"Our Task Is Not Yet Accomplished": Meade's Decision Making after Victory at Gettysburg, July 4, 1863

Abstract

Th e threeday battle at Gettysburg had ended, and a fateful aft ermath was about to begin! Having conferred with his corps commanders the previous evening, with a heavy heart, Gen. Robert E. Lee issued general orders stating, “Th e army will vacate its position this evening. . . . Th e commanding general earnestly exhorts each corps commander to see that every offi cer exerts the utmost vigilance, steadiness, and boldness during the whole march.”1 Following his devastating defeat on the battlefi eld, in a reversal of fortune, Lee found himself limited to only two feasible escape routes from Gettysburg— the Chambersburg Pike and Hagerstown (Fairfi eld) Road. Meade had faced a similar situation on the previous day three when only the Taneytown Road and the Baltimore Pike were potential escape routes for the Union army if misfortune had befallen it. Lt. Gen. A. P. Hill’s corps was to commence the movement, followed by Lt. Gen. James Longstreet’s corps, and Lt. Gen. Richard Ewell’s corps bringing up the rear. Maj. Gen. J. E. B. Stuart’s cavalry received the assignment to proceed and follow the army, while guarding its right and left fl anks as well as the rear.2