Union Line @ Gettysburg

[titans]

Just had a chance to read through Jacob Hoke's "The Great Invasion." I came across a confusing section where even the writer was not certain as to whether or nor Sickles really understood his place in line. Was there actually some confusion as to where Sickles was to be placed? Hoke continues on to state that Sickles was commanded to leave troops on Little Round Top. If he was ordered to do so, why did he disobey? Was he so inept as a commander that he didn't see the importance of Little Round Top? What was his record like as a military officer before Gettysburg?

Thanks. Have a great day!

p.s. How good of a resource is Hoke's book?

[hoosier]

Can't answer all of your questions.

I have heard that the reason Sickles moved away from his original position was because he didn't like the ground, which was low-lying and, if I recall correctly, a bit swampy.

If he didn't like the ground because it was low-lying, then clearly he was not positioned on Little Round Top. Whether that's because he didn't have orders to be there or because he didn't understand where he was supposed to be, I'm not sure.

I do feel that he can be justly criticized for departing from his assigned position without discussing the move with his commander, Meade. For that matter, Sickles didn't even bother to notify Meade of his intention to move.

[jamesjm]

I have read that Sickles saw 'high' ground in front of his position and taking the initiative, (assuming Meade would have wanted him to move forward) proceeded forward.

Having seen the ground recently I must admit that this does make some sense. The ground is higher there - not higher than Little Round Top but higher than the lower part of Cemetery Ridge. - JamesJM

[dave_kelly]

Although this is an old posting, thought to polish the apple while I'm in the Gettysburg thread.

Coddington's Gettysburg Campaign addresses the salient points and Sommers(?) wrote Caspian Sea of Ink to document the Sickles-Meade fued.

Sickles 3d Corps had been badly mauled at Chancellorsville for lack of good artillery positions. Sickles felt with some good reason that the Union left with the roundtops also lacked adequate platforms for his guns. He chaffed about this wanting to advance his battleine to the Emmitsburg Road/Ridge which provided clear fields of fire for artillery. He managed to get Henry Hunt to walk the gound with him, and Hunt made the mistake of telling Sickles that his desired position was more favorable for artillery employment; although Hunt demurred on the question whether Sickles should advance.

Gen Meade's orders were for Sickles to take up the position previously occupied by John Geary's Division on te evening of 1 July. But Sickles and Geary never communicated as Geary was long gone before 3d Corps went to work on the 2d. It is fairly certain that Meade wanted Sickles to extend his left down Cemetery Ridge to the Round Tops; it isn't quite so certain that that was made irrevocable clear to Sickles; so Sickles felt he had lattitude to expand his operational coverage up to the Pike. Doing so needlessly over extended his resources; and since at the time he was without support from the rest of the army, he placed the entire Army at greater risk.

On the other hand, Sickles presence in the Peach Orchard effectively unhinged Lee planned assault for the afternoon of the 2d and resulted in bloody stalemate and frustration of Lees plan.

Since the Union won at Gettysburg Meade did not make an issue of the incident, but made sure that Sickles would not be reappointed to the Army of the Potomac. At that point Sickles used his substantial political influence to launch a double barreled smear campaign against Meade that went all the way to formal hearings before the Congressional Committee on the Conduct of the War in Feb/Mar 64.

[FSPowers]

My understanding was that Sickles was positioned at the south end of Cemetary Ridge and saw the area by the Emmitsburg Rd. as better ground. He did not trust Meade because Meade was a West Pointer, and Sickles hated West Pointers. What did Sickles get for his efforts? A shattered III Corps and a missing leg.

[russ_aukerman]

titans -

Sickles was told to put his right on Hancock's left; that much is clear. Most of the rest is almost as clear.

Three separate orders were given to Sickles as to where he was to put his left. Meade said, at the JCCW several months later, that he told Sickles to put his left on LRT. At the time, he was also told to put his left where Geary bivouaced the evening before. Geary was located on the northern slopes of LRT.

Proponents of the confusion theory try to move Geary into Plum Run swale, between LRT and Houck's ridge. An entire division would take up some room, no doubt. There are regimental markers for the 5th Oh. and (IIRC) the 147th Pa. on the north slope of LRT. That is where Geary's troops say they were. Geary also sent a staffer to Sickles to tell Sickles where he (Geary) was the evening before, so Sickles would know where to put his right, but Sickles would not meet or hear from the staffer. There's also the Paine map. The Paine map we have today is of questionable authenticity. Nevertheless, it is purported to be a map drawn by one of Meade's staff to show corps commanders their intended lines. This map also has Sickles in the Plum Run swale.

I personally don't believe that Sickles was confused. LRT is the obvious anchor for a line intended to follow CR. It is the terrain feature of note for the area. I also think that Sickles wanted the PO position, so that he sewed the seeds of confusion in case he needed it later. Sickles was a politician general; not well trained militarily but very smart nonetheless. He was something of a shrewd conniver, associated with the Tammany Hall political machine in NYC.