- Joined
- Feb 27, 2017
- Location
- Ohio
E. Porter Alexander spent most of the morning deploying artillery in preparation for the great cannonade. By noon, when Henry Hunt was on Cemetery Hill, he wrote that "“Our whole front for two miles was covered by enemy batteries already in line or going into position. They stretched in one unbroken mass from opposite the town, to as far south as the Peach Orchard. Never before on this continent had such a sight been witnessed.” (quoted from Double Canister at Ten Yards by Schultz)
Hunt had spent the morning telling his battery commanders to hold their fire and conserve their ammunition. The Confederate batteries were more or less unmolested as they got into position.
It seems to me that it was possible that Union artillery could have possibly preempted the cannonade by firing on the Confederate batteries as Alexander was putting them into position that morning. Would this have been a viable option? Why did Hunt make the decision to allow the Confederate artillery to deploy without interference?
Obviously, I recognize that Henry Hunt was far better qualified as a Chief of Artillery than I am!
Hunt had spent the morning telling his battery commanders to hold their fire and conserve their ammunition. The Confederate batteries were more or less unmolested as they got into position.
It seems to me that it was possible that Union artillery could have possibly preempted the cannonade by firing on the Confederate batteries as Alexander was putting them into position that morning. Would this have been a viable option? Why did Hunt make the decision to allow the Confederate artillery to deploy without interference?
Obviously, I recognize that Henry Hunt was far better qualified as a Chief of Artillery than I am!