Another forgotten or overlooked figure from Gettysburg

[gary]

We all know about Joshua Chamberlain and the 20th Maine at Little Round Top. Heck, he immortalized himself during his lifetime because he was skilled with his pen and unabashedly wielded it. Yes, he does deserve credit, but so do many others.

While the shelf of books called Meade's Army stretched from Little Round Top, where Chamberlain's 20th Main served as one bookend, the other end was supported by the brigade of New York Brig. Gen. George Sears Greene. Greene's men fended of Ewell's attacks against Culp's Hill. Had Culp's Hill fallen, then Cemetery Hill and the rest of the Federal line would have collasped. However, Greene was largely overlooked and forgotten and unlike Chamberlain, didn't care as he was a quiet, unassuming man. When you go to Gettysburg and to Culp's Hill, you'll find a statute of Greene keeping an ever vigilant watch over the Union lines.

I originally learned of Greene when I visited Gettysburg and attended the Ranger Program led by NPS Ranger Troy Harmon.

[william42]

Thanks Gary. Had not heard of Gen. Greene before until your post. It looks as though his position was similar to Chamberlains at the south end of the line in its strategic importance. If either end had collapsed it would have been disastrous for the yankees.

Terry

[johan_steele]

For what it's worth Genl Greene also invented the first Bolt Action and only underhammer Rifle adopted by the US Army... though his men were primarily using Springfields that day while his invention was sitting in an armory.

[texaswildcat]

It's a shame that some commanders, such as Grant, prohibited their soldiers from obtaining such weapons, including Spencers because the fear was they would waste ammunition.

[ole]

Originally Posted by texaswildcat

It's a shame that some commanders, such as Grant, prohibited their soldiers from obtaining such weapons, including Spencers because the fear was they would waste ammunition.

Tex: I hadn't heard that before. I know the powers in Washington were not in particular favor of repeating weapons, but I was unaware where Grant weighed in on the subject. If he did, I would suppose that the difficulty of supplying different types of ammo would have been viewed as a hindrance. Ole

[gary]

Darn if I didn't make the connection between the Greene rifle and the General. Thank you Johan Steele.

[samgrant]

Grant's (Sheridan's) cavalry were equipped with Spencer and Henry repeaters from the Overland campaign onward.

[VS on the belt plate]

Glad you brought up General Greene. He was 62 at Gettysburg. Unlike many of the Federal officers that were on their 'Best Game' on those three days...Greene was a superb officer thru the war. He lived to be 98 years old.
And ,I believe he is still up there amongst the all time longest lived graduates of West Point.

VS..etc

[manofdreds]

It should be mentioned that Greene was a superb engineer from NY and it was his engineering pedigree that really saved the day for the 12th corps and the whole union army. He entrenched his brigade well enough that the confederates had no idea of the numbers or in this case lack of numbers on the union side and protected his soldiers immensely thus they were able to turn back almost every attack.

[larry_cockerham]

General Greene was looking at the 48th Virginia among others. He needed protection and apparently had the skills to help create it. John Calvin Rouse and the Washington Grays did their best to dislodge this fine gentleman, but alas it was not to be.