Left: US General Joseph Hooker; Right: US General George Meade
On this day in 1863, Major General Joseph Hooker was relieved of command of the Army of the Potomac, and replaced by the Pennsylvania native, Major General George G. Meade. Hooker, of course, had been crushed at the Battle of Chancellorsville that May 1863.
Meade would have his work cut out for him and his 90,000 men of the Army of the Potomac -- Robert E. Lee and the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia, 75,000 strong, was across the Potomac and menacing Union territory.
Map of the Gettysburg Campaign, leading up to the great battle. Attribution: Map by Hal Jespersen, www.cwmaps.com
Already, in the last couple of weeks following the clash at Brandy Station, the Confederate Army had advanced north, and sparred with Union pursuing Union forces at the Battles of Aldie (http://www.cr.nps.gov/hps/abpp/battles/va036.htm), Middleburg (http://www.cr.nps.gov/hps/abpp/battles/va037.htm), and Upperville (http://www.cr.nps.gov/hps/abpp/battles/va038.htm), fought from 17-21 June 1863. These three battlefields can all be found along US Route 50 in Loudoun County, VA.
A great battle was on the horizon in Pennsylvania...
Live well!
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