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At present, I am actually re-reading Foote's volumes (picking up on more detail this time of course). With respect to Ewell at Gettysburg he [Foote] writes: Ewell was "to carry the hill occupied by the enemy, if he found it practicable" - so Lee paraphrased the instructions afterwards in his final report - "but to avoid a general engagement until the arrival of the other divisions of the army." {emphasis supplied]
It seems the order is not only discretionary, but contradictory. Is it reasonable for Ewell to think that making a push for the hill would lead to a general engagement? What else would it lead to?
Excuses!!
We can always make excuses why not to do something; and we can excuse Gen. Ewell for being hesitatent in battle. The truth is he had three opportunities where bold action was required and he chose to ceded the moments to destiny.
Gen. Ewell needs to be abuses for; Gen. Grant's road to fame was paved by "the old bald head's" inactions. Gen Lee's and the South's fate were sealed by his inactions.
At Gettysburg his subordinates kept pushing him to take the high ground but he chose inaction. Gen. lee's fate was sealed.
It is Okay let Gen Ewell hide behind orders, for in the end his hesitations and inactions Saved the Union!!
Three Cheers for Gen Ewell!! Three Cheers for "the old bald head"!!
The order was ambiguous. Lee said to take the hill if practicable. Now, some think that the hill could of and should of been taken. But you can't totallyl blame Ewell here. Lee left it up to him. Hindsight is 20/20. And it is still debatable whether he really could have taken the hill. It was late, and there were Union troops on East Cemetery and Culps Hills. Now, not enough to withstand a concerted attack, but it is late, it is dark, and that magnifies gunfire. If men had gone up, those who weren't worn out from marching all day and then fighting, then I don't think they would have been able to hold long, if at all, if they had taken it. Ewell did not lose the battle for the Confederates. It was a multitude of mistakes by the Confederate command structure that led to the loss.
__________________ "The unity of government which constitutes you one people is also now dear to you. It is justly so, for it is a main pillar in the edifice of your real independence, the support of your tranquility at home, your peace abroad; of your safety; of your prosperity; of that very liberty which you so highly prize." George Washington, Farewell Address, 1796
The order was ambiguous. Lee said to take the hill if practicable.
I concur, if Lee wants the hill he should simply issue a peremptory order. Plus, it would seem that even if Ewell thought he could take the hill, he also needed to worry if the action would risk a 'general engagement'
To a certain extent I think Ewell's decision not to attack is magnified by the fact that the 'great' Battle of Gettysburg ensues. In my opinion, if Ewell takes the hill, the Confederates DO indeed WIN at Gettysburg, BUT the major battle will not yet be fought, the Federals will not choose to turn Gettysburg into the 'great' battlefield it becomes.
After Grant or Sherman I'd say Thomas and or Meade, preferring Thomas, but you have to give a footnote to McClellan for Antietam.
Not for Antietam (that was ineptitude personified), but for forging an army. Without McC, with his superb organizational skills (and megalomaniacal zeal for hisself), when would the AotP have been organized and by whom?
Just a thought.
ole
__________________ I never knew a man who wished to be himself a slave. Consider if you know any good thing that no man desires for himself. A. Lincoln
I concur, if Lee wants the hill he should simply issue a peremptory order. Plus, it would seem that even if Ewell thought he could take the hill, he also needed to worry if the action would risk a 'general engagement'
Slight crossing of conceptions here. Have we established that the hill should be taken "if practicable"? The "without a general engagement" is in a later report. Wasn't it? Under what orders was Ewell operating?
ole
__________________ I never knew a man who wished to be himself a slave. Consider if you know any good thing that no man desires for himself. A. Lincoln
If men had gone up, those who weren't worn out from marching all day and then fighting, then I don't think they would have been able to hold long, if at all, if they had taken it. Ewell did not lose the battle for the Confederates. It was a multitude of mistakes by the Confederate command structure that led to the loss.
Heartily concur. Ewell might have taken the hill, had he been a bit more Jackson-like. But there was resistance there. It was not open for the walkover taking.
And JMan makes a good point. Having taken it, could he have held it? Nah. Ewell wasn't the Union's savior that day. Maybe on other days, but not that one.
ole
__________________ I never knew a man who wished to be himself a slave. Consider if you know any good thing that no man desires for himself. A. Lincoln
It must be said that General John Charles Fremont was the most important general for the Union; for he made one important move that ended up changing the war.
He appointes Gen. U.S. Grant to his frist command and we all know the out come from this one apointment.
Probably McClellan the Creator of the AoP (he just was not good enough, to lead it to victory) and for his rapid revialization of the army just in time to stall Lee at Antietam (probably the only general, at that time, who could have done it as quickly as he did)
Also, Hooker for reconstituting the Union Cavalry and restoring the morale of the AoP after the disastrous Burnside (Like McClellan, he built an army that was better than he was its commander)
Finally Meade, the first AoP Commander that Lee could not defeat (unlike his predecessors, he was the first AoP commander that Lee could not defeat, but like McClellan and Hooker he was not confident enough to win the war)
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