Colonial George Sharpe Intelligence Net?

[5fish]

How important was Colonel George Sharpe's intelligence gathering operation proceeding and preceding the Battle of Gettysburg?

Your call Members of this Board....

[whitworth]

that Gettysburg was not an accidental meeting place for the Army of the Potomac.

The War Between the Spies: A History of Espionage During the American Civil War by Alan Axelrod (Hardcover - Sep 1992)

The Secret War for the Union: The Untold Story of Military Intelligence in the Civil War by Edwin C. Fishel (Paperback - Jun 22, 1998)

In fact, some folks might suffer from the illusion and delusion of their previous research, by reading any of the Civil War intelligence books.

[5fish]

I am learning that I and other have over looked the Intelligences part of the war.

Col. Sharpe had created a flow chart of Lee's army so once they knew what regiments of brigades where in a area they new what Corp. was in that area.

Col. Sharpe used Balloons to watch Lee's army in camp and develop a system to gather information from various sources and them compile it.

Col. Sharpe tracked Lee's army march into PA. He knew where Ewell was, Longstreet was and Hill cope was located along most of thier march into Pa. even thou Lee tried to use the Mountains as a screen..

During this time of Lee's marching into the north Gen. Hooker would ridicule Col. Sharpe on the job he was doing, strange.

[Epaphroditus]

Meade consulted with George Sharpe before calling his generals together on the evening of July 2nd. Sharpe told Meade that he and his men had interviewed prisoners taken from every division and brigade except Pickett's. Sharpe told Meade that Pickett's Division was close by in bivouac and ready to go into action. Hearing this, Hancock was elated: "General, we have got them nicked!"

This was critical intelligence indeed. The AOP had already been attacked at every point and held, and Meade still had Slocum's XII Corps in reserve, which was more than enough to offset the threat of Pickett's Division being thrown into the mix. Meade had the advantage of better position and better intelligence, so he had every reason to feel confident when looking ahead to the next day's battle.

[5fish]

When Meade took command of the AoP, he was briefed by Col. Sharpe. Col. Sharpe was able to prove that all of Lee's infantry was in PA. So when rumors came in about Lee's army in other places Meade just ignored it for he went with Col. Sharpe information about Lee's army.

A note: Col Sharpe knew the whole time where Gen. Stuart was and I bet if Meade had wanted to he could have corner Gen. Stuart. Meade was more worried about Lee then Gen. Stuart.

[whitworth]

did attack Stuart's cavalry at Hanover, east of Gettysburg, keeping him east of an unknown meeting up with Lee.

Stuart kept going north looking for Ewell's Corps near Carlisle, as that was the original plan of R.E. Lee. Ewell was pulled back by Lee, and Stuart, through his separation, was never informed by a dispatch, that the plans were changed.

[5fish]

A tidbit, on July 2, 1863 Colonial Sharpe using his information gathering system and team had figure out that Lee had committed his entire army to the battle except Pickett' men. He inform Meade and his senior generals that Lee had committed his entire army to this battle except Pickett.

With this information some senior generals where confident they had beaten Lee while others were more confident that he could be beaten the following day.

If only Lee had the same intelligences gathering ability he may have realized the union army was still in tack with reserves at the ready. He might have rethought his Pickett charge idea...

Wondering thoughts....

[M E Wolf]

Dear 5Fish;

I suspect Colonel Sharpe was more 'informed' than most as well as; well practiced and proved himself accurate; I am glad that General Meade paid attention to him.

As far as Hooker besmirching Sharpe's character--anybody who is 'smarting' from Washington's micro-managing Halleck; would lash out at anybody who is more popular and or efficient--or just 'there. '

Just some thoughts.

Respectfully submitted for consideration,
M. E. Wolf

[whitworth]

HEADQUARTERS FIRST CAVALRY DIVISION,
Gettysburg, June 30, 1863.

...Colonel Gamble has just sent me word
that Lee signed a pass for a citizen this morning at Chambersburg.

JNO. BUFORD,
Brigadier-General of Volunteers.