W. Richardson
Captain
- Joined
- Jun 29, 2011
- Location
- Mt. Gilead, North Carolina
I have been reading an article on Gettysburg by General McLaws in the SHSP Vol. 7, p. 69
“I then reconnoitred myself for my own information, and was soon convinced that by crossing the ridge where I then was, my command could reach the point indicated by General Lee, in a half hour, without being seen. [1] At length - my recollection is that it was about 1 P. M. - Major Johnston, of General Lee's staff, came to me and said he was ordered to conduct me on the march. My command was at once put in motion - Major Johnston and myself riding some distance ahead.
Suddenly, as we rose a hill on the road we were taking, the Round Top was plainly visible, with the flags of the signal men in rapid motion. [2] I sent back and halted my division and rode with Major Johnston rapidly around the neighborhood to see if there was any road by which we could go into position without being seen. Not finding any [3] I joined my command and met General Longstreet there.”
Source: Southern Historical Society Papers, Vol. 7, p. 69
Now my question(s) are…….
A. If McLaws had found a route by crossing the ridge where he was then, and could reach the point in a half hour without being seen [1]……..then why not, once it was found that they could not go by the route Johnston was using without being seen [2], go back and cross the ridge that McLaws, by his own reconnaissance, they could reach the point indicated by Lee, in a half hour, without being seen?
B. When searching around the area for a road to get to the position indicated by Lee without being seen but could not find one [3]………….why did not McLaws point out to Longstreet the ridge where McLaws said they could cross without being seen and reach the point in a half-hour?
Respectfully,
William
“I then reconnoitred myself for my own information, and was soon convinced that by crossing the ridge where I then was, my command could reach the point indicated by General Lee, in a half hour, without being seen. [1] At length - my recollection is that it was about 1 P. M. - Major Johnston, of General Lee's staff, came to me and said he was ordered to conduct me on the march. My command was at once put in motion - Major Johnston and myself riding some distance ahead.
Suddenly, as we rose a hill on the road we were taking, the Round Top was plainly visible, with the flags of the signal men in rapid motion. [2] I sent back and halted my division and rode with Major Johnston rapidly around the neighborhood to see if there was any road by which we could go into position without being seen. Not finding any [3] I joined my command and met General Longstreet there.”
Source: Southern Historical Society Papers, Vol. 7, p. 69
Now my question(s) are…….
A. If McLaws had found a route by crossing the ridge where he was then, and could reach the point in a half hour without being seen [1]……..then why not, once it was found that they could not go by the route Johnston was using without being seen [2], go back and cross the ridge that McLaws, by his own reconnaissance, they could reach the point indicated by Lee, in a half hour, without being seen?
B. When searching around the area for a road to get to the position indicated by Lee without being seen but could not find one [3]………….why did not McLaws point out to Longstreet the ridge where McLaws said they could cross without being seen and reach the point in a half-hour?
Respectfully,
William