GDG- Who was right and who was wrong?

[Chet Diestel]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "jack" <jlawrence at kc.rr.com>
To: "GDG" <gettysburg at arthes.com>
Sent: Saturday, July 22, 2006 1:22 PM
Subject: Re: GDG- Who was right and who was wrong?


> Esteemed GDG Member Jack Lawrence Contributes:
>
>
>
 I think this is also a commentary on Meades track record.
  I agree with your comments on Lee. Meade had seen what happened at Culp's 
Hill too, and also took stock. It is to Meades credit, considering the 
position he was in and all the criticism, that he acted as he did. He 
followed his own judgement, as a commander who understood he was the 
commander. He made a decision he was comfortable with, irregardless of other 
opinions.

   He did occupy Lee's Potomac position on the 14th though, though it was 
through  a recconaisance in force, not a general assault.

  He excercised the same judgement at Mine Run later.

   Meade did the right thing for Gordon Meade. Another Commander could have 
done differently.

   Regards,
    Jack

    Included in any assessment of George Gordon's Meade against Lee in the 
retreat leading up to --- and on -- the 14th must include the time-honored 
"fog of war." Neither Meade nor anyone else knew how badly hurt the ANV had 
been during the three days at Gettysburg (given in part the consistently 
overestimation of Confederate strength) nor Lee's supply situation. Meade 
did not that the ANV was a force that could and would fight and was 
extremely well entrenched on favorable ground. There must have been a lot of 
questions in Meade's mind in which the answers were still blank and if 
filled in might not be in his favor.
   Meade was an excellent officer and had just conducted one of the most 
superb defensive battles in history. He was also a commanding officer who 
was not rash, but would look for a flaw or mistake on his counterpart and 
then take action, but that took time, hence the sensible recon in force on 
the 14th. And while it is most true that another commander could --- I would 
phrase it as "might" ---have done defiantly, Meade was the commanding 
general at that time and at that place and Lee's assessment of Meade, I 
believe, has stood the test of time --- namely that Meade would make no 
mistakes and would be quick to take advantage of any he (Lee) made.
  With regards,
           Chet