Confederate soldiers shoes

[JennywadeGina]

I was told that the confederate soldiers crossed into Gettysburg in need of new shoes since they marched so far away.. is this true? And did they find shoes there?

 

[Pvt.Shattuck]

No, and no.
Welcome to the forum.

 

[Shermanwasaterrorist]

More like......"Ehhh?? maybe? ummm? and no!
Heth's division made history by inadvertently starting the Battle of Gettysburg. Marching east from Cashtown on July 1, 1863, Heth sent two brigades ahead in a reconnaissance in force. His memoirs referred to sending them in a search of shoes in Gettysburg, but some historians consider this an apocryphal story; they say Heth knew that Jubal A. Early had been in Gettysburg a few days earlier and any available shoes would have been taken at that time. They also consider sending two brigades on such a mission would have been wasteful. The brigades made contact with Union cavalry under Brig. Gen. John Buford and spread out into battle formation.

I had to Google the definition of apocryphal (doubtful authenticity) which is nicer than a big ol' NO!
I along with probably every other poster here have always heard, read and believed the in search of shoes story and who today truly knows? I think why some disavow the "shoes" story is because Gettysburg or somewhere above the Mason Dixon line was in the process of being invaded by us ASAP in that same timeframe and General Lee made specific orders do not enter battle until the time is right and too many mistakes, missing leaders, miscommunication, egos and ignorance all decided to happen almost systematically all at the same time and Heth in my opinion, flocked up big time!!!! Gettysburg was inevitable?? Shoes or not both sides were going to go ballz out in the "north" simply because we had taken all we thought we could take on our soil. It was time to move the fight into the enemies sandbox.

 

[Chuckles]

The "shoes" story gets brief mention in Brenda A. Ayres' Persephone in the River Phlegethon; or, the Women of Gettysburg, (2009) Faculty Publications and Presentations, Liberty University.

In addition to relating the story that is the focus of this thread, as part of a thumbnail sketch of Adams County the author notes that a number of men made their living from shoes due to the presence of tanneries, but that there was no shoe factory. [Citing: Sheldon, George. When the Smoke Cleared at Getttysburg [...]. Cumberland House. 2003.]

 

[JOHN42768]

The "shoes" story gets brief mention in Brenda A. Ayres' Persephone in the River Phlegethon; or, the Women of Gettysburg, (2009) Faculty Publications and Presentations, Liberty University.

In addition to relating the story that is the focus of this thread, as part of a thumbnail sketch of Adams County the author notes that a number of men made their living from shoes due to the presence of tanneries, but that there was no shoe factory. [Citing: Sheldon, George. When the Smoke Cleared at Getttysburg [...]. Cumberland House. 2003.]

Welcome, enjoy

 

[zburkett]

Much of the Pennsylvania expedition was to gather supplies so any movements would include gathering any military supplies. That would include shoes.

 

[Package4]

The shoe story IIRC first came about many years after the war, I think I posted in another thread some years ago, that the first mention of shoes was a decade after the war. As Zburkett says, the Southern army was in need of many supplies and shoes were one thing they did need, but not the focus of the campaign or battle.

 

[Package4]

Found it:

"There was no mention of shoes having anything to do with the Battle of Gettysburg until 14 years after it happened. In 1877, Confederate General Henry Heth wrote, "Hearing that a supply of shoes was to be obtained in Gettysburg, eight miles distant from Cashtown, and greatly needing shoes for my men, I directed General Pettigrew to go to Gettysburg and get these supplies." Problem is, there were no shoe factories anywhere near Gettysburg in 1863. Rather, roads took the armies to Gettysburg. It was difficult to travel through south-central Pennsylvania without passing through Gettysburg. " From the American Battlefield Trust https://www.battlefields.org/learn/articles/7-gettysburg-myths-and-misconceptions

 

[Ole Miss]

How appropriate that the battle that was perhaps the most confusing conflict of the war would have a possible cause still debated and studied!
Regards
David