General Meade, born in Cadiz, Spain, December 31st, 1815, died in Philadelphia, Pa., November 6th, 1872, was graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1835, and began active service in the Seminole War in the same year, as second lieutenant; upon the call to arms in 1861, he was made brigadier general; fought valiantly at Mechanicsville, Gaines's Mill and at Cross Roads, Va., where he was wounded; at Antietam he took charge of General Hooker's corps upon the latter being wounded. In 1862, he was made major general, and on June 28th, 1862, a message from Washington arrived on the field with orders for Meade to relieve hooker as commander of the Army of the Potomac. On July 1st he met Lee at Gettysburg, where the greatest battle of the war was fought.- Frank Leslie, 1896