Posted: 9/27/2011 2:57:56 PM EDT
| Did his lack of pursuing Lee after Gettysburg torpedo him in Lincoln's eyes? I did a little reading today and the author suggested this. Thanks guys. |
| I think Lincoln realized he wasn`t the inspired or visionary leader to lead the overall war plan. But as Gettysburg proved, he was a steady commander when the SHTF. IIRC , he remained commander of the Army of the Potomac for the rest of the war. Grant became General-in-Chief, he woud issue the overall orders and travel with the Army of the Potomac most of the time. When necessary, Grant would go elsewhere. He did so when Rosecrans and the Army of the Cumberland got their asses handed to him at Chattanooga/Chickamaugua(spelling?). |
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Meade had been in command less that a week. His army had just completes several days of hard marching and fought a three day battle where he lost over 1/3 of it. He also lost his two of hardest hitting and best corps commanders (Hancock and Reynolds) and his hardest fighting corps commander (Sickles). His army was a desperate need or reorganization.
Lee wanted nothing more that for Meade to now attack him. His army had been defeated in battle but was not demoralized and was itching for payback. Remember that to attack Lee, his army would have to move across the same fields that the Confederates had to cross during Pickett's Charge. The only real mistake he made was waiting 1 day more before attacking Lee while he was stuck north of the Potomac. He did this on the advice of his corps commanders. Lee escaped that very night. All in all he did pretty good. He was the First Army of the Potomac commander not to succumb to Lee's aura. He was not cowed into retreat and was ready for more fighting at Gettysburg if needed. |
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Quoted:
No Lincoln never really wanted the anaconda plan Grant offered an alternative That is why Grant's star rose. Read The American Way of War. Yet ultimately, the Anaconda plan is what lead to the defeat of the south. Coupled with the blockade, Grant`s willingness to stay in close contact with Confederate forces and not give them any respite , and the political will to stay the course is what finally destroyed the south. |
| Lincoln was very disappointed and wrote a letter expressing it. He pocketed it rather than send it. Meade's Army of the Potomac had taken a beating, but he still had the VI Corps which was still fresh. Furthermore, Lee's Army was even more beat than Meade's. Lee's wagon train of wounded was over 10 miles long. Meade could have pursued with his still fresh troops and with his cavalry; with the rest of the army taking a more direct, southern route toward the Maryland and Virginia border. |