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!
I'm reading Military Memoirs of a Confederate by E.P Alexander. It seems he believed the story about the shoes.
He writes:
"On June 29, Hill moved Heth's division from Fayetteville to Casftown, about 10 miles. Heth heard that shoes could be purchased in Gettysburg, and, with Hill's permission, authorized Pettigrew's brigade to go there next day and get them."
It's on page 380 if anyone has a copy.
__________________ F. S. Powers
Union Ancersor: Pvt Arnuah Norton, 60th Ohio. (G-G-G Grandfather) Died at Salisbury NC, November 3, 1864
Confederate Ancestors: Captain Thomas A. Morrow, 29th Texas Cavalry (G-G-G- Uncle) and 2LT George W. Morrow, 31st Texas Cavalry (G-G-G Grandfather). Both survived the war
I've always heard that the Confederate army was desperate for shoes (throughout the war, too). I really do not think Heth needed to go shopping with an entire corp. I really do not believe he was thinking of paying for them. What motivation would there be for the shopkeepers to accept nearly worthless Confederate scrip. After running into the Iron Brigade and then the entire Army of the Potomac, I wonder how many shoes were actually procured?
Calicoboy
__________________ My dear mother:- I have come safely through two more terrible engagements with the enemy, that at South Mountain and the great battle of yesterday (Antietam). Our splendid regiment is almost destroyed. We have had nearly 400 men killed and wounded in the battles. Seven of our officers were shot and three killed in yesterday's battle and nearly 150 men killed and wounded. All from less than 300 engaged. The men have stood like iron....Maj. Rufus Dawes, 6th Wisconsin Volunteers
Like a lot of myths, the shoe foraging expedition tells a greater truth: Although a great battle was bound to be fought, the time and place were by chance. The armies stumbled into the encounter at Gettysburg, neither intending to fight at that place on that day.
Like a lot of myths, the shoe foraging expedition tells a greater truth: Although a great battle was bound to be fought, the time and place were by chance. The armies stumbled into the encounter at Gettysburg, neither intending to fight at that place on that day.
Ah...as Buford said to Reynolds "this is good ground". The die was cast, the fight was ordained. Too many roads led to Gettysburg. It was kismit.
Calicoboy
__________________ My dear mother:- I have come safely through two more terrible engagements with the enemy, that at South Mountain and the great battle of yesterday (Antietam). Our splendid regiment is almost destroyed. We have had nearly 400 men killed and wounded in the battles. Seven of our officers were shot and three killed in yesterday's battle and nearly 150 men killed and wounded. All from less than 300 engaged. The men have stood like iron....Maj. Rufus Dawes, 6th Wisconsin Volunteers
In the entire town, there may have been enough shoes for a company -- maybe two if they requisitioned civilian shoes. Shoeless soldiers might be a reason, but to lead with a division kind of puts the lights out on the shoe myth.
It seems that Lee had in mind to concentrate his scattered forces. Did he intend to do that at Cashtown? Why?
Gettysburg was a perfect place for concentration. That it was a pretty darn good place for a knock-down battle was something neither commander knew. Heth's advance was arguably a reconnaissance in force. Buford's presence was incidental in covering the left of the probing Federals.
The evidence points to a bump that led to a shove that led to a swing that led to a biting, kicking, rolling-on-the floor brawl.
Wrong thread, but I was here, and the shoe myth made me do it.
Ole
If you read Stephen Sear's book Gettysburg...the shoe story is NOT a myth...well ,at least it is based on the real desireand need of the Confederates to requisistion shoes as well as other supplies.
In the paperback version of the book see pages 136 to around 140. The footnote sites Heth's official report of the battle who mentions the shoes. Hardly time enough for a myth to be started.(A cynic could say well Henry was just trying to cover his ***). Maybe,but I don't think so.
The tale of the storied barefoot Confederate soldier is true for at least some of the war.
(Not so much of a problem for the ANV when the war went to static lines in '64.)
A couple days before the battle Alleghenny Johnson,made a bunch of paroled Pennsylvania militia,give up their shoes,telling those who objected that his boys still had work to do,while the militia were almost home!
Point is the Southerners did want and need shoes.
The shoe story sometimes says something about a shoe factory,but there was no such thing mentioned in official records.
Gettysburg did have 22 shoemakers,(at least according to the 1860 census,) not a factory,but in this unspoiled land of plenty a little was a lot to the Southern soldiers.
Conclusion:The battle WAS touched off,by a search for shoes and other property owned by the good people of Pennsylvania.
Read Sears' book it is Superb.
VS..etc
Last edited by VS on the belt plate; 10-14-2005 at 09:11 PM.
If even the most respected historians cannot agree on this matter, what are we to believe?
Shane earlier referenced 'These Honored Dead' by Thomas A. Desjardin. Expanding on Shane's post, Desjardin says:
"Perpetuators of this myth also ignore the fact that Confederate troops had raided the town four days earlier, held it for a ransom that included 1,500 pairs of shoes, and left without any."
That's what he says.
__________________ -
"It was a very peculiar time." - Franklin D. Cossitt
Ancestors in USA Army: 6th IA Inf, 11th IL Cav, 1st AL Cav; 122nd NY Inf; 6th MI Cav; 35th MA Inf; 100th IL Inf; 1st CO Inf/Cav; 22nd IN Inf
Lo, and even our late revered and trusted friend Shelby Foote apparently buys into the shoe theory:
".... and hearing that Early's men had overlooked a supply of shoes while passing through Gettysburg the week before, Heth sent his lead brigade forward next morning, June 30, to investigate the rumor. (HA! as far back as then it was just a rumor!/?) Its commander, Brigadier General Johnston Pettegrew, mindful of Lee's warning not to bring on a battle until the whole army was at at hand, prudently withdrew when he encountered Federal troopers along a creekbank west of town, not knowing what number of blue soldiers of all arms might be lurking in the rear of the cavalry outposts. He returned to Cashtown late that afternoon, having put his men into bivouac about midway between there and Gettysburg, and reported on the day's events. Heth did not think highly of such wariness. What was more, he wanted those shoes. So he took Pettigrew to Hill and had him repeat the account of what he had seen. Hill agreed with Heth. "The only force at Gettysburg is Cavalry," he declared "probably a detachment of observation."
Meade's infantry forces were still down in Maryland, he added. "and have not struck their tents."
Heth was quick to take him up on that. " If there is no objection," he said, "I will take my division tomorrow and go to Gettysburg and get those shoes."
"None in the world," Hill told him.
* * *
One strenuous objector was there , however, in the person of John Buford .....".
And the game was on.
__________________ -
"It was a very peculiar time." - Franklin D. Cossitt
Ancestors in USA Army: 6th IA Inf, 11th IL Cav, 1st AL Cav; 122nd NY Inf; 6th MI Cav; 35th MA Inf; 100th IL Inf; 1st CO Inf/Cav; 22nd IN Inf
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