Meade 's army. Between July 1-3, 1863, Abraham Lincoln appointed Meade to lead the Potomac Army and to cut off Lee 's plan to invade Pennsylvania. Lee was not aware of Meade 's army 's location, so he moved north of Gettysburg in the hopes of catching them there; however, Meade 's army was actually just south of Lee and his men. Lee discovered this and decided to strike, but he encountered Federal Calvary and instead retreated. Following this, General James Longstreet pleaded Lee to return south and find a way to reach Meade instead of blindly attacking; however, Lee denied and continued to attack. Consequently, Lee 's defiance resulted in Meade 's army surrounding the Confederates during the night. As a result, Lee was proven wrong and allowed Meade to gain the upper hand
Meade 's army. Between July 1-3, 1863, Abraham Lincoln appointed Meade to lead the Potomac Army and to cut off Lee 's plan to invade Pennsylvania. Lee was not aware of Meade 's army 's location, so he moved north of Gettysburg in the hopes of catching them there; however, Meade 's army was actually just south of Lee and his men. Lee discovered this and decided to strike, but he encountered Federal Calvary and instead retreated. Following this, General James Longstreet pleaded Lee to return south and find a way to reach Meade instead of blindly attacking; however, Lee denied and continued to attack. Consequently, Lee 's defiance resulted in Meade 's army surrounding the Confederates during the night. As a result, Lee was proven wrong and allowed Meade to gain the upper hand