[LS]

It's worth noting that Gen. John Buford, really the first major commander on the scene from either side, instantly perceived the dangers to whichever army lost Cemetery Ridge. Far more than the book "Killer Angels" or the movie "Gettysburg" conveys, he extended his lines in perfect tactical doctrine according to Halleck's book, "Advance Guard and Detachment Service of Troops." Buford's cavalry didn't fight one rear guard action: it fought several, all day, and one reason that Ewell did not take that hill was that many Southern troops were just worn out.

The romantic version is that Ewell is to blame for everything. In fact, it's not at all clear Jackson, Patton, or Joshua with the Israelites could have taken that hill.

[mainepatsfan]

Heck if Ewell hadn’t marched to the sound of the guns A.P. Hill may have spent all day in front of McPherson’s ridge.

[carton253]

Hancock wrote Fitz Lee after the war and said that the hill could have been taken up until late afternoon since he did not arrive on the field until 3:00 and it took a while for him to establish the line. Once the line was established... no it could not have been.

The Southerns were not the only ones who were worn out. The North was too.

[Nuc1]

Interesting take. I hadn’t considered that the folks could just be tired because they had such overwhelming numbers. But they had been marching hard to get there, fought a pitched battle, and really didn’t have any idea about the union deployment.

I think Lee lost his mind at Gettysburg. Pickets charge was the ultimate foolishness. While it wouldn’t make any difference in the final outcome of the war Lee, should moved right and fallen back to DC and bleed them white. Perfectly clear in hindsight. I am always impressed with the courage of the soldiers of both sides. Given the tactics and medicine of the time, those folks had some grit. I wonder if I could have been as courageous.