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The classic situation of not being strong enough to whup, but being too strong to be whupped.
Forget who said what, so I'll just flail away. Longstreet's petulance was on the second day when he became aware that Lee's plans couldn't work, but he insisted on following them anyway.
I don't buy that Lee's feeling poorly was a reason for his desperation. Heading for Pennsyvania was a desperate act--he needed a victory. And he needed it now! Thing is, he was this close.
ole
Yes Gen. Lee needed a victory but why the haste. He knew Vickesburg was lost cause.
I see the problem as one where too many people start with a blank piece of paper.
We only need to read what Lee wrote in his OR.
Lee gave two reasons for attacking the Union lines at Gettysburg after the first day. One was lack of egress for his army; the other supplies.
"At the same time we were unable to await an attack, as the country was unfavorable for collecting supplies in the presence of the enemy, who could re-strain our foraging parties by holding the mountain passes with local and other troops."
Maybe the atittude of the area may not have effect his heart but traveling a few hundred miles on horse back would have.
But he still traveled many hundred more before the end of the war.
Also.. ultimatley it was MEADES decision to stay. He took advice of his subordinate generals as any good commander would do. The fact remains that in the end it was his decision.
Another thing about the altitude. As Altitude goes up you have a decrease in pressure and a corresponding decrease in temperature. As altitude goes down the pressure and temperature increase. Increased temperature = increased pressure. Gettysburg was extremely hot that year and the humidity was high. Any variations in barometric pressure would have been negated by the warm weather. It is more likely that barometric altitude would have been CLOSER to sea level, not ****her.
__________________
"In mortal combat, a man may and will become so infuriated by the din and dangers of a bloody fight that his heart will turn to stone and his every de sire [be] for blood."
John Hadley, 7th Indiana after the battle at Port Republic
Yes Gen. Lee needed a victory but why the haste. He knew Vickesburg was lost cause.
First, Lee didn't give a rat's patoot about what was happening over the mountains. Why the haste? His army was ragged and approaching starvation. His horses were weak and he had no way of properly feeding them. Figuratively, his men and horses had no shoes. He had to do something and the best chance of doing that was when the AotP was reeling from the double trouble of Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville.
The last, best hope of the Confederacy was to draw the AotP into a fight that he, Lee, had the confidence to expect another win. Unfortunately, Meade wasn't Burnside or Hooker. Meade got lucky and Lee didn't. C'est la guerre.
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
Was not Lee's original battle plan for day 3, to disengage and reorient the divisions of Hood and McLaws of Longstreets Corps to attack the center of the Union Line on Cemetary Ridge, led by the newly arrived and relatively fresh division of Pickett?
Only after riding over and talking with Longstreet and (hopefully) seeing the situation first hand did Lee reluctantly agree to leave Hood and McLaws where they were and borrowed the other two divisions from other Corps to reinforce Pickett. Longstreet was left to command the attack even though only 1/3 of the attacking force was from 1st Corps (Pickett).
It is likely that even Lee's original plan for the 3d day was not, actually, any better than the one that ended in defeat.
It does seem that during the 3 days at Gettysburg, that Lee was considerably 'more' than just a 'little' off his game.
He needed one more division! They do get through, just not with numbers, the logic behind the decision (Meade has stripped his center to defend his left and right) is relatively sound, the night before Meade tells Gibbon to expect the attack to come his way, but seemingly does nothing to bolster him, it is the thinnest portion of the line.....again, just not enough uuumph behind the assault.
Again, the question arises; where,indeed was the ooomph from the 'hard hitting' Lee of old?
The 15,000 men that made the suicidal attack on day 3, were present and ready for duty late in the afternoon of Day 2.
He needed one more division! They do get through, just not with numbers, the logic behind the decision (Meade has stripped his center to defend his left and right) is relatively sound, the night before Meade tells Gibbon to expect the attack to come his way, but seemingly does nothing to bolster him, it is the thinnest portion of the line.....again, just not enough uuumph behind the assault.
Gen Lee needed one more division at Chanellorsville for he might have pushed AoP into the river. Gen. Lee always seem short a division when he needed one.
At Gettysberg he needed more then one division for victory.
Gen Lee needed one more division at Chanellorsville for he might have pushed AoP into the river. Gen. Lee always seem short a division when he needed one.
At Gettysberg he needed more then one division for victory.
His army was never big enough. That's why he had to rely on complex strategic moves to confound and dislodge his enemy. Force him to give up ground before the fight even starts. It is also why he lost once he was pinned down in Petersburg. Without his mobility the fight was already lost.
__________________
"In mortal combat, a man may and will become so infuriated by the din and dangers of a bloody fight that his heart will turn to stone and his every de sire [be] for blood."
John Hadley, 7th Indiana after the battle at Port Republic
I see the problem as one where too many people start with a blank piece of paper.
We only need to read what Lee wrote in his OR.
Lee gave two reasons for attacking the Union lines at Gettysburg after the first day. One was lack of egress for his army; the other supplies.
"At the same time we were unable to await an attack, as the country was unfavorable for collecting supplies in the presence of the enemy, who could re-strain our foraging parties by holding the mountain passes with local and other troops."
Wow! How did you know I use blank white sheets of paper! I am wowed!
I know Gen. Lee said his wagons made it unable for him to ergess but he could have moved around either flank of the AoP. He could have moved north across a river.
The original plan was to live off the country side so why everyone want to talk abou his supply lines. The area was great for his needed supplies and some historians call this foray into Pa. just a raid.
It is what it ended up becoming. The supples they secure and the wagons Gen. Stuart capture got the AoNV through one more winter.
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