Posted on 07/03/2008 6:28:24 AM PDT by mware
3rd Day- Pickett's Charge
On the outskirts of Gettysburg, at 1 p.m., 170 Confederate cannons open fired. The Union was positioned in Cemetery Ridge with only a stonewall for protection. The Union returned fire. About 2:30 p.m. the Federally slowed there rate of fire and fooled the rebels, to believing they were out of ammunition. Gen. Picket went to see Gen. Longstreet and asked, " General shall I advance"? Longstreet responded with his head bowed and raised his hand. The command was given. " Charge the enemy and remember Old Virginia" Picket said as he lead 12,000 rebels toward the Union. By this time the 20th Maine joined General Hanncok at the center of the ridge. The Union first watched at the extraordinary sight. Picket converged the line to focus on the Union position called the Angle. The Confederates neared and the Union were able to hold back the Confederates, but under the lead of General Lewis Armstead the rebels were able to break through the Angle. Soon the rebels that reached the Angle were forced back back across the field in retreat. General Picket who was standing in the distance exclaimed, " What's happened to my boys"? When Picket returned to General Lee, he was ordered to prepare a possible Union counterattack. Picket then said, " General Lee I have no division"
Stuart's Calvary Encounters Gregg Pronsworth Near Little Round Top July 3, 1863 12:00 Stuart with four brigades had arrived at Gettysburg area July, 2nd. Lee charged Stuart flanking the Union and captures Cem. Ridge. The two cavalry forces met three miles east of Gettysburg near Rummel farm about norht. Stuart deplated his brigdesss in the woods on Cress Ridge. The fighting then begain. Stuart sent the 1st Virgins charging into the Union cavalry. Stuart ordered most of Hamptons and Lees Brigades into a column attack Greggs position. The Confederate ran headlong in to the Union. Eventually the Confederates cut off and attacked from al sides. Both sides clamed
Perhaps Lee's greatest military blunder.
I should think so!
Stewart’s cavalry arriving in the rear, just as Pickett reached the ridge...
If not for Custer’s headlong charge into a much larger force, it would be a very different world, today...
bump
It features "We are all Virginians"
It also show a cameo appearance by Ken Burns.
“Give’em Cold Steel boys”.
Segment from Ken Burns, The Civil War
The Civil War /Pickett's Charge/Gettysburg part 2
General Lee was a fine soldier and a good and decent man, but he was afflicted with “Victory Disease”. He couldn’t accept anything other than his army would carry the day. And, he didn’t listen to Longstreet and flank the Union lines past Big Round Top, because he believed that his troops could punch through the Union lines.
I think that striking at the center of the Union line was the only viable option left for Lee. He had struck on both flanks and came up with nothing.
But at the same time, it was not much of an option. He had to send his troops across an large open field where they’d be subject to artillery fire and then when closer, rifle fire.
The next question to ask is “What if Lee had made a clean and solid break in the Union line?” He didn’t have the troops to exploit that opening. Maybe he was counting (or hoping) that the Union army would not be able to mount a counter-attack due to the confusion.
Maybe Lee launched the attack because it would have been unfeasible for him to disengage and head back to Virginia. Maybe he trusted his troops too much. After all, they had rarely failed him in combat.
Who knows? But it’s all very interesting to consider the possibilities.
But they attacked anyway.
Kind of reminds me of the charges at Fredickburg by Union forces. I believe Joshua Chamberlain was in that battle too.
..and yes, they spelled claimed wrong.
Yes, Chamberlain was at Fredericksburg.
Some of the beards were out there, but I think they got Chamberlain spot on. Jeff Daniels did a good job in portraying him. He did a good job in portraying George Washington in another movie.
Lee was smart enough to knew that winning was a long shot against the North (who had more of everything) and that in order to succeed he had to take some long shots. This was a long shot, one that missed.
Recall also that the plan included a long cannonade of the Union line which was supposed to wreak havoc on the part of the line that Pickett was headed for.
The cannonade over shot the target and the plan fell apart.
Also, if Jackson had been at Gettysburg and had suggested a move to the right, I suspect that Lee would have done so. Although Lee had great respect for Longstreet, when Longstreet suggested the move to the right, I think Lee held back, thinking that only Jackson could pull it off and that without Jackson, it was safer just to slam into the center.
An odd mixture of too much risk-taking and too much playing-it-safe. And yet, it might have worked.
Custer saved a small battle, but Stewart’s cavalry wasn’t going anywhere. They were utterly worn out by the time they got to Gettysburg. That’s precisely why Lee had them on the perimeter, out of the battle. Men arrived at camp on the night of July 2/3 falling out of their saddles, their mounts starved. It wasn’t a group capable of anything except cavalry vs. cavalry action, and it’s another reason (as well as Custer’s heroism) that they were stymied that afternoon.
They have the trunk of a tree that was literally cut down by shot.
It's the damnist thing.
http://americanhistory.si.edu/militaryhistory/exhibition/flash.html?path=5.10.r_704
General “Picket” [sic] did NOT command the so-called Pickett’s Charge. His was but one of three divisions (Pickett’s, Pettigrew’s, Trimble’s) making the attack. The slowdown in Union fire occurred about 1:30, not 2:30 (see Porter Alexander’s memoirs), and the Confederate bombardment lasted less than an hour.
For a general leading the side that supposedly is "playing defense," this is an unacceptable level of loss, one doomed to defeat.
You are so right about the beards. Looked more like high school drama club stage props that real facial hair. Jeff Daniels did a good job, you can't help but like the guy, but there was one scene that made me cringe, when he was giving his “why we must fight but I'm not going to punish you if you don't” speech to the unit of soldiers that was refusing to fight beyond their enlistment. It was just hokey. Wasn't his fault though, he didn't write the lines.
It's also worth noting, however, that Lee knew what the outcome of troops moving over open field to attack an entrenched position was, not only from watching the results on the Union army at Fredericksburg, but also from his debacle at Malvern Hill, where his own Rebel infantry charged emplaced guns over an open field. Lunacy.
bump
And, yes, Chamberlain was in that battle, and I think was wounded---a wound from which he always had problems, despite living until 1913 . . . the 50th anniversary of the battle. He died shortly thereafter.
Wasn’t he awarded the CMH for Little Round Top???
Course, with my luck, the troops would all pull out a copy of my book and tape it to their muskets. But at nearly 1000 pp, it could be deadly!
DIARY OF
A TAR HEEL CONFEDERATE SOLDIER:
http://docsouth.unc.edu/fpn/leon/leon.html
excerpt
July 1 - We left camp at 6 A.M., passed through Heidelsburg and Middleton. At the latter place we heard firing in the direction of Gettysburg. We were pushed forward after letting the wagon trains get in our rear. We got to Gettysburg at 1 P.M., 15 miles. We were drawn up in line of battle about one mile south of town, and a little to the left of the Lutheran Seminary. We then advanced to the enemy's line of battle in double quick time. We had not gotten more than 50 paces when Norman of our company fell dead by my side. Katz was going to pick him up. I stopped him, as it is strictly forbidden for anyone to help take the dead or wounded off the field except the ambulance corps. We then crossed over a rail fence, where our Lieutenant McMatthews and Lieutenant Alexander were both wounded. That left us with a captain and one lieutenant. After this we got into battle in earnest, and lost in our company very heavily, both killed and wounded. This fight lasted four hours and a half, when at last we drove them clear out of town, and took at least 3,000 prisoners. They also lost very heavily in killed and wounded, which all fell into our hands. After the fight our company was ordered to pick up all straggling Yankees in town, and bring them together to be brought to the rear as prisoners. One fellow I took up could not speak one word of English, and the first thing he asked me in German
July 2 - Our division was in reserve until dark, but our regiment was supporting a battery all day. We lost several killed and wounded, although we had no chance to fire - only lay by a battery of artillery and be shot at. The caisson of the battery we were supporting was blown up and we got a big good sprinkling of the wood from it. Just at dark we were sent to the front under terrible cannonading. Still, it was certainly a beautiful sight. It being dark, we could see the cannon vomit forth fire. Our company had to cross a rail fence. It gave way and several of our boys were hurt by others walking over them. We laid down here a short time, in fact no longer than 10 minutes, when I positively fell asleep. The cannonading did not disturb me. One of the boys shook me and told me Katz was wounded by a piece of a shell striking him on the side, and he was sent to the rear. We went on to the Baltimore Turnpike until 3 in the morning of the 3d.
July 3 - When under a very heavy fire, we were ordered on Culps Hill, to the support of Gen. A.
July 4 - We laid on the battlefield of the first day, this the fourth day of July. No fighting to-day, but we are burying the dead. They have been lying on the field in the sun since the first day's fight; it being dusty and hot, the dead smell terribly. The funny part of it is, the Yankees have all turned black. Several of our company, wounded, have died. Katz is getting along all right. The battle is over, and although we did not succeed in pushing the enemy out of their strong position, I am sure they have not anything
July 5 - Left this morning at 5 o'clock. Only marched ten miles to-day. The enemy being in our rear, and skirmishing very strong.
July 6 - Our company was ordered out as skirmishers to-day, as our regular skirmish corps was broken up during the fight. We were the rear of the army, and therefore had a very hard job before us. Fighting all day in falling back we certainly had fun. We were close enough to the enemy to hear their commands. We would hold them in check and give them a few rounds, then fall back again. They would then advance until we would make a stand, fight again, and so it was until we reached Fairfield, six miles from Gettysburg. I don't think there were many lost on either side in this skirmish. We crossed South Mountain at Monteray Gap. When we came to the above town I pressed into service a citizen's coat, in this way: We were ordered to rest, and, as usual, we would sit on fences and lay about the road. Some of the boys jumped on an old hog pen. It broke
July 8 - We are resting, and, goodness knows, we need it very much. I sold my coat for twenty dollars and a gray jacket. We lost in the last fight in our company eleven killed and twenty-six wounded; three of the latter will not live, and nine of our number became prisoners, besides the wounded. Our three lieutenants are all wounded and prisoners. Katz is also a prisoner. Nothing further up to the 10th.
July 10 - Moved four and a half miles on the other side of town. We have fortified ourselves here.
July 11 - Orders read out to-day from our father, R. E. Lee, that we would fight the enemy once more on their own soil, as they were now in our front. That order got to them, and fulfilled its mission, as we were then on our way to the Potomac. They still thinking we could not cross the river, because the river was very high from the recent rains, and we
http://americanhistory.si.edu/militaryhistory/exhibition/flash.html?path=5.10.r_704
I believe the wound you're referring to was suffered at Petersburg in June 1864 where he was shot through the right hip and groin. The wound was expected to be fatal, but his pulled through. Still, Chamberlain was wounded 6 times during the war, and I'm sure any one of them caused problems later in his life.
I took basic training at Fort Lewis in 1966. Among the first there for many years. Birch trees had grown up down range on the rifle ranges. I remember, as firing was going on, the birch trees behind the targets being whittled down by bullets.
Great website, Thanks for sharing. I know what I will be looking at during lunch today.
Thank you for that excerpt. Amazing.
July 14, 1861
Camp Clark, Washington
My very dear Sarah:
The indications are very strong that we shall move in a few days—perhaps tomorrow. Lest I should not be able to write again, I feel impelled to write a few lines that may fall under your eye when I shall be no more . . .
I have no misgivings about, or lack of confidence in the cause in which I am engaged, and my courage does not halt or falter. I know how strongly American Civilization now leans on the triumph of the Government and how great a debt we owe to those who went before us through the blood and sufferings of the Revolution. And I am willing—perfectly willing—to lay down all my joys in this life, to help maintain this Government, and to pay that debt . . .
Sarah my love for you is deathless, it seems to bind me with mighty cables that nothing but Omnipotence could break; and yet my love of Country comes over me like a strong wind and bears me unresistibly on with all these chains to the battle field.
The memories of the blissful moments I have spent with you come creeping over me, and I feel most gratified to God and to you that I have enjoyed them for so long. And hard it is for me to give them up and burn to ashes the hopes of future years, when, God willing, we might still have lived and loved together, and seen our sons grown up to honorable manhood, around us. I have, I know, but few and small claims upon Divine Providence, but something whispers to me—perhaps it is the wafted prayer of my little Edgar, that I shall return to my loved ones unharmed. If I do not my dear Sarah, never forget how much I love you, and when my last breath escapes me on the battle field, it will whisper your name. Forgive my many faults and the many pains I have caused you. How thoughtless and foolish I have often times been! How gladly would I wash out with my tears every little spot upon your happiness . . .
But, O Sarah! If the dead can come back to this earth and flit unseen around those they loved, I shall always be near you; in the gladdest days and in the darkest nights . . . always, always, and if there be a soft breeze upon your cheek, it shall be my breath, as the cool air fans your throbbing temple, it shall be my spirit passing by. Sarah do not mourn me dead; think I am gone and wait for thee, for we shall meet again . . .
Sullivan Ballou was killed a week later at the first Battle of Bull Run, July 21, 1861.
Wow. Six times. Just one, and I’d be saying, “OK, did my part.”
good points.
I should have qualified that by adding: "Except for a superior field Commanders at the begining of the war"
bttt
According to Shelby Foote, one side named the battles after physical geographic featrues near the battle, while the other named the battle after cites near the battle.
digging in the park will extend his vacation. The Rangers frown on those activities.
Even better. That would serve him right for rubbing-in his vacation to the battlefield.
Chamberlain was significant for a number of reasons. One of the more obscure is that he is considered the last man to die from wounds received in the Civil War. He died in 1914 (not 1913) and his death was attributed to his wound at Petersburg.
I’ve seen it before.
The tree was in the center of the Mule Shoe Salient at the battle of Spotsylvania Court House.
Read some on-line accounts of the battle or pick up “Bloody Roads South” by Noah Trudeau.
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Today I think again of my cousin Jim from Fauquier County, who marched with the Eighth Virginia and became one of the “pink mist” boys, forever nineteen.
He was a dear young man; I have read and touched his charming letters. His brother, a captain, had to go back home and tell their mother that he had lost her baby during Pickett’s Charge.
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