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!
In the Battle of Gettysburg--we're aware of those Generals who died; such as General Reynolds, Farnsworth, Stephen Weed and promoted on the field by General Meade; of Col. Strong Vincent to Brig. General just moments before he died. On the Confederate side, we are aware of Generals Garnett, Armisted, Barksdale and Pender.
But, little is written about two other Generals who died from wounds suffered at Gettysburg--
Union General Zook and Confederate General Semmes.
These two Generals are worth discussion.
Name ZOOK, Samuel Kosciusko Born March 27 1821, Chester Cty PA Died July 3 1863, Gettysburg PA Pre-War Profession Militia officer, superintendent of telegraph company. War Service July 1861 Lt. Col. of 6th New York, October 1861 Col. of 57th New York, Peninsula campaign, commanded 3rd Bde/1st Divn/II Corps at Fredericksburg (w), November 1862 appointed Brig. Gen. of Volunteers, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg (mw). Brevet Promotions Maj. Gen. U.S.V. July 2 1863. Notes Fell while supporting the III Corps salient.
---------------------------------- Name SEMMES, Paul Jones Born June 4 1815, Wilkes Cty GA Died July 10 1863, Martinsburg WV Pre-War Profession Banker, planter, Capt. in state militia. War Service April 1861 Col. of 2nd Georgia, March 1862 Brig. Gen., commanded Semmes’ Bde/Magruder's Divn at Yorktown, Williamsburg, Seven Pines, commanded Semmes’ Bde/McLaws' Divn at Savage's Station, Malvern Hill, Crampton's Gap, Sharpsburg, Fredericksburg, Salem Church, Gettysburg (mw). Notes Cousin of Admiral Raphael Semmes.
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Respectfully submitted for consideration,
M. E. Wolf
But perhaps equally worthy of mention is Colonel Cross, who had a premonition of his death. His custom was to don a red bandana before going into battle, but on this particular occasion he asked for a black bandana instead.
Winfield Hancock greeted Cross just before the fight by some words to this effect: Colonel Cross, you'll have a star by the end of this battle.
To which Cross replied, No, General, This is -- or will be -- my last battle. (I forget the exact words.)
And he was right. Like General Zook, he died in the fighting at the Wheatfield. (Both, I think, were shot in the abdomen?) As he was carried from the field, Cross comforted himself by saying: I think the boys will miss me.
The monument to Cross and his beloved regiment, the 4th New Hampshire, is one of my favorite monuments on the battlefield, featuring a combination of boulders from Gettysburg and granite from his native state.
Hazlett also comes to mind, who died or was mortally wounded within minutes of his friend, Stephen Weed.
At the new Visitor's Center, my eye happened to fall on a row of portraits: Strong Vincent, Paddy O'Rorke, Hazlett, and Weed, all of whom died in the defense of Little Round Top. Many soldiers, North and South, died in the battle for Little Round Top, but this row of portraits caught me up short. So many brave young men, so many lives cut short.
Again, Killer Angels and the film it spawned shape many people's views of Gettysburg (I am guilty of this too). The two you mention Semmes and Zook aren't prominently mentioned in either although in the book Longstreet does mention that Semmes was a casualty. While the others listed by yourself were either mentioned several times or figured prominently in the story.
In first getting the DVD Gettysburg; I was curious as to whom some of these characters were that were not identified with the opening actors associated with face and character; so I bought the book Killer Angels after the fact; then I really found how skewed the movie was in many ways compared to the DVD movie Gettysburg. So many characters were switched about in the movie; to which the 'license' of creativity and trying to cram a three day battle into a DVD that equals or surpasses 'Gone with the Wind'--to guide the viewer in, through and wrap it up--the movie was as good as I could ask for. Yet, the book "Killer Angels" helped even more with identifying what took place and in better order--it is when one investigates on one's own with the Official Records and do an outline if one wishes to study; the unfolding events. Perhaps--the sequences. I have gone further by getting these US Army Regulations, rules, etc., to adjust my modern military thinking per se; into that of those in 1860 through 1866, when the Civil War officially closed.
But, in all seriousness--the movie Gettysburg kick started my shelved interests in the Civil War and especially around my immediate neighborhood in Northern Virginia. I am angered by how deprived I am from Civil War history in our neighborhood and around certain schools. Though not a big 'battle' like Bull Run/Manassas --men died and should never be forgotten or to be cheapened by what measure/standard of what 'great' should be. One life is great.
The movie Gettysburg was just focusing on unlikely heros and or under rated and or little appreciated heros -- Buford, Chamberlain, Longstreet, Armistead, Hancock, Reynolds, Vincent and most of all the men who fought the fight.
I am just hopeful that those who are lazy and do not follow through on this study of the American Civil War; will at least through these DVDs have a measure of appreciation and hope when the time comes--they will revisit this time in American History and study as we do now; here in this forum. I will never be an expert--as there are always new things to learn, discover and to share. But, for me--it is important to hold these individuals--men and women who died in battle in high regard and never forget. I like to think that all who fought during the Civil War, wars past and present--will never be forgotten.
I will also say, in reading these US Army Manuals and Regulations; they were taught to shoot at the stomach as it would always be fatal; to include bayonet to the stomach, to which the bayonet is in a triangular shape, to which won't heal well. Now days one is taught to do chest and head shots--but, stomach was the target area; which compensated for battle and rushing to aim; which usually is raised when a target is at a distance.
Just some thoughts.
Respectfully submitted for consideration,
M. E. Wolf
Interesting, that not one general who commanded an Army of the Potomac Corps at Gettysburg, commanded one at the end of the Civil War. Death, transfers, woundings and replacement, brought a whole new set of corps commanders, when the army arrived at Richmond and Appomattox.
No MOVIE will ever get history exact. For a couple of hours of screen time, the director and writers have to choose. Movies are limits; all movies have limits.
A director can concentrate on a Chamberlain and ignore a Greene and a McGilvery. He can create a soldier who never existed; fail to unearth the story of a soldier who contributed greatly.
Cross was a real fighter. He was, in my opinion, one of the least known deaths at Gettysburg. Prior to the battle, he had been injured on 12 occasions. Once, a bullet even bounced off his skull. Perhaps another less known name, as already mentioned, was Strong Vincent. Correct me if I am wrong, but his act saved the high ground of Little Round Top. He knew very well what he was about to do was insubordination, but he did it anyway.
@Epophroditus:
I believe Hancock's quote was "This is the last battle you will fight without a star." Not "You will have a star by this battles end."
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"Why do men fight who were born to be brothers?" ~James Longstreet
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