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.
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