Anyone else see any similarity. I watched a Bridge Too Far over the weekend, the movie of the story of the failed attempt to capture Arnhem in WWII.
The book and movie were critical of the British plan, some thirty years after the war.
The British were totally dependent on moving a large corps over 64 miles in a few days. A bridge too far; a narrow road too long.
Lee attempted to move his army over a narrow road; perhaps Gettysburg was - A Town Too Far. Lee chose to move more than two corps some 25 miles over one narrow road through a mountain gap.
I think Lee gets a pass from historians because he got more of his troops to Gettysburg on the first day. But much of his army did not arrive until after dark that first day, such as Johnson's Division, Ewell's reserve artillery and Longstreets entire corps. Pickett would not come up until late on July 2.
Lee's choice of using one road is eerily similar to General Montgomery's use of a single road to Arnhem. Each seem to underestimate the choke points both armies would encounter.
Plus each side had poor intelligence on the defensive ability of the enemy at Gettysburg and Arnhem.
It seems no historian, none I recall, ever faulted Lee for leaving Chambersburg and tying up his two corps and all his wagons and artillery, attempting to pass over the only route to Gettysburg.
I would rank this attempt of General Lee, with Montgomery's failed attempt. Poor attack ingress for both armies, and the supposition that both could occupy towns without much opposition.
Regretable I think from a military tactical standpoint that no history of Gettysburg was ever titled -Gettysburg - A Town too Far. Or no book with which I am aware.
The book and movie were critical of the British plan, some thirty years after the war.
The British were totally dependent on moving a large corps over 64 miles in a few days. A bridge too far; a narrow road too long.
Lee attempted to move his army over a narrow road; perhaps Gettysburg was - A Town Too Far. Lee chose to move more than two corps some 25 miles over one narrow road through a mountain gap.
I think Lee gets a pass from historians because he got more of his troops to Gettysburg on the first day. But much of his army did not arrive until after dark that first day, such as Johnson's Division, Ewell's reserve artillery and Longstreets entire corps. Pickett would not come up until late on July 2.
Lee's choice of using one road is eerily similar to General Montgomery's use of a single road to Arnhem. Each seem to underestimate the choke points both armies would encounter.
Plus each side had poor intelligence on the defensive ability of the enemy at Gettysburg and Arnhem.
It seems no historian, none I recall, ever faulted Lee for leaving Chambersburg and tying up his two corps and all his wagons and artillery, attempting to pass over the only route to Gettysburg.
I would rank this attempt of General Lee, with Montgomery's failed attempt. Poor attack ingress for both armies, and the supposition that both could occupy towns without much opposition.
Regretable I think from a military tactical standpoint that no history of Gettysburg was ever titled -Gettysburg - A Town too Far. Or no book with which I am aware.