Rebel and Yankee cavalry clash at the Battle of Boonsboro and the Battle of Funkstown.
Check out the EMH Facebook page for maps and supplemental information: https://www.facebook.com/EMHistory
July 6th, 1863 turned out to be a fairly consequential day as General Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia continued its retreat through Monterey Pass toward the Potomac. Union cavalry under Generals Judson Kilpatrick and John Buford attack Jeb Stuart's cavalry at Hagerstown and John Imboden's improvised defense at Williamsport. General George G. Meade finally decides to mount a real pursuit of the Confederates.
Following the repulse of Pickett's Charge, General Robert E. Lee and his top lieutenants plan for the evacuation of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia. General George Meade's Union Army of the Potomac rests and regroups in anticipation of the upcoming race back to southern territory with the rebels. Meanwhile, a Union cavalry detachment destroys the Confederate pontoon bridge at Falling Waters and Generals Judson Kilpatrick and George Custer's troopers ambush the rebel wagon train at the Battle of Monterey Pass.
Check out the EMH facebook page for updates and supplemental information: https://www.facebook.com/EMHistory
After General Robert E. Lee's original plan for July 3rd was spoiled he and General James Longstreet prepare an infantry assault, involving some 12,500 soldiers, on the center of the Union line (Pickett's Charge). A pre-attack cannonade was led in part by Col. Edward Porter Alexander. Around 160 Confederate guns bombarded the Union Second Corps along Cemetery Ridge for around an hour in the hopes of demoralizing and driving them off. Meanwhile, General George Meade correctly anticipated the Confederate assault and made preparations to defend against it. Union soldiers try to relax and eat until the afternoon silence is broken by the rebel artillery. https://www.facebook.com/EMHistory?mibextid=LQQJ4d
The battle on July 3rd, 1863 erupted in the early morning hours when the Confederate infantry renewed their attack on Culp's Hill. Virginia "Ginny" Wade became the only civilian casualty of the battle of Gettysburg. Jeb Stuart's newly arrived cavalry pick a fight with the Union cavalry of Gregg's Division and George A. Custer's Wolverine Brigade East of Gettysburg, while the cavalry led by the other two "Boy Generals" run into trouble south of Gettysburg. Wesley Merritt's 6th US Cavalry clash with Grumble Jones's Laurel Brigade at the minor Battle of Fairfield and Elon J. Farnsworth leads a desperate charge against the Texas Brigade to end the fighting of the final day of the battle.
Like the Facebook page for updates and supplemental material: https://www.facebook.com/EMHistory
Jeb Stuart's cavalry struggles to find the main body of the Army of Northern Virginia after it crosses the Potomac and repeatedly clashes with Union cavalry and militia on the road to Gettysburg. Over the night and early morning of July 2nd and 3rd George Meade holds a council of war with his top lieutenants. Robert E. Lee and James Longstreet plan another assault, and George Pickett's division arrives in Gettysburg.
Check out the Excuse Me History Facebook page for supplementary maps to help follow along with the action and updates about the podcast: https://www.facebook.com/EMHistory
While the Confederates attacked the Union left flank, General Richard Ewell launches his own assault against the Union right flank. An artillery duel is followed by fierce fighting at Culp's and Cemetery Hills that lasts until well after nightfall.
Like the EMH page on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EMHistory
The Confederate attack on July 2nd continues. Barksdale's brigade captures the Peach Orchard, the rest of McLaws's division seizes the Wheatfield, and Fighting Dick Anderson's division assaults Cemetery Ridge, but the timely arrival of the Pennsylvania Reserves, the 2nd Vermont Brigade, and the 1st Minnesota save the Union center and left.
After attacking the Devil's Den (successfully) and Little Round Top (unsuccessfully), the Confederates continue their assault again the tenuous Union defensive line on July 2. General Lafayette McLaws sends his four brigades in attack against Union positions on the Stony Hill, the Wheatfield, and the Peach Orchard. In this episode I also discuss the Civil War phenomenon known as "presentiment", the Irish Brigade (and more broadly the Irish in the Civil War), and General Dan Sickles's favorite leg.
The Battle of Gettysburg continues on July 2 when Longstreet launches an assault on the Union left. Hood's division attacks Birney's division at the Devil's Den and Vincent's brigade at Little Round Top.
This episode covers the first half of July 2, 1863. After both armies regroup and rest Robert E. Lee plans an attack, George Meade arrives at Gettysburg, and Dan Sickles disobeys orders and advances to the Peach Orchard.
The first day of the Battle of Gettysburg continues! The Confederates renew their attack on the Union defenses in the afternoon of July 1, the Union soldiers hold until they don't, and Robert E. Lee misses a great opportunity.
After nearly a month of marching and skirmishing, the Battle of Gettysburg begins on July 1, 1863. This episode covers the first half of the first day's fight including General Henry Heth's attack of General John Buford's cavalry west of town, the arrival and tragic exit of General John Reynolds, General Robert E. Lee's frustration, and General George Meade's alternate Pipe Creek battleplan. Also, what's the deal with Gettysburg and shoes?
Joseph Hooker bows out of the campaign, the Confederates occupy Pennsylvania, and George Meade takes command of the Army of the Potomac.
Part five of the Gettysburg Campaign focuses on the Second Battle of Winchester, a few minor cavalry battles in the Loudoun Valley, and the crisis in the Union high command.
