Earthworks and Hypocrisy

[Josh The Lighthouse Guy]

Earthworks, fieldworks, fortifications: they were common in the American Civil War, and for good reason. Used by both sides.

Around Richmond, Confederate soldiers decried "Granny Lee" for his digging before the Seven Days, although that might have been more for whites resenting being forced to do the manual labor they associated with black slaves. Whatever the reason, the ANV doesn't seem to have ever complained again about digging fieldworks.

I was surprised reading Work For Giants that the Confederates defeated at Harrisburg/Tupelo (in 1864!) decried A. J. Smith for being "cowardly" for hiding behind fieldworks despite outnumbering Lee and Forrest. Some unhealthy copium, and hypocritical because the Confederates themselves erected fieldworks.

Are there other examples of soldiers, Union or Confederate, belittling their opponents use of fortifications during the war, especially in the latter part of the war after their value had been clearly demonstrated?

 

[bankerpapaw]

Longstreet was a big proponent for "Digging In!!"

 

[gary]

It was only thought of as cowardly during the early year of the war. By 1864 wihout instructions most soldiers would begin digging at a halt.

 

[J. Stanley]

Are there other examples of soldiers, Union or Confederate, belittling their opponents use of fortifications during the war, especially in the latter part of the war after their value had been clearly demonstrated?

In the case of Gettysburg, there was a case of a general belittling his own side for entrenching!

Brig. Gen. John W. Geary gave his subordinates the option of entrenching on Culp's Hill, but he was not a fan of the idea, arguing the work "unfitted men for fighting without them." Luckily, brigade commander George S. Greene favored saving the lives of his men rather than "any theories as to breastworks" and dug in. They proved very useful when his brigade faced the bulk of Allegheny Johnson's Division during the night of July 2.