jacobdelamater
Cadet
- Joined
- Feb 4, 2009
- Location
- MICHIGAN
The 11th corp kinda of got a bad rap in my opinion from some of the articles I have read.
Here is some interesting info from New York State history
museum.
The first three regiments raised in St. Louis were composed of Germans. In New York City thousands of Germans tendered their services at the firing of the first rebel gun on Fort Sumter. During the war fully 175,000 men of German birth or descent enlisted in the Union Army.
The Eleventh Corps held the right of the Union line at Chancellorsville, being in position in the woods along the turnpike. Von Gilsa's Brigade held the extreme right . On the afternoon of May 2d, Von Gilsa advanced his pickets, who sent in word that large masses of the enemy were forming on the right flank of the Union Army and were preparing to attack. Von Gilsa transmitted this information promptly to his superiors in command, but unfortunately no attention was paid to it. No reinforcements were sent to the threatened point, and of the troops on that part of the field no disposition was made to meet the impending attack. The Eleventh Corps remained in the position which it had taken, faced to the south, while Stonewall Jackson's troops were marching to attack its flank from the west.
When the attack came, Von Gilsa and his regiments were not surprised. They knew it was coming and were calmly awaiting it, although they were aware that through the neglect or incompetency of someone they were in a false position. Lieutenants Searles and Boecke of the Forty-first were stationed on either side of the pike with a detachment of sharpshooters, at some distance beyond the termination of the Union line. As Jackson's skirmishers advanced they struck these sharpshooters who, falling back slowly as they exchanged shots, gave the alarm.
Jackson had seventy regiments of infantry and several batteries of artillery. His force numbered fully 28,000 men. His troops were formed for the attack in three lines, the first line being over one mile long. Opposed to this veteran army was the Eleventh Corps alone, which, owing to the absence of its strongest brigade — Barlow's — did not number 9,000 men,— and was out of position at that. Even had they been in position to meet this attack, Jackson's line, one mile long, would have reached around them on either flank.
And yet the Eleventh Corps made a sturdy fight. These troops did not fall back until over 1,800 of their number had fallen and 600 had been captured. Retreating slowly through the forest, their muskets flashing defiantly through the gloom of the nightfall, they retarded Jackson's victorious advance so that two hours elapsed before the Confederates reached the Twelfth Corps' position at Fairview.
The Forty-first New York, on whom the first attack fell, fired three well-directed volleys, and then retreated, stopping from time to time to rally with other regiments at various points and deliver their fire. Some of the men joined in the stampede, usual under such circumstances, but the body of the regiment moved steadily, and in company with the brigade formed again at General Hooker's headquarters where it protected three batteries. General Devens, who commanded the division, speaks highly, in his official report, of Colonel Von Gilsa's resolute exertions in rallying the retreating columns and checking Jackson's advance. The casualties in the regiment aggregated 6l in killed, wounded and missing.
The Movie Gods and Generals displayed them as sitting around their campfires totally oblivious to the situation.
I have seen other writings to the same effect.
I felt they did good at Gettysburg also to help save the northern fishhook along with Buford and the first corp.
mark
Here is some interesting info from New York State history
museum.
The first three regiments raised in St. Louis were composed of Germans. In New York City thousands of Germans tendered their services at the firing of the first rebel gun on Fort Sumter. During the war fully 175,000 men of German birth or descent enlisted in the Union Army.
The Eleventh Corps held the right of the Union line at Chancellorsville, being in position in the woods along the turnpike. Von Gilsa's Brigade held the extreme right . On the afternoon of May 2d, Von Gilsa advanced his pickets, who sent in word that large masses of the enemy were forming on the right flank of the Union Army and were preparing to attack. Von Gilsa transmitted this information promptly to his superiors in command, but unfortunately no attention was paid to it. No reinforcements were sent to the threatened point, and of the troops on that part of the field no disposition was made to meet the impending attack. The Eleventh Corps remained in the position which it had taken, faced to the south, while Stonewall Jackson's troops were marching to attack its flank from the west.
When the attack came, Von Gilsa and his regiments were not surprised. They knew it was coming and were calmly awaiting it, although they were aware that through the neglect or incompetency of someone they were in a false position. Lieutenants Searles and Boecke of the Forty-first were stationed on either side of the pike with a detachment of sharpshooters, at some distance beyond the termination of the Union line. As Jackson's skirmishers advanced they struck these sharpshooters who, falling back slowly as they exchanged shots, gave the alarm.
Jackson had seventy regiments of infantry and several batteries of artillery. His force numbered fully 28,000 men. His troops were formed for the attack in three lines, the first line being over one mile long. Opposed to this veteran army was the Eleventh Corps alone, which, owing to the absence of its strongest brigade — Barlow's — did not number 9,000 men,— and was out of position at that. Even had they been in position to meet this attack, Jackson's line, one mile long, would have reached around them on either flank.
And yet the Eleventh Corps made a sturdy fight. These troops did not fall back until over 1,800 of their number had fallen and 600 had been captured. Retreating slowly through the forest, their muskets flashing defiantly through the gloom of the nightfall, they retarded Jackson's victorious advance so that two hours elapsed before the Confederates reached the Twelfth Corps' position at Fairview.
The Forty-first New York, on whom the first attack fell, fired three well-directed volleys, and then retreated, stopping from time to time to rally with other regiments at various points and deliver their fire. Some of the men joined in the stampede, usual under such circumstances, but the body of the regiment moved steadily, and in company with the brigade formed again at General Hooker's headquarters where it protected three batteries. General Devens, who commanded the division, speaks highly, in his official report, of Colonel Von Gilsa's resolute exertions in rallying the retreating columns and checking Jackson's advance. The casualties in the regiment aggregated 6l in killed, wounded and missing.
The Movie Gods and Generals displayed them as sitting around their campfires totally oblivious to the situation.
I have seen other writings to the same effect.
I felt they did good at Gettysburg also to help save the northern fishhook along with Buford and the first corp.
mark