Dismounted riders at Gettysburg

[EHParks]

I read an account of Barksdale's ride on day 2 rallying his men that mentioned only General officers were allowed to be mounted that day. If true, was this unusual for either Army?

edit: I honestly did a search before posting, not sure how I missed this:
Calling together his regimental commanders, Barksdale told the officers that they were to go in on foot, and that he and his command staff would be the only ones on horseback. He also told them "The line before you must be broken—to do so let every officer and man animate his comrades by his personal presence in the front line."

Off the Beaten Path The Death of William Barksdale

 

[nc native]

Thanks for providing the link to the article about William Barksdale's final charge. I thought it was interesting that he and George Willard, the commander of the New York brigade that opposed him had quite a bit in common: they were not professional soldiers and they both felt they had something to prove at Gettysburg after meeting before at Harper's Ferry. Both men also lost their lives in the Peach Orchard on July 2nd leading their men.

It was not unusual to have commanders order the officers under their command to go on foot into a battle. On July 3rd the officers who participated in Pickett's Charge were given the same order. Garnett rode his horse, however, because he was in no condition to walk and Kemper also rode his horse. At least one of the colonels in Pickett's division also rode his horse, Lewis Williams of the 1st Virginia Infantry. Two of these men were killed and James Kemper was badly wounded.

 

[EHParks]

Thanks for providing the link to the article about William Barksdale's final charge. I thought it was interesting that he and George Willard, the commander of the New York brigade that opposed him had quite a bit in common: they were not professional soldiers and they both felt they had something to prove at Gettysburg after meeting before at Harper's Ferry. Both men also lost their lives in the Peach Orchard on July 2nd leading their men.

It was not unusual to have commanders order the officers under their command to go on foot into a battle. On July 3rd the officers who participated in Pickett's Charge were given the same order. Garnett rode his horse, however, because he was in no condition to walk and Kemper also rode his horse. At least one of the colonels in Pickett's division also rode his horse, Lewis Williams of the 1st Virginia Infantry. Two of these men were killed and James Kemper was badly wounded.

Much appreciated. Thank you.

 

[Cavalier]

@nc native I certainly could be mistaken, but I believe Col. George Lamb Willard was a professional soldier.

If my information is correct, he was promoted from the ranks however.

John

 

[Tom Elmore]

Major G. B. Gerald of the 18th Mississippi explained that "order had been issued some time before that no officer below the rank of brigadier or acting brigadier general should ride into battle, because of the difficulty in replacing the horses killed."

The order probably extended throughout the army. As noted, it was applied to Pickett's division during theirJuly 3 charge against Cemetery Ridge and also to Early's July 2 evening assault against Cemetery Hill.

Exceptions were sometimes granted: Colonel Williams of the 1st Virginia was allowed to ride because of illness; Colonel Hunton of the 8th Virginia was also unable to walk for some reason; Lieutenant Colonel Peck of the 9th Louisiana was a very heavy man and probably could not have made it far on foot.

Senior officers were not accustomed to physical activity and some struggled on foot, especially on a hot day. Colonel James Jackson of the 47th Alabama was one of them and resigned after the campaign; Colonel Perry of the 44th Alabama gave out at Devil's Den. Colonel Oates of the 15th Alabama held up well during the heavy fighting but toward evening fainted from exhaustion.

It was not required, so far as I know, in the Federal army at Gettysburg, but officers might dismount because of the terrain or exposure from enemy fire.

 

[rpkennedy]

@nc native I certainly could be mistaken, but I believe Col. George Lamb Willard was a professional soldier.

If my information is correct, he was promoted from the ranks however.

John

Correct. Willard enlisted during the Mexican War and ended that war as a sergeant. After the war, he was appointed as a lieutenant and was an infantry captain when the Civil War broke out.

Ryan