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- Dec 21, 2015
Ask E. Porter Alexander. Alexander states it was a complete engineering failure.
Regarding the fuses?
Ask E. Porter Alexander. Alexander states it was a complete engineering failure.
No, regarding the decision to make the charge where it was made. It exposed the charge to enfilade fire from artillery batteries positioned at the Round Tops. Alexander felt the wiser choice for the charge was at the bend in the fishhook. He felt that was much better ground and offered the Union no opportunity of enfilade fire.Regarding the fuses?
When his reconnaissance by fire was successful Stuart set a perfect ambush for Gregg at the Rummel farm. Only problem was Gregg didn't charge.Once again: I did a random search for "East Cavalry Field" and once again, I run into our old friend @Eric Wittenberg who comments on this topic here: http://civilwarcavalry.com/?p=3045
When analyzing all of these factors, and given Stuart’s dispositions and deployments on what became East Cavalry Field, it seems quite obvious to me that Stuart’s primary mission was to guard the flank. He deployed in an ambush formation, intended to draw David M. Gregg’s troopers in and engage them, thereby keeping them tied up and unable to make that dash around the flank. Stuart, always the opportunist, was looking for opportunities, and should he be able to defeat and scatter Gregg’s troopers, then, and ONLY then, would he attempt to make his own dash down the Low Dutch Road and into the rear of the Army of the Potomac’s position.
Finally, neither Lee nor Stuart EVER said anything about Stuart’s activities that day being somehow coordinated with the Pickett-Pettigrew-Trimble assault on the Union center. That, to me, is proof positive that neither officer contemplated anything other than what they both said in the official reports.
No, regarding the decision to make the charge where it was made. It exposed the charge to enfilade fire from artillery batteries positioned at the Round Tops. Alexander felt the wiser choice for the charge was at the bend in the fishhook. He felt that was much better ground and offered the Union no opportunity of enfilade fire.
That's exactly what I thought when I read it. He must have meant from the same approach as you tour. Charging directly from the area of the school straight up Cemetery Hill. That's the only feasible location.Where's the bend in the fish hook? Cemetery Hill, and the town of Gettysburg. In other words, the town would be the same obstacle to a charge it was for Ewell on July 1.
The Union did not have an unlimited supply of men.Lee's supply of soldiers was growing thin and replacements were slim. The Union seemed to have an unlimited supply of replacements.
Oh and lets not forget. Alexander was an artillerist not a commander. His thoughts only clearly show he was not in favor of making the charge from where it was actually made. He deemed it an error.Where's the bend in the fish hook? Cemetery Hill, and the town of Gettysburg. In other words, the town would be the same obstacle to a charge it was for Ewell on July 1.
That's exactly what I thought when I read it. He must have meant from the same approach as you tour. Charging directly from the area of the school straight up Cemetery Ridge. That's the only feasible location.
And I would disagree. The ANV fired so many rounds that simply by random they had to hit something. Most likely the ANV artillery directly opposite Cushing caused the damage inflicted on him. According to Hunt there was no concentration of fire by the ANV.I would think that Cushing would argue that they did concentrate their fire and that it was effective.
Ryan
And I would disagree. The ANV fired so many rounds that simply by random they had to hit something. Most likely the ANV artillery directly opposite Cushing caused the damage inflicted on him. According to Hunt there was no concentration of fire by the ANV.
(Perhaps this is too much of a deviation from the OP. Apologies to War Horse.)
Severe is an understatement.I was being rather tongue in cheek since Cushing's battery took a severe pounding.
R
Severe is an understatement.
No accident. Meade chased Lee down....intentionally.Are you conceding that General Lee dictated the terms of the Battle of Gettysburg? That General Meade had nothing to do with it? That's refreshing, but again, I don't think it's true.
The whole thing was an accident.
Dare we get back to the question in the OP?
Gettysburg was an accident of circumstance.
It was an unanticipated accident, on both sides.
[QUOTE="Drew, post: 1403639, member: 7501]"The whole thing was an accident.