Editing George Meade (section)

====Battle of Gettysburg====
[[File:Gettysburg Council of War.jpg|thumb|Engraving by [[James E. Kelly (artist)|James E. Kelly]] of Meade and the Council of War - July 2, 1863]]
{{main|Battle of Gettysburg}}
Meade rushed the remainder of his army to Gettysburg and deployed his forces for a defensive battle.{{sfn|Hall|2003|p=75}} Meade was only four days into his leadership of the Army of the Potomac and informed his corps commanders that he would provide quick decisions and entrust them with the authority to carry out those orders the best way they saw fit. He also made it clear that he was counting on the corps commanders to provide him with sound advice on strategy.{{sfn|Hall|2003|p=75}}

Since Meade was new to high command, he did not remain in headquarters but constantly moved about the battlefield, issuing orders and ensuring that they were followed. Meade gave orders for the Army of the Potomac to move forward in a broad front to prevent Lee from flanking them and threatening the cities of Baltimore and Washington D.C. He also issued a conditional plan for a retreat to Pipe Creek, Maryland in case things went poorly for the Union. By 6 pm on the evening of July 1, 1863, Meade sent a telegram to Washington informing them of his decision to concentrate forces and make a stand at Gettysburg.{{sfn|Tagg|1998|p=}}

On July 2, 1863, Meade continued to monitor and maintain the placement of the troops. He was outraged when he discovered that Daniel Sickles had moved his Corps one mile forward to high ground without Meade's permission and left a gap in the line which threatened Sickles' right flank. Meade recognized that [[Little Round Top]] was critical to maintaining the left flank. He sent chief engineer [[Gouverneur Warren]] to determine the status of the hill and quickly issued orders for the V Corps to occupy it when it was discovered empty. Meade continued to reinforce the troops defending Little Round Top from Longstreet's advance and suffered the near destruction of thirteen brigades. One questionable decision Meade made that day was to order Slocum's [[XII Corps (Union Army)|XII Corps]] to move from [[Culp's Hill]] to the left flank which allowed Confederate troops to temporarily capture a portion of it.{{sfn|Tagg|1998|p=}}

On the evening of July 2, 1863, Meade called a "council of war" consisting of his top generals. The council reviewed the battle to date and agreed to keep fighting in a defensive position.{{sfn|Hall|2003|p=167}}

[[File:Meade-Headquarters Gettysburg.jpg|thumb|General Meade's headquarters, [[Gettysburg, Pennsylvania]]]]
On July 3, 1863, Meade gave orders for the XII Corps and XI Corps to retake the lost portion of Culp's Hill and personally rode the length of the lines from Cemetery Ridge to Little Round Top to inspect the troops. His headquarters were in the Leister House directly behind Cemetery Ridge which exposed it to the 150-gun cannonade which began at 1 pm. The house came under direct fire from incorrectly targeted Confederate guns; Butterfield was wounded and sixteen horses tied up in front of the house were killed. Meade did not want to vacate the headquarters and make it more difficult for messages to find him, but the situation became too dire and the house was evacuated.{{sfn|Tagg|1998|p=}}

During the three days, Meade made excellent use of capable subordinates, such as Maj. Gens. [[John F. Reynolds]] and [[Winfield S. Hancock]], to whom he delegated great responsibilities.{{sfn|Gallagher|1999|p=144}} He reacted swiftly to fierce assaults on his line's left and right which culminated in Lee's disastrous assault on the center, known as [[Pickett's Charge]].{{sfn|Tagg|1998|pp=4-6}}

By the end of three days of fighting, the Army of the Potomac's 60,000 troops and 30,000 horses had not been fed in three days and were weary from fighting.{{sfn|Brown|2021|p=5}} On the evening of July 4, 1863, Meade held a second council of war with his top generals, minus Hancock and Gibbon, who were absent due to duty and injury. The council reviewed the status of the army and debated staying in place at Gettysburg versus chasing the retreating Army of Northern Virginia. The council voted to remain in place for one day to allow for rest and recovery and then set out after Lee's army. Meade sent a message to Halleck stating, "I make a reconnaissance to-morrow, to ascertain what the intention of the enemy is … should the enemy retreat, I shall pursue him on his flanks."<ref name=nps.gov>{{cite web |title=General George Meade's Forgotten Council of War |url=https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/meades-council-of-war.htm |website=www.nps.gov |publisher=National Park Service United States Department of the Interior |access-date=21 March 2023}}</ref>