(1815 - 1872) Union major general who commanded brilliantly at Gettysburg, leading to a Union victory and the turning point of the Civil War. Fine association, lengthy A.L.S. ‘G. Meade’ 7pp. 4to., Philadelphia, Sept. 15, 1870, on letterhead of the Headquarters Military Division of the Atlantic to Brigadier General Irvin McDowell regarding territorial squabbles between other Union generals. In part: ‘…I have a letter from Genl. [John] Pope urging…I should recommend the transfer of posts on the Niagara River & Lake Ontario to the Department of the Lakes, and failing to do this, he urges the transfer of Fort Peter, on the…grounds that it is of importance to have all the 1st Regt in the department. I have replied to Genl. Pope that I have already officially committed myself against the transfer of the posts…but I acknowledge his claim to the two companies of the 1st Regt. now at Fort Peter which were only sent there because he had requested more troops in his Department than he had quarters for as the Artillery company has been received from Detroit. I have therefore decided …to permit him back his two companies by letting you send an Artillery Company to relieve them. This need not be done until…the later part of May…In reference to the movement of Dupont [?], I desire to say the idea originated with Genl. [William T.] Sherman, who is sending me instructions for the movement of the company at Detroit & the two at Fort Delaware, suggested that I might move Dupont from Wash [?] in case I desired to do so. Before I could…I received a letter from [Henry J.] Hunt & Dupont objecting to the movement, which letters I sent to Sherman with the statement I have myself no particular dissatisfaction to make the change & in view of the letter would not do it without his instructions. In reply he stated there was no hurry & Dupont might remain in [?] til June. It is therefore settled he will [stay] there & I submit to you sending one of the C.O.’s at Fort Adams to relieve the Co. of the 1st at Madison Barracks & sending the letter to relieve the Infantry at Fort Peter. Sherman, last Spring, was rather disposed to adopt Pope’s idea that all the posts in the Lakes should be in the Dept of the Lakes and I rather opine that if Pope claims Fort Peter as being garrisoned by the infantry, that is in his Dept, that Sherman will be disposed to concede it, and that you will probably have to decide between giving up the post or its garrison. Let me hear your views. In regard to Sherman…when I suggested his being sent to Fort Delaware, it was to provide for him, as the removal of the C.O.’s of the 1st from Fort Trumbull necessitated his transfer somewhere…I have no objection to his going Wadsworth [?]…’ Following the war, Meade held post as Commander of the Military Division of the Atlantic, and, in 1868 he was reassigned to Atlanta, Georgia, where he enforced federal Reconstruction policies. In 1870, Andrew Jackson named Meade Governor of Reconstruction Third Military District, replacing John Pope, who then became head of the Department of the Lakes. Not surprisingly, Pope grapples to wrest control over strategic posts from his successor. Expertly inlaid and fine. Worthy of further research.