Shoes, Myth or Fact at Gettysburg

samgrant · #1 08-19-2005, 10:56 PM

Have heard various versions about whether or not the Confeds (Heth...)
went to Gettyburg to get some shoes, Or Not, for their shoe deficient troops, thereby ancidentialy precipitating this crucial battle.

Some simply state this, others say it is an absured myth.

Let's settle this!

Was it about the shoes, or not?

maryingettysburg · #2 08-20-2005, 01:58 AM

Sam,
we went on some Ranger walks this summer, and per the NPS stance, the battle was NOT about shoes. They've pretty much all debunked that myth. There was NO shoe factory in the town at the time, and the local supply was not adequate for the ANV's supposed needs. Nor is it logical to think that anyone would deem finding shoes more important than finding food.....

so, being a native of Gettysburg, I grew up believing it was all about shoes, only to learn now that it wasn't.

ole · #3 08-20-2005, 02:13 AM

Sam:

The story about shoes is amusing, therefore it hangs on. I can't definitively say it wasn't about shoes, but then, I've always wondered why the ANV thought they could find a significant supply in Gettysburg.

Gettysburg was a fair sized town at the time. It may be more likely that the expedition was exploratory and aimed more for buttered bisquits and cider than shoes. It might have been as simple as exploring the territory next to the point where Lee was trying to concentrate his troops (gasp).

When you come up with your answer, please let me know. I'd appreciate another explanation.
Ole

johan_steele · #4 08-20-2005, 09:52 AM

Desjardin pretty conclusively debunks the myth that it was about Shoes, there was no shoe factory in the town at the time, there were several drygoods stores that would have contained shoes... but enough to make a difference? I don't think so.

My own belief is that Heth got sucked into a battle, thinking he was facing some militia he thought to brush them aside take some prisoners, get a little glory. Then it was cav... My troops can't be pushed back by Cav... Oh ****... that's I Corps! HELP!!! Here comes the whole AoP! And thus the battle continued to escalate as both sides threw more troops into the mix. A lot of relation ot a good old barroom brawl... w/ arty.

manofdreds · #5 08-22-2005, 06:22 AM

Its also been agreed by the scholars of gettysburg that Heth created this story to vindicate himself of his error. Things would've been different if Stuart was there. Getting back to Heth, his blunders should go hand in hand with Longstreet's. Maybe some board members can answer this question that perplexes me and this is in reference to Heth marching order of his brigades. If Pettigrew reconnoitered the area the day before on June 30th why was he moved to third in line behind Archer and Davis? he already had picketts out overnight and more than likely exchanged some fire with Buford's vedettes. Another question: Why would Heth lead his Division with Pegram's artillery battalion?

VS on the belt plate · #6 08-22-2005, 07:19 AM

Pettigrew's people really does make more sense to send in first ,at least on paper. Pettigrew had the largest brigade in Heth's division.

All I can think is that General Archer and his Brigade had considerably more combat experience. Maybe that influenced the General's thinking. Of course that fails to account for the inclusion of Davis' Brigade which was as inexperienced as Pettigrew's Brigade.

Bad day for our friend Henry, Wednesday July 1,1863

VS..etc

ewc · #7 08-22-2005, 04:45 PM

From what I understand, there is some truth to this myth, but it was not Pettigrew looking for shoes, but Early, who passed through Gettysburg, brushing away the militia from the place, a week earlier on his way to the Susquehanna River crossings and a possible move on Harrisburg. And it was not looking for shoes, per se, but a rumor that shoes might be found in some quantity in town, either through manufacture or as a Union depot i don't recall. But indeed Early's men were 'foraging' for any and sundry useful goods for the Confederacy, particularly horses, wagons, grain, shoes, and the like- including sending all Negroes found 'back' South, and would gladly commandeer anything of value in return for Confederate script.

Anyway, Hill would know of Early's passage and also know that little of value to him would remain on hand. So at the very least, the myth of the battle owing its inception to shoes as handed down over the years is indeed bun***.

manofdreds · #8 08-23-2005, 02:25 AM

Agree VS, very bad day for Heth as well as AP Hill.

FSPowers · #9 08-25-2005, 01:11 PM

My studies of the "shoes" story came up with the following observations:

1. Gettysburg was hardly an industrial area (Thaddeus Stevens' steel mill not withstanding). It was connected by rail to the east, but not to the west, so transport would be a problem.

2. The population level would not support maintaining a large supply of shoes, at least not enought to outfit even a regiment.

3. Early had been there before and found no shoes.

4. The information about militias may have originated with a brief engagement between Early and the 21th Penn. Emergency Regiment that previous week.

5. If this was just a raid, why did Hill expand the attacking force to almost his entire corps?

It seems to me that Heth was burned by a brief encounter with what he thought was militia and wanted some payback.

manofdreds · #10 08-26-2005, 05:33 AM

I don't mean to be redundant on this subject but somewhere in all of this, someone disobeyed orders. I'm looking at AP Hill. The orders were not to bring on an engagement. Why would Hill condone sending a whole division and a artillery battalion. Did Hill's sickness kick in between the 30th of June and the 1st of July. It was these same orders that handcuffed Ewell's decision making on day one. Go figure. Hill knew of these orders yet he sent a message to Ewell telling him of his intentions. This baffles me to no end. Where's that fly on the wall when you need him.