The Battle of Gettysburg (3rd Day)

pekin.net ^ | Jon Meinen, Renee Bussone, and Rachel Smith

[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

[ClearCase_guy]

When Lee had Stonewall Jackson at his side, he could take some long shots and they often worked out nicely. Jackson was killed about a month before Gettysburg, and I suspect that Lee was still thinking that high risk ventures were a smart and necessary strategy.

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.

[LS]

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.

[mware]

Navy, if you get the chance go to the American History Museum in Washington DC.

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

[CivilWarguy]

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.

[LS]

Actually---I know I'll get flamed here---Lee was not quite as great a general as he is always cracked up to be. In "Attack and Die," historians Grady McWhiney and Perry Jamison note that in 11 of the first 12 battles (including multi-day battles) of the Confederacy, the Union only had a higher casualty ratio of all men deployed in battle in one: Fredericksburg. Admittedly, Shiloh, Vicksburg, and a couple of others on their chart were in the West; and 1st Manassas was not Lee's command. But still, even in all those battles Lee led the South, he only achieved a superior ratio of casualties inflicted on the enemy at Fredericksburg. His losses at Antietam and Gettysburg were horrendous, over 20% of his force at Antietam and 30% at Gettysburg.

For a general leading the side that supposedly is "playing defense," this is an unacceptable level of loss, one doomed to defeat.

[NavyCanDo]

Some of the beards were out there, but I think they got Chamberlain spot on. Jeff Daniels did a good job in portraying him.

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.

[LS]

There is a recent military history of Gettysburg that blames everything on the location of Lee's logistics train---that he had allowed it to get north of Gettysburg, and that turning it around would have taken a full day. He feared, it is argued, that the Union would attack his train in the process, leaving his troops without ammo and food. Don't know more about this interpretation---still have to pin down the details.

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.

[Non-Sequitur]

bump

[LS]

LOL. And Fredericksburg reminds me of the election in November. So what if we "take the hill?" The loss to our side will be nearly irreplaceable. And if we don't? Equally bad. Yet there is Burnside (McCain) crying in his tent before ordering the attack!

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.

[mware]

Wasn’t he awarded the CMH for Little Round Top???

[LS]

Yes. Of all military guys, he's my hero, naturally, because he's a professor. I envision myself, if the circumstances arose, to screaming, "BAYONETS!"

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!

[NavyCanDo]

This diary in its entirety is a must read.

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

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was “Will I get my pay in prison?” After we had them all put up in a pen we went to our regiment and rested. Major Iredell, of our regiment, came to me and shook my hand, and also complimented me for action in the fight. At dusk I was about going to hunt up my brother Morris, when he came to me. Thank God, we are both safe as yet. We laid all night among the dead Yankees, but they did not disturb our peaceful slumbers.

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.

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Johnson. Here we stayed all day - no, here, I may say, we melted away. We were on the brow of one hill, the enemy on the brow of another. We charged on them several times, but of course, running down our hill, and then to get to them was impossible, and every time we attempted it we came back leaving some of our comrades behind. Here our Lieutenant Belt lost his arm. We have now in our company a captain. All of our lieutenants are wounded. We fought here until 7 P.M., when what was left of us was withdrawn and taken to the first day's battlefield. At the commencement of this fight our Brigade was the strongest in our division, but she is not now. We lost the most men, for we were in the fight all the time, and I have it from Colonel Owens that our regiment lost the most in the Brigade. I know that our company went in the fight with 60 men. When we left Culps Hill there were 16 of us that answered to the roll call. The balance were all killed and wounded. There were 12 sharpshooters in our company and now John Cochran and myself are the only ones that are left. This day none will forget, that participated in the fight. It was truly awful how fast, how very fast, did our poor boys fall by our sides - almost as fast as the leaves that fell as cannon and musket balls hit them, as they flew on their deadly errand. You could see one with his head shot off, others cut in two, then one with his brain oozing out, one with his leg off, others shot through the heart. Then you would hear some poor friend or foe crying for water, or for “God's sake”

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to kill him. You would see some of your comrades, shot through the leg, lying between the lines, asking his friends to take him out, but no one could get to his relief, and you would have to leave him there, perhaps to die, or, at best, to become a prisoner. Our brigade was the only one that was sent to Culps Hill to support General Johnson. In our rapid firing today my gun became so hot that the ramrod would not come out, so I shot it at the Yankees, and picked up a gun from the ground, a gun that some poor comrade dropped after being shot. I wonder if it hit a Yankee; if so, I pity him. Our regiment was in a very exposed position at one time to-day, and our General Daniels ordered a courier of his to bring us from the hill. He was killed before he got to us. The General sent another. He was also killed before he reached us. Then General Daniels would not order any one, but called for volunteers. Capt. Ed. Stitt, of Charlotte, one of his aides, responded, and he took us out of the exposed position.

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

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to boast about. They have lost at least as many in killed and wounded as we have. We have taken more prisoners from them than they have from us. If that is not the case, why did they lay still all today and see our army going to the rear? An army that has gained a great victory follows it up while its enemy is badly crippled; but Meade, their commander, knows he has had as much as he gave, at least, if not more. As yet I have not heard a word from my brother Morris since the first day's fight.

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

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through. They fell in, and, lo and behold, there were boxes of clothing, dresses, shawls, blankets, and, in fact, everything in the line of wearing apparel. I, being a little fellow, crawled through some of the boys’ legs and captured the coat. If the fool citizen would have left his things in his house they would have been safe, but to put it in our way was too much for us to leave behind. We also passed through Waterboro, and Waynesboro, Pa., where the Maryland line commences. We then passed through Latisburg, and halted in Hagerstown, Md., on the evening of the 7th. We marched yesterday and all night up to 11 o'clock - twenty-four miles.

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

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[mware]

Check this out. Survivors of Pickett's Charge reenacting their march across the field.

http://americanhistory.si.edu/militaryhistory/exhibition/flash.html?path=5.10.r_704

[central_va]

If the 15th Va had been there, things might have come out differently.

[Non-Sequitur]

And, yes, Chamberlain was in that battle, and I think was wounded---a wound from which he always had problems, despite living until 1913 .

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.

[RobinOfKingston]

They have the trunk of a tree that was literally cut down by shot.

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.

[NavyCanDo]

Great website, Thanks for sharing. I know what I will be looking at during lunch today.

[mware]

Thank you for that excerpt. Amazing.

[mware]

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.

[LS]

Wow. Six times. Just one, and I’d be saying, “OK, did my part.”