Frederick – Meade Takes Command
The “Meade Takes Command” wayside marker on the southwest side of Frederick, Maryland, commemorates the place where Major General George Meade received orders to take command of the Federal Army of the Potomac. He would lead the army to victory over General Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia three days later at the Battle of Gettysburg.
The marker is next to the Meade Takes Command monument and the Gettysburg Campaign wayside marker.
From the wayside marker:
Meade Takes Command
“Come to give me trouble.”
Near this spot, on the grounds of Prospect Hall, Union Gen. George Gordon Meade replaced Gen. Joesph “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.
From the caption to the photo on the lower left:
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.
From the caption to the photo of General 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.
From the caption to the photo of General Hooker:
Accidentally nicknamed ‘Fighting Joe Hooker’ in a news dispatch, he often quarreled with his superiors yet he was popular with his men.
From the caption to the map on the lower right:
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.
Location
The monument and markers are on the southwest side of Frederick on the north side of Himes Avenue at the intersection with Mansion Drive. Although next to where all the major freeways come together they can be tricky to get to. The best access from the freeways seems to be taking exit 11 of southbound US 15, whose exit ramp turns into Himes Avenue.