Civil War History - Gettysburg ForumGettysburg! It's not just a National Park. It's a Civil War Battlefield. For some it's historic and storied past are almost an obsession! All related discussions are welcome here!
There are numerous instances throughout the war where it is said that this or that group refused to advance. I usually accept such statements as fact because, faced with the same circumstances, I would most certainly be somewhere near 4 feet down frantically searching for nightcrawlers, moles, ground squirrels, gophers or anything remotely subterranian.
Back to Gettysburg and PPT. There is no question in my mind that a number did not advance. Even if not one of them shared my fear, one needs only to remember that only Pickett's division had not already had its fill of fighting. The brigades on the Confederacy's left did virtually nothing. The brigades on the right contributed mightily to the body count on that day.
We remember Pickett in the same way we remember the Charge of the Light Brigade. We forget the foolishness and admire the grit. We can overlook a few who played dead or otherwise absented themselves.
There is no question in my mind that a number did not advance.
Absolutely
I think the role of Pettigrew's and Trimble's divisions are largely misunderstood. It's true that they did not reach the wall, but the situation in their front was totally different.
There is no question in my mind that a number did not advance.
Absolutely
I think the role of Pettigrew's and Trimble's divisions are largely misunderstood. It's true that they did not reach the wall, but the situation in their front was totally different.
I will be most sincerely interested in your helping me understand.
Really! Perhaps I don't, in which case I would appreciate being corrected. I don't like to run around with my misconceptions visible to the world and being totally unconscious about it. When I'm wrong, and it won't be the first time, I want to know where and how I screwed up.
By the way, I hope you realize I'm not dumping on you. It is a part of the battle that's always mystified me and I would appreciate any information you have to offer. If I sound a bit peckish, that's just me. Really, I'm just a soft, warm fuzzball. That I usually call a spade a *********ing shovel is just a reflection of my coarse nature.
About all I know about it I got from Hess' book. Before reading it I didn't realise how the stone wall jogged back and created the sort of no mans land between the wall and the road.
Had to go see if I have the book. Will scan that, but will reserve going into Bachelder's history and maps for when we get buttoned up for the winter and I can spread things out a bit.
It is one of the hotly debated areas on the field more than 140 years later.
I agree that Pettegrew and Trimble had a very different set of obstacles than Pickett. P&T had to deal with the remains of a still burning farmhouse and barn (the family name slips me), the fences at emmitsburg road and three batteries right at the wall in their immediate front (along with their infantry support in and behind the Bryan Farm buildings). Add in the federal guns in the Ziegler Grove and Cemetery areas. These guns were elevated and had gotten the range on that setion of the field on day 2 when shelling Rodes troops at Long Lane. They were aiming at a section of the wall that was further away (because of the angle) and there is an enduring legend that 11th Miss got to within "a few steps" of the stone wall before Battery A 1st RI volleyed 6 double slotted canister 3 inch ordnance rifles in their faces, detroying the regiment. By the time they reached the road they were taken in flank by Federal troops that had advanced on their left. They also did this with troops that had nearly been used up during the 1st day's activities.
Pickett had fresher troops and a more open area to cross. There were fewer guns in his immediate front, but, whether by design or circumstances (another hotly debated topic) they echeloned left, causing them to move in a more parallel direction across the face of the Federal defense. This not only exposed them to more fire from more troops behind the wall but also increased the time of transit through this very dangerous part of the field. Regarding the fences at the emmitsburg road, I was under the impression that the fences from the Bryan Farm to the Codori Farm were pretty much unaffected by the bombardment and the area taken down on day 2 was south of the Codori Farm, closer to the Wentz farm. I have heard some opinions that there was a large cattle gate at the road on the Codori farm and that gate affected the movement of the VA troops crossing the farm and into the road.
Thanks, Tom, you almost got me to dig out my maps.
I distinctly remember (from the movie, "Gettysburg") the echelon march was designed to mislead the Feds as to the objective of the Confederates. And I still haven't figured out why there was a need for deception as the striking point was not that much removed from the apparent line of march, and it just took up some costly time.
However, the PT part of the advance gets little mention. Seems to me that there was some highly embarrassing things going on up there, not to mention the planned diversion that didn't come off, either by Longstreet's or Ewell's dithering.
Guess I will be required to refresh my recollection.
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