This Day in History|July 3rd, 1863 - Pickett leads his infamous charge at Gettysburg

The History Channel ^ | July 3rd, 2005 | The History Channel

[timpad]

July 3, 1863:

 

Troops under Confederate General George Pickett begin a massive attack against the center of the Union lines at Gettysburg on the climactic third day of the Battle of Gettysburg, the largest engagement of the war. General Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia encountered George Meade's Army of the Potomac in Pennsylvania and battered the Yankees for two days. The day before Pickett's charge, the Confederates had hammered each flank of the Union line but could not break through.

Now, on July 3, Lee decided to attack the Union center, stationed on Cemetery Ridge, after making another unsuccessful attempt on the Union right flank at Culp's Hill in the morning. The majority of the force consisted of Pickett's division, but there were other units represented among the 15,000 attackers.

After a long Confederate artillery bombardment, the Rebel force moved through the open field and up the slight rise of Cemetery Ridge. But by the time they reached the Union line, the attack had been broken into many small units, and they were unable to penetrate the Yankee center.

The failed attack effectively ended the battle of Gettysburg. On July 4, Lee began to withdraw his forces to Virginia. The casualties for both armies were staggering. Lee lost 28,000 of his 75,000 soldiers, and Union losses stood at over 22,000. It was the last time Lee threatened Northern territory.

[johnny7]

Buford's decision to hold was critical... but the battle was decided by Ewells FAILURE to seize Cemetery Hill.

[kezekiel]

better than the movie was, but Jeff Daniels was great in that movie....

As was Tom Berenger as Longstreet, arguing against the center charge and stressing that the rules of war have changed and the reality of modern warfare favored the defender. As I recall, his fellow officers said after the war that they didn't remember Longstreet having those reservations during the actual battle.

[MikefromOhio]

Ewell also had an opportunity to march onto Little Round Top and encircle Buford who has holding against Heth....

[MikefromOhio]

Depends on who you ask...

in all the books and accounts of the battles save other officers, he did have the reservations, but being a soldier needed to follow orders....

[timpad]

I am humbled by the history of this conflict and the men on both sides who died.

Hard to imagine the brand of courage that walked up that hill into the storm of fire being poured down on them. And yet, that brand lives on in the Marines of Fallujah, but is now honed with skill and training undreamt of by Pickett.

Tomorrow is a great day to remember how fortunate we are that "Liberty has found such brave defenders."

[johnny7]

He's a damn good actor... a true 'chameleon'.

[MikefromOhio]

yep....

I can't imagine him doing Gettysburg and then turning around and doing Dumb and Dumber, then followed by Speed....

[B4Ranch]

In case folks want to encourage the Weare, N.H., selectmen
who have the power to take Judge Souter's house by eminent
domain so that it can be replaced by a higher-tax-paying hotel,
here are the Selectmen's addresses.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Board of Selectmen in general: office@weare.nh.gov

The Chair is Laura Buono: lbuono@weare.nh.gov

Vice-Chair is Leon Methot: lmethot@weare.nh.gov

Heleen Kurk: hkurk@weare.nh.gov

Joseph Fiala: jfiala@weare.nh.gov

Donna Osborne: dosborne@weare.nh.gov

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Please send six polite but firm emails in honor of
The Declaration of Independence of the Thirteen Colonies In CONGRESS, July 4, 1776

[MikefromOhio]

ummmm...what does this have to do with this Civil War thread?

Couldnt you have Freepmailed that to me?

[B4Ranch]

Sorry Mike, I didn't mean to offend your thread.

[MikefromOhio]

its not that but you spammed more than just this one thread....

You could have started your own thread instead or something to that effect....

[B4Ranch]

Because this is the weekend, not all Lurkers or Freepers can take the time to read every thread.

Is the 2005 Q3 FReepathon spam too? Or does it bring unity amongst FReepers?

[MikefromOhio]

you are missing entirely what I am saying but alright....

[CTOCS]

Shaara's trilogy of the Civil War: Gods and Generals / Killer Angels / Last Full Measure / is required reading for any Civil War buff.

I learned more from those 3 books than all of the HS/College history courses I ever took. Killer Angels was by far the best.

[RightWhale]

Gettysburg was a very small battlefield. An intense, and accidental, battle. Pickett should have swung around to the left through town and rolled up the ridgeline. Hindsight.

[MikefromOhio]

yep and The Last Full Measure is a close 2nd IMO.....

[timpad]

An intense, and accidental, battle

I was always struck by the change that came over Lee at Gettysburg. He had constantly admonished his officers not to engage the enemy on ground not of their choosing in that region. But then, when they did as you say accidentally, he committed fully, even in the face of opposite counsel by those he trusted. Very odd, indeed.

[RightWhale]

The sudden strength of the Union resistance to his advance may have surprised him. He didn't want to give up his strategy of moving on Baltimore, and then it was too late, events could not be unwound.

[timpad]

And without Staurt's cavalry at hand, he was ripe for a surprise. If Lee had a clearer picture of his situation, it may have been a rough summer at the White House.

I think it's one reason Gettysburg continues to fascinate. So many crucial turning points, so little time.

[timpad]

Staurt = Stuart