Despite orders from Grant that the corps commanders were to examine the ground, their reconnaissance was lax and Meade failed to supervise them adequately, either before or during the attack.
Trods ordrer fra Grant om, at korpskommandørerne skulle undersøge terrænet, havde deres rekognoscering været slap, og Meade havde ikke overvåget dem tilstrækkeligt hverken før eller under angrebet.