Robert E. Lee
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Robert E. Lee |
Robert E. Lee is well known as being the general of the Army of Northern Virginia. |
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Born in Virginia on a plantation in 1807, it would seem as if Robert E. Lee would be for slavery. However, he wasn't. When the Civil War started, he was asked by Abraham Lincoln to be the general for the north. Feeling love for his home state of Virginia, with the Confederacy, Lee refused and became general for the Army of Northern Virginia. Lee was a wonderful general, who made many good decisions, but also decided to have a charge at Gettysburg (Pickett's Charge) which probably led to the loss of the Confederacy. When he surrendered at Appomattox Court House at the end of the Civil War in 1865, Lee was dressed formally, while Ulysses Grant was not. In 1870, Lee died. |
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George Meade |
George Gordon Meade was the Union general at Gettysburg. However, he was soon replaced. |
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George Meade was born in 1815 and went to West Point. He fought in the Mexican War in 1842, and Seminole Wars. In the Civil War he was made Brigadier General and commanded a Pennsylvania brigade. Meade was seriously wounded at this time in 1861. He moved up in the ranks to V Corps and finally he commanded the Army of the Potomac. He had fought at the first Bull Run, Antietam, Chancellorsville, Appomattox Fredericksburg and Gettysburg.. In Gettysburg he had commanded the army for only a few days. Riding on his brave, bright bay horse, Baldy, Meade handled the army well. Meade made a smart move during Pickett’s Charge, which had begun right when he was finishing lunch. He then made history during the famous charge. After Gettysburg Meade pursued the Confederates too late to catch them. He was sometimes criticized for failing. After Gettysburg he was appointed Brigadier General again. After the Civil War Meade commanded the division of the Atlantic. He died in 1872 in Philadelphia. |
| George Pickett | George Pickett was in charge of the fateful Pickett's Charge. |
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Pickett was born in Richmond, VA in 1825. He graduated from West Point in l846, last in a class of 59. In the Mexican War Pickett was made a lieutenant and captain for his service. He improved in rank even more. As a major general he was at Fredericksburg. Under Pickett's command, the famous charge was fought. Pickett, as division commander, attempted to coordinate the movement and conducted himself bravely and well. He finally ordered the soldiers to withdraw. Afterwards Pickett's military reputation was declining. He fought in more battles until Lee relieved him. After the war he was an insurance salesman in Richmond and died in Norfolk in 1875. |
| The Army of the Potomac (Union) | The Army of Northern Virginia (CSA) |
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John Buford Major General |
Lewis Armistead Brigadier General |
