George Meade Essay, Research Paper

George Meade

Do you know who was the general for the Second Battle of Bull Run? Everyone kGeorge

Meadenowswhat the Second Battle of Bull Run is but who was the general? Some people

even knowthat the North won that battle. Most people do not know that General George

Meadedefeated General Lee at that battle. General George Mead accomplished much

duringwartime.General George Meade had many accomplishments during wartime. First

of all, hedefeated General Lee at the Second Battle of Bull Run. Why would not General

Meadecrush General Lee at this battle and end the war there? Facts say that heavy fog and

rainforced Meade to stop. Likewise, on June 1, !863 a surprise encounter forced his

troopsinto the Battle of Gettysburg, the greatest battle on American soil. This battle came

aboutwhen General Lee’s army needed shoes. The two forces met here on accident and

fought toa victory for the North. Lee acknowledged his defeat and retreated to Virginia.

Not onlydid Meade serve in the Civil War, but also served in the Mexican War. He served

in thebattles of Palo Alto, Monterey, and Veracruz. During these he served under

GeneralZachory Taylor. To sum up, General George Meade accomplished many things

during histime at war. Each of General George Meade’s accomplishments had one major

effect on howlife is today. To start, if Meade had not defeated Lee at the Second Battle of

Bull Run thewar would not have started off positively for the North. This was important

because thesoldiers gained their confidence when they won this battle. If the North would

have lostthe entire war the U.S. would be two different countries. Secondly, Meade’s

defeat of Leeat the accidental Gettysburg. This was a battle that turned the war around

and gave theNorth the advantage. This was the North’s first victory in a long time. Finally,

if the U.S.had not have won the Mexican War, Where Meade served as a soldier, the U.S.

would nothave gained the southwest portion of the country. This ,as you remember, was

where thegold rush took place that caused the country to spread out over the land. As has

beenshown, Meade’s accomplishments had many effects on how life is lived today.There

are many things that would be different if George Meade had never lived. For one thing,

the North might not have won the first battle of the war causing the soldiersto lose

confidence and maybe lose the war. If the South had won the war the U.S. wouldbe split

into two countries right now. Also, if the north did not the greatest battle onAmerican soil,

Gettysburg, it could have been the end of the war right there at Gettysburg. If the North

would have lost the war the U.S. would be two different countries, as was saidearlier.

Last, if the U.S. had not won the Mexican War we would have lost some of ourland to

Mexico. The U.S. would have also not had the Gold Rush that took place inCalifornia. In

conclusion, the country would have been very different if George Meade hadnever

lived.General George Meade accomplished much during wartime. Most people do

notknow that Meade defeated Lee at the Second Battle of Bull Run . Some people even

knowthat the North won that battle. Everyone knows what the Second Battle of Bull Run

is butwho was the general?

Cleaves, Freeman. “Meade, George Gordon.”

Collier’s Encyclopedia. Vol. 15.1989.Sefton, James E. “Meade, George Gordon.” The

World Book Encyclopedia. Vol.15. 1994.”Meade, George G.” Compton’s Interactive

Encyclopedia. Version 2.01vw.Carlsbad, California: Compton’s New Media, 1994.

CD-ROM.”Meade, George Gordon.” Encyclopedia Americana. Vol. 18.

Danbury,Connecticut: Grolier, 1990.”Meade, George Gordon.” Who’s Who in American

History. Historical Volume.St. Louis,Missouri: Van Hoffman Press,1967.