Can we talk night time?

[Stopsign32v]

So July 1st the Confederate pushed the Union into the town and down towards Cemetery Hill area. They started fighting in the morning and went to the evening obviously.

Hungry and tired, when did they all stop fighting?

Was it and understood thing or did erratic fighting still continue?

When did they start back up the next day? How did they go from a lull to fighting again in such a Napoleonic organized way?

 

[infomanpa]

So July 1st the Confederate pushed the Union into the town and down towards Cemetery Hill area. They started fighting in the morning and went to the evening obviously.

Hungry and tired, when did they all stop fighting?

Was it and understood thing or did erratic fighting still continue?

When did they start back up the next day? How did they go from a lull to fighting again in such a Napoleonic organized way?

Fighting usually stopped around an hour or so after sundown for obvious reasons.

 

[Tom Elmore]

As darkness descended around 8 p.m. on July 1, a half hour after sunset (which occurred at 7:32 p.m.), most troops on both sides were exhausted and slept soundly after the day's arduous work. Firing virtually ceased, including pickets. Both armies dispatched pickets to avoid being taken by surprise, however, the moon rose at 7:53 p.m. and was full, so any threatening movements by a large group of enemy soldiers would have been readily detected. A brief stir did occur on the north summit of Culp's Hill from a reconnaissance made by a small group from the 25th Virginia but it was repelled by the 7th Indiana. However, significant reinforcements were moving up on both sides and this might cause issues: a lost segment of the Union Third Corps nearly triggered an encounter against Wilcox's Alabama brigade posted west of Seminary Ridge but the former realized their predicament and were able to quietly withdraw under the cover of darkness. Sporadic picket firing resumed in some places the next day around 4 a.m., or early dawn - sunrise came at 4:35 a.m., and a few isolated cannon shots were heard in the early morning as gunners tested ranges.

The night of July 2 was a different story. While fighting again generally tapered off with the onset of darkness opposite the Union left/Confederate right, it was just getting started on wooded Culp's Hill, not quieting down there until 10 p.m., although occasional outbreaks took place until past midnight. The assault by Hays and Avery on East Cemetery Hill ended not long after 8 p.m., and a contemplated Confederate assault against West Cemetery Hill was called off at the last minute. Again, the nearly full moon was a major factor, rising at 8:38 p.m.

Heavy fighting by artillery and infantry again resumed a few minutes before 4 a.m. on July 3 on Culp's Hill, while Confederate batteries opened at an early hour against the Union center for approximately an hour.

In summary, night fighting was generally avoided because it was often not possible to determine friend from foe, and any movement was difficult and disorienting. Artillery effectiveness was also substantially diminished. Fears multiply among humans with the onset of darkness, and officers are hard pressed to exert control over men whose actions cannot be observed or judged, and thus cannot be relied upon.

 

[Saint Jude]

I read somewhere that there was actually a "supermoon" on the night of July 1. The Battle of Wauhatchie was one of the few night battles in the war.

 

[DixieRifles]

Hungry and tired, when did they all stop fighting?

Good question. I've read several books lately and I'm sure one of them talks about how they pushed to finish their advance to obtain their objective as it was getting past dusk. I wish I could recall which book that was in.

 

[Old Soldier]

The usual times are 'First Light' and 'Last Light'. Trouble is, these are variable with the seasons and the latitude. It is usually quoted as '0ne to two hours after sun rise/set' - but this will vary with cloud cover (in the direction of sunrise/set as well as overhead). Strangely enough light cloud cover near the horizon can actually prolong First/Last Light due to reflection, but the area OVER the horizon (which you can still see) must be relatively clear. Generally the further South you go, the shorter the change will be (minutes). A clear sky will shorten it too. The moon also provides light when position and cloud cover permit

To quantify this will depend on the type of country you are operating in. Forested land of any type darkens and limits vision. At this time (1860s) I would say, no sight of a person (enemy or friendly forces) within 300 yards for clear country and 100 yards or less for close country. Most distant (>100 yards) communication was visual. A 'front' has to be established by sight before dark. Even given these distances, there are a number of accounts of seeing enemy campfires 'quite close' in forested/close country. Most officers in the field would be aware of a given time for 'Standing to' and 'Standing down' given on the previous evening's briefing.

This would allow some rest for the majority - two to four hours of sleep in the summer. Why so limited? All good soldiers know the importance of sentries and the rota for their turn of duty. Waking up is relatively easy with application of boot or a nudge in the ribs with a rifle butt. The lack of accurate maps and knowledgeable field artillerymen meant no artillery fire as no fall of shot could be observed accurately, which was essential for correction of fire at this time. This still applied generally during WW2 for field operations, but with night bombing/shelling of AREA after dark. Static positions/sieges, WW1 for example, were a different matter. However, the advent of night vision equipment has reduced it a lot.

Night fighting in the field was something to be avoided as any discharge would affect night vision, so the bayonet was the better. weapon - provided you could see the enemy!

 

[13 IL Cav & 64 GA Inf]

As darkness descended around 8 p.m. on July 1, a half hour after sunset (which occurred at 7:32 p.m.), most troops on both sides were exhausted and slept soundly after the day's arduous work. Firing virtually ceased, including pickets. Both armies dispatched pickets to avoid being taken by surprise, however, the moon rose at 7:53 p.m. and was full, so any threatening movements by a large group of enemy soldiers would have been readily detected. A brief stir did occur on the north summit of Culp's Hill from a reconnaissance made by a small group from the 25th Virginia but it was repelled by the 7th Indiana. However, significant reinforcements were moving up on both sides and this might cause issues: a lost segment of the Union Third Corps nearly triggered an encounter against Wilcox's Alabama brigade posted west of Seminary Ridge but the former realized their predicament and were able to quietly withdraw under the cover of darkness. Sporadic picket firing resumed in some places the next day around 4 a.m., or early dawn - sunrise came at 4:35 a.m., and a few isolated cannon shots were heard in the early morning as gunners tested ranges.

The night of July 2 was a different story. While fighting again generally tapered off with the onset of darkness opposite the Union left/Confederate right, it was just getting started on wooded Culp's Hill, not quieting down there until 10 p.m., although occasional outbreaks took place until past midnight. The assault by Hays and Avery on East Cemetery Hill ended not long after 8 p.m., and a contemplated Confederate assault against West Cemetery Hill was called off at the last minute. Again, the nearly full moon was a major factor, rising at 8:38 p.m.

Heavy fighting by artillery and infantry again resumed a few minutes before 4 a.m. on July 3 on Culp's Hill, while Confederate batteries opened at an early hour against the Union center for approximately an hour.

In summary, night fighting was generally avoided because it was often not possible to determine friend from foe, and any movement was difficult and disorienting. Artillery effectiveness was also substantially diminished. Fears multiply among humans with the onset of darkness, and officers are hard pressed to exert control over men whose actions cannot be observed or judged, and thus cannot be relied upon.

Excellent response.