In the early morning hours of June 28, 1863, Major General George G. Meade, commander of the Fifth Corps, US Army of the Potomac, was awakened by a tapping at his tent pole. It was Colonel James Allen Hardie, a member of Major General Henry W. Halleck’s staff. Halleck was the General-in-Chief of United States Armies, located in Washington, DC. When Hardie told Meade he had brought him trouble, Meade thought he was being placed under arrest. The irascible Meade said his conscience was clear. Then Hardie revealed the real purpose of his visit. He held orders for Meade:
Headquarters Of The Army, Washington, D. C., June 27, 1863. Major General G. G. Meade,
Army of the Potomac. General:
You will receive with this the order of the President placing you in command of the Army of the Potomac. Considering the circumstances, no one ever received a more important command; and I cannot doubt that you will fully justify the confidence which the Government has reposed in you.
You will not be hampered by any minute instructions from these headquarters. Your army is free to act as you may deem proper under the circumstances as they arise. You will, however, keep in view the important fact that the Army of the Potomac is the covering army of Washington, as well as the army of operation against the invading forces of the rebels. You will therefore manoeuvre and fight in such a manner as to cover the Capital and also Baltimore, as far as circumstances will admit. Should General Lee move upon either of these places, it is expected that you will either anticipate him or arrive with him, so as to give him battle.
All forces within the sphere of your operations will be held subject to your orders.
Harper’s Ferry and its garrison are under your direct orders.
You are authorized to remove from command and send from your army any officer or other person you may deem proper; and to appoint to command as you may deem expedient.
In fine, General, you are intrusted with all the power and authority which the President, the Secretary of War, or the General-in-Chief can confer on you, and you may rely on our full support.
You will keep me fully informed of all your movements and the positions of your own troops and those of the enemy, so far as known.
I shall always be ready to advise and assist you to the utmost of my ability.
Very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
H. W. Halleck
Meade had two choices: take command of the army or resign his commission. He took command. All this happened near Frederick, Maryland, near this spot commemorated by this boulder and plaque in 1930 and re-dedicated during the Civil War Centennial.
It’s worth a trip to visit as part of one’s Gettysburg commemoration.
Student of the American Civil War 
This was a fun reminder of an often overlooked aspect of Meade’s assuming command: he initially thought that he was in a world of trouble.
Yes, he did. It turns out he WAS, though not in the way he originally thought. Colonel Hardie was right. Being commander of the Army of the Potomac meant trouble in the form of meddling politicians.