Civil War History - "What if..." DiscussionsWhat if they had attacked instead of digging in...? What if he was in charge of the army instead...? Did you ever have a "What if..." question, and you weren't sure where to post it? Here's the place to ask these speculative questions!
Before Lee 2nd invasion of the North he reorganized his army in 3 corps like we all know , but when lee has too choosed the corps commanders he ask longstreet advice.He say that DH Hill and Mclaws could do better work than Ewell and AP Hill . but Lee like afterward didnt listen to longstreet advice.
Did you think that Daniel Harvey Hill could have command the 2nd corp and change the gettysburg battle?
Personnaly , I think that DH Hill was far underrated as a general.He prove himself in corps command and in all jackson divisional commanders he was maybe the best commander.He show that he can perform very well in offensive warfare and in defensive.At least, he wouldnt authorize Jubal Early to influence on his decision and probably culp hill would have fall in his hand. Allowing what Longstreet want : A defensive fight.I dont even understand Lee's decision to take AP Hill and Dick Ewell over DH Hill or Mclaws.I can understand for AP but at this time Ewell just return to the army and was maybe not ready to lead 3 division , maybe 1 .
D.H. Hill was an excellent commander and may well have made a difference at Gettysburg. Then again, he was more trouble than he was worth. Lee had to send him away at least once to rid his army of quarrelsome commanders. Perhaps that influenced his decision.
I don't really understand Longstreet's recommendation, unless he figured that he and Hill had matured enough to not break into a fistfight.
Welcome aboard.
Ole
__________________ I never knew a man who wished to be himself a slave. Consider if you know any good thing that no man desires for himself. A. Lincoln
DH Hill serve more longer under jackson than Ewell (wound).I think theres 2 reason that make Lee hates ''old croaker'' : lost order , and DH 7 days critizism.
Lost order : Nothing prove that it was DH who loose the lost order.Fact seems to indicate that it was AP Hill who loose the lost order.Of course , lee prefer AP , he was a Virginian and fit more in the napoleonic style assault.DH agree with longstreet in his warfare theory , but the 7 days prove that he can make strong attack and that he can follow order.
A other thing few people talk about , 4 of DH hill brigadier rise to division level and he had always strong leader at his order.Hoke , Ramseur , Rodes and Colquitt would later lead a division.With his skill for picking good commander maybe he could have reform the 2nd corps.
I have no doubt about his abilities. I was wondering why Lee didn't choose him, and his irascibility might have been a factor.
Ole
__________________ I never knew a man who wished to be himself a slave. Consider if you know any good thing that no man desires for himself. A. Lincoln
Maybe because longstreet work very well with DH Hill and DH prove to be a very good defensive fighter(who can make good attack) exactly what longstreet want.
I think the big trouble in the ANV was the virginian circle.Most of the high leve were virginian and Lee's seems to prefer virginian to other people.There was some good virginian fighter but not all of them.And of course it cant be the fault of virginians for the 2 failed invasion lee make.For the pensylvania campaign it was longstreet fault , for the maryland campaign it was DH Hill , but DH was far easier to put away and after the gettysburg battle lee has only longstreet has a effective corp commander.I read on this forum a interesting quote .Dh says to longstreet : "They [Virginians] made me the scapegoat for Maryland and you [Longstreet] the scapegoat for Pennsylvania."
.Lee had a choice : Pick Ewell and AP or pick DH and Mclaws.All the generals have very good records but the thing that make the difference was : Mclaws and DH were not virginians.
Historians never seem to study the real reality of the battlefield. Only part of Ewell's Corps fought on July 1. Originally, Lee had not ordered Ewell to Gettysburg. Part of the Corps, Johnson's Division and the reserve artillery of the Corps, was already on the Carlisle-Chambersburg Pike headed south, before Lee informed Ewell to go east of South Mountain.
Rodes Division and Early's Division had spent the previous day marching from Carlisle and York. As Ewell notes both divisions spent twelve hours marching and fighting on July 1 and were "jaded". Johnson's division and the corps entire reserve artillery did not arrive on the battlefield until it was dark. Ewell had two tired divisions and lacked a good number of his artillery to fight on the first day.
Many remember that more Confederates arrived on the battlefield than Union soldiers, but the truth is that the Confederates, especially Ewell, lacked a significant part of their army, to do battle on that first day's fight.
That's where a motivating/motivated commander should say, "boys I know you're exhausted. I am too, but if you give me a little more...if we control that hill, we control the battlefield and our future destinies. Who's with me?" Whether it's 100% proof-positive truth or not.
Just a thought.
Bart
__________________ "Thank You....Noooo."
Major Charles Emerson Winchester III M.A.S.H. 4077th
"boys I know you're exhausted. I am too, but if you give me a little more...if we control that hill, we control the battlefield and our future destinies. Who's with me?"
Give 'em the Vince Lomardi pep talk, eh Bart?
Ole
__________________ I never knew a man who wished to be himself a slave. Consider if you know any good thing that no man desires for himself. A. Lincoln
A pat on the back and the grateful thanks of a handful of people.
Ole.
__________________ I never knew a man who wished to be himself a slave. Consider if you know any good thing that no man desires for himself. A. Lincoln
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D.H. Hill leading 2nd corps ??? 
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