Fort George G. Meade: The First 100 Years
You may know Fort George G. Meade as a cyber and intelligence hub, but did you know that the installation used to be the home of Army Tank School after World War I? Or that it housed an internment camp at the start of World War II for primarily German-American and Italian-American citizens and foreign nationals? Learn more about the fascinating history of the third largest Army base in the U.S. in terms of number of workforce in this book.
You may know Fort George G. Meade as a cyber and intelligence hub, but did you know that the installation used to be the home of Army Tank School after World War I? Or that it housed an internment camp at the start of World War II for primarily German-American and Italian-American citizens and foreign nationals? Learn more about the fascinating history of the third largest Army base in the U.S. in terms of number of workforce in this book.
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WHO WAS GEORGE G. MEADE?<br />
3<br />
Who was <strong>George</strong> G. <strong>Meade</strong>?<br />
<strong>George</strong> Gordon <strong>Meade</strong> was born to Richard Worsam<br />
and Margaret Coats Butler <strong>Meade</strong> on New Year’s Eve<br />
Day, 1815, in Cadiz, Spain, a city located on a narrow<br />
spit of land in the Iberian Peninsula. “Old Snapping<br />
Turtle,” as he was known, was one of eight children,<br />
who spent much of his childhood in Spain as his father,<br />
a Philadelphia businessman, temporarily made Cadiz the<br />
family’s residence.<br />
Richard Worsom <strong>Meade</strong>, a Philadelphia merchant,<br />
served as a naval agent for the U.S. government, lost his<br />
fortune through supporting Spain during the Napoleonic<br />
Wars. He died before his son reached his teenage years.<br />
Later, after living in Baltimore and Washington, D.C.,<br />
<strong>George</strong> <strong>Meade</strong> entered the U.S. Military Academy at West<br />
Point in 1831. Four years later, he graduated 19th out of<br />
a class of 56 cadets.<br />
<strong>Meade</strong> didn’t initially intend to pursue a military career.<br />
He served for a year with the 3rd U.S. Artillery in Florida<br />
fighting in the Seminole War. He then resigned from the<br />
Army and worked as a civil engineer for the Alabama,<br />
Georgia and Florida Railroad.<br />
After marrying Margaretta Sergeant, daughter of a<br />
By Allen Feiler, SoundOff!<br />
prominent Whig politician, <strong>Meade</strong> re-entered the Army in<br />
1842 and served in the Corps of Topographical Engineers<br />
as a second lieutenant.<br />
During the Mexican-American War, he served on the<br />
staffs of such generals as Robert Patterson, future U.S.<br />
President Zachary Taylor and William J. Worth. <strong>Meade</strong><br />
was recognized for gallant conduct at the Battle of<br />
Monterrey and promoted to first lieutenant. His military<br />
services were not called upon again until outbreak of the<br />
Civil War in April 1861.<br />
On Aug. 31, 1861, <strong>Meade</strong> was promoted to brigadier<br />
general of volunteers and given command of the 2nd<br />
Brigade of the Pennsylvania Reserves. After helping to<br />
fortify the defenses around Washington, he joined the<br />
Army of the Potomac and served under Gen. <strong>George</strong> B.<br />
McClellan.<br />
<strong>Meade</strong> participated in the Seven Days Battles near<br />
Richmond, Virginia. At the Glendale Battle, he was<br />
seriously wounded. After recovering, he led a brigade at<br />
the Second Battle of Bull Run.<br />
At the battles of South Mountain and Antietam in<br />
Maryland, <strong>Meade</strong> commanded the 3rd Division, I Corps,
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