It is men who wait to be selected, and not those who seek, from whom we may always expect the most efficient service.
Meade's position afterwards proved embarrassing to me if not to him.

He was commanding an army and, for nearly a year previous to my taking command of all the armies, was in supreme command of the Army of the Potomac--except from the authorities at Washington.

All other general officers occupying similar positions were independent in their commands so far as any one present with them was concerned.

I tried to make General Meade's position as nearly as possible what it would have been if I had been in Washington or any other place away from his command.

I therefore gave all orders for the movements of the Army of the Potomac to Meade to have them executed.