"After Winning the Battle of Gettysburg, George Meade" Topic

… Fought With—and Lost to—the Press

"When Union General George Gordon Meade read a Philadelphia Inquirer article accusing him of being too timid to "risk [his] last army on what he deemed a chance," he took immediate steps to punish the story's author, Edward Crapsey (sometimes misspelled as Cropsey). Meade, who had long chafed at what he regarded as the biased, mercenary press, could not abide such an article from his hometown paper, nor risk a loss of confidence among his troops. On a June morning in 1864, the general expelled Crapsey from camp, ordering his men to seat the reporter backward on a mule, with a sign around his neck that read "Libeler of the Press." A crowd of Union soldiers hurled insults at Crapsey as he departed.

Crapsey's public humiliation served as a warning to the broader press. Any journalists who followed him in circulating falsehoods, Meade declared, would be similarly punished…"

link

Armand

An enjoyable and informative read, thanks for posting the link.

Meade rarely gets the credit even today for his abilities as a commander. The idea that he won at Gettysburg, defeating Lee, is by itself a noble and tremendous accomplishment, full of choices that helped bring about an end to Lee's folly into Pennsylvania.

A votre service mon ami…

Armand