November 3, 1863 (Wednesday): Lincoln Pulls Meade Up Short

General George Meade

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Washington, November 3, 1863-10 a. m.
Major-General MEADE,
Army of the Potomac:
     Your dispatch of 12 m. yesterday, received about 1 o'clock this morning, was submitted to the President at the earliest moment practicable. He does not see that the proposed change of base is likely to produce any favorable result, while its disadvantages are manifest. I have fully concurred in the views he has heretofore communicated on this subject. Any tactical movement to turn a flank or threaten a communication is left to your own judgment; but an entire change of base under existing circumstances, I can neighter advise nor approve.


      H. W. HALLECK,
      General-in-Chief.

Official Records, Series I., Vol. 29, Part 2, Page 412.

Meade wanted to change his base of operations to Aquia Creek and turn Lee's right flank at Fredericksburg, securing the heights behind the town.  This sounded, to Lincoln and Halleck's minds, too much like a repeat of Burnside's plans the previous year.  Meade would not be told what to do, only that he could not do what he wanted to.