ivanj05
First Sergeant
- Joined
- Jun 8, 2015
Would it be fair to say that Ewell brought on the general engagement?
I mean, by the time Ewell gets there Hill has pretty well locked in the general engagement achievement.
Would it be fair to say that Ewell brought on the general engagement?
AMEN!!!Considering how poorly Anderson performed at Gettysburg, I'm not so sure turning to him would have been an improvement.
Ryan
Well pretty close ill stand corrected but the rest of Heth's division attacked after Archer and Davis so that would be Pettigrew and Brockenbrough and them some of Pender's Division I think it was Lane , Perrin , Scales and then Rode's so pretty much 3x Divisions.Archer and Davis were probing Buford's Cavalry when they were hit by surprise by Reynold's infantry and eventually fell back. Rodes made the next attack. Am I missing something but that seems to me to be the point where the engagement became "General"?
Thanks RP it was off the top of my head i get a bit confused with the order.Just a quick general timeline for refererence:
1030: Davis begins pushing Cutler.
1045: Iron Brigade hits Archer; Davis routs the 147th New York and Hall's Battery and begins to turn to the south and the Cut.
1100: Archer withdraws; 6th Wisconsin, 95th New York, and 14th Brooklyn move to the Chambersburg Pike
1115: Attack against the Cut
1130: Confederates are returning to Herr's Ridge
1345: Rodes has arrived and Blackford's Sharpshooters are skirmishing with elements of the Eleventh Corps
1400: O'Neal attacks
1430: Pettigrew attacks; Iverson attacks
1445: Pettigrew crosses Willoughby Run
1500: Baxter charges Iverson; Daniel attacks the Chambersburg Pike and in support of Iverson's survivors
1515: Iron Brigade retreats; Pettigrew attacks Biddle; Brockenbrough "attacks" Stone; Gordon attacks Blocher's Knoll
1545: Union rallies on Seminary Ridge; Pender is crossing Willougby Run
1600: Pender crosses McPherson's Ridge and begins the attack on Seminary Ridge
1615: Rodes' final attack against Robinson and his line begins to withdraw
1620: Eleventh Corps line collapses
1645: Seminary Ridge line collapses; Brickyard fight
Ryan
Thanks! I just ordered the Martin book.In addition to Pfanz, I think 'Gettysburg July 1' by David G. Martin is an excellent read.
Regardless of whether Hill knew exactly what he was doing, why didn't he feel a need to shake out a skirmish line before proceeding instead of leading with his artillery? Do we know of any similar circumstance in the Civil War where artillery led the infantry? Admittedly, the skirmishers would have made the same contact with Buford but perhaps Hill would've recalled Lee's orders to not bring on an engagement and backed off. Leading with artillery indicates to me Hill had no intention of avoiding an engagement.
I think you are on the right track. Hill was new to corps command and thus under emotional stress.
Corp command is a high pressure posting.
I think it's more likely that Gettysburg is the first we see of Hill's physical decline. If i remember correctly, when Lee comes up on July 1 and inquires of Hill the situation, Hill looks physically ill and is not really able to tell Lee what is going on. On July 2 and 3, Hill is basically MIA from the battle and his divisions are working under Longstreet's attacks on those days.
He knew just how unready he was to face a Union army at full strength, so he possibly was right since the AOP hadn't united it's forces.General Lee is responsible for the onset of the battle. He knew that he did not know what was before him. He knew that General Hill had not prevented the advance toward Gettysburg into the unknown. He knew that he did not know the location of every unit of his command. He knew that he did not know when the units would be united. He consented to the afternoon attacks. It was General Lee who, despite writing that it was his intention to avoid battle unless he was attacked, attacked for three days. It was General Lee's battle from start to finish.
One thing to consider is that the 11th Mississippi was in the rear with the gear. This would bump Davis's numbers up by almost 400. It is not possible to determine if the absence is a logical thesis as to the capture of the 2nd MS in the cut, though it entertains the mind to think what would have happened if Davis had the extra rifles. I also often wonder why the Arty was sent forward first followed by a Brigade of raw troops with a commander who has never seen battle either. The only logical explanation is that Heth and Hill were going to allow these raw troops to get a taste of action against some "dismounted Cavalry and the local militia."I see your point here, but it raises a question in my work addled brain. If Heth, and presumably by extension Hill, expect little to no resistance, why send in two full brigades of infantry (Archer and Davis) plus artillery (Pegram)? Isn't that a fair amount of overkill, even for a reconnaissance in force?
I just ordered it from amazon. it's on sale for $20! I have the digital edition as well.This is great thread. I have Pfanz's First Day on my wish list - should I go for it or is there a better study?