Prospect View in Frederick in Frederick County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Meade Takes Command
"Come to give me trouble."
| | Gettysburg Campaign | |
Photographed by Craig Swain, September 9, 2007
1. Meade Takes Command Marker
Near this spot, on the grounds of Prospect Hall, Union Gen. George Gordon Meade replaced Gen. Joseph "Fighting Joe" Hooker as commander of the Army of the Potomac on Sunday, June 28, 1863. Meade took command reluctantly because he was concerned about changing leaders in the middle of a campaign. Additionally, he felt his longtime friend Gen. John F. Reynolds was more capable and more deserving of the assignment.
Meade described his appointment in a letter to his wife, "At 3:00 a.m., I was aroused from my sleep by an officer from Washington entering my tent, and after waking me up, saying he had come to give me trouble. At first, I thought it was either to relieve me or arrest me.... He then handed me a communication to read; which I found was an order relieving Hooker of command and assigning me to it.... As a soldier, I had nothing to do but accept and exert my utmost abilities to command success... I am moving at once against [Confederate Gen. Robert E.] Lee, who I am in hopes [Gen. Darius N.] Couch will at least check for a few days; if so, a battle will decide the fate of our country and our cause." Meade's words would prove prophetic.
[Captions:]
A Union camp in June 1863, Prospect Hall had been a Confederate camp in 1862 and became a Confederate hospital after the Battle of Monocacy in 1864.
this page online
Meade, known in some circles as "Old Snapping Turtle" because of his sudden bursts of temper, was also known as a general who was not afraid to fight.
Accidentally nicknamed "Fighting Joe Hooker in a news dispatch, he often quarreled with his superiors yet he was popular with his men.
Positions of the Union Army of the Potomac June 29, 1863.
Gen. George G. Meade takes command of the Union army camped near Frederick.
Gen. Robert E. Lee's army is scattered across Pennsylvania.
Erected by Maryland Civil War Trails.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Maryland Civil War Trails series list. A significant historical date for this entry is June 28, 1863.
Location. This marker has been replaced by another marker nearby. It was located near 39° 24.226′ N, 77° 26.328′ W. Marker was in Frederick, Maryland, in Frederick County. It was in Prospect View. It was on Himes Avenue, on the right when traveling south. Located at the east side entrance to Prospect Hall. Touch for map. Marker was at or near this postal address: 7522 Himes Ave, Frederick MD 21703, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker was in the Washington Metropolitan Area and in Central Maryland. It was also in the American Mid-Atlantic. Globally, it was in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it found itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies and also the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers
Photographed by Craig Swain, September 9, 2007
2. Civil War Trails and General Meade Markers
Other markers no longer nearby. Gettysburg Campaign (was here, next to this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Battle of Frederick (was approx. 0.8 miles away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).
More about this marker. On the lower left is a photograph of Prospect Hall, captioned, "A Union camp in June 1863, Prospect Hall had been a Confederate camp in 1862 and became a Confederate hospital after the Battle of Monocacy in 1864. Today, Prospect Hall serves as home to St. John's Literary Institute."
A portrait of Gen. Meade states, "Meade, known in some circles as 'Old Snapping
Photographed by Craig Swain, September 9, 2007
3. Prospect Hall
A portrait of Gen. Hooker describes, "Accidentally nicknamed 'Fighting Joe Hooker' in a news dispatch, he often quarreled with his superiors yet he was popular with his men."
A map on the right side depicts the "Positions of the Union Army of the Potomac, June 28, 1863. Gen. George G. Meade takes command of the Union army camped near Frederick. Gen Robert E. Lee's army is scattered across Pennsylvania." In addition locations of other Civil War Trails sites are stared on the map.
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. This marker has been replaced with the linked marker, which has differences in the inscription.
Also see . . . Prospect Hall (Frederick, Maryland). Wikipedia entry (Submitted on March 2, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
Library of Congress
4. George Gordon Meade
Meade, known in some circles as “Old Snapping Turtle” because of his sudden bursts of temper, was also known as a general who was not afraid to fight.
Library of Congress
5. Joseph Hooker
Accidentally nicknamed “Fighting Joe Hooker” in a news dispatch, he often quarreled with his superiors yet he was popular with his men.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 30, 2024. It was originally submitted on October 1, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 7,103 times since then and 59 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 1, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 4, 5. submitted on May 9, 2019, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland.
