East Cavalry Field talk

[Eric Wittenberg]

Friends,

Today, C-SPAN3 broadcast the talk that I did on the fighting on Brinkerhoff's Ridge and East Cavalry Field at the Middleburg Conference on the Art of Command in the Civil War on Saturday, October 8. In case anyone is interested in seeing it, here it is.

https://www.c-span.org/video/?416483-2/cavalry-gettysburg

Enjoy!

 

[W. Richardson]

Friends,

Today, C-SPAN3 broadcast the talk that I did on the fighting on Brinkerhoff's Ridge and East Cavalry Field at the Middleburg Conference on the Art of Command in the Civil War on Saturday, October 8. In case anyone is interested in seeing it, here it is.

https://www.c-span.org/video/?416483-2/cavalry-gettysburg

Enjoy!

Excellent Eric and Thank you !!

Respectfully,
William

 

[Bee]

I just finished the video, and it was made all the better by the fact that I have now walked that battlefield. Some points of interest to me:

1. Gregg kept the Stonewall Brigade from participating in the attack on Culp's Hill. This is very significant to me, as I have studied Culp's Hill, initiated a thread about it, and I am well aware how close that battle was without the Stonewall Brigade.

2. Fitzhugh Lee's 4 good days -- so well put!

3. The 150 wagons in dispute. I have argued this point, endlessly: Virginia was picked clean and the horses were breaking down. It was imperative that fodder was secured in order to continue driving these animals. It was part of the purpose to push into Pennsylvania.

4. The fence that was supposed to be melted down. I touched that fence. This is one story and place that I will not forget.

Thank you @Eric Wittenberg

 

[Eric Wittenberg]

Glad you enjoyed it, Queen Bee. That's a talk that I enjoy giving.

And it really does take a LOT to get me to put on a suit and tie that early on a Saturday morning.

I then had to fill in for Ted Alexander and give a talk on the retreat as the day's last speaker. So, I opened and closed that day's presentations.

 

[Bee]

Eric in a suit: better bookmark this video for posterity! I have to say: the fact that you talk TO the crowd, instead of looking at notes is just a game winning method. I forget that I am not in the room sometimes Thanks for hanging in with us, Eric.

 

[Michael W.]

Thank you for this, enjoyed the presentation. I have to admit, often I will watch one of these C-Span talks on the weekends, and more than once has the speaker been so boring that I fall asleep 15 minutes into it. This one really kept me on the edge of my seat. Thanks again.

 

[Eric Wittenberg]

Thank you for this, enjoyed the presentation. I have to admit, often I will watch one of these C-Span talks on the weekends, and more than once has the speaker been so boring that I fall asleep 15 minutes into it. This one really kept me on the edge of my seat. Thanks again.

Putting someone to sleep is my worst nightmare as a public speaker. I work hard at injecting humor and keeping the audience engaged. Thank you for letting me know that I succeeded.

 

[Legion Para]

Thank you Eric. If you hadn't posted this, I would have missed it. Particularly since I wasn't able to attend the Gettysburg 2016 gathering.

 

[JPK Huson 1863]

View attachment 114780View attachment 114780View attachment 114780View attachment 114780View attachment 114780

Thank you Eric. If you hadn't posted this, I would have missed it. Particularly since I wasn't able to attend the Gettysburg 2016 gathering.

The 2015 missed you, too. Next best thing to running away to join the cavalry was watching the action on that tour. You found yourself wanting to scream " Noooo General Farnsworth, don't listen to that big fruitbasket, he'll get you killed! " Like telling Captain Smith to slow down or explaining to Romeo and Juliet the consequences of over reacting, little futile- Eric really does bring the past, present. Same with this- only difference being no flying bugs to contend with.

 

[MaryDee]

I really enjoyed this--almost makes up for having to miss the Gettysburg weekend! Hopefully a few of those who recently posted about Stuart's being headed for the "copse of trees" will listen!

 

[Eric Wittenberg]

I really enjoyed this--almost makes up for having to miss the Gettysburg weekend! Hopefully a few of those who recently posted about Stuart's being headed for the "copse of trees" will listen!

Thanks, Mary Dee. This talk pretty much echoes everything that I said on the battlefield, except that you didn't get to see the specific terrain features.

 

[War Horse]

The 2015 missed you, too. Next best thing to running away to join the cavalry was watching the action on that tour. You found yourself wanting to scream " Noooo General Farnsworth, don't listen to that big fruitbasket, he'll get you killed! " Like telling Captain Smith to slow down or explaining to Romeo and Juliet the consequences of over reacting, little futile- Eric really does bring the past, present. Same with this- only difference being no flying bugs to contend with.

Interesting how Custer was speared from what could have been the same fait!

 

[War Horse]

Meaning he (Custer) and Gregg chose to ignore Custers orders to join Kilpatrick and Farnsworth on that faithful day.

 

[captaxe]

Great talk Eric. I had it taped on C-span and watched it before I saw this thread. Capt. Brooke-Rawle would be proud (!)-
Greg

 

[Eric Wittenberg]

Great talk Eric. I had it taped on C-span and watched it before I saw this thread. Capt. Brooke-Rawle would be proud (!)-
Greg

Thanks, Greg. Much obliged.

 

[Wallyfish]

Eric's talk was particuarily relevant to me as I am about half way through reading his book on this subject. Eric is one of my favorite Gettysburg writers.

I am recently retired and I am within 3 hours drive time from Gettysburg. I would love to attend talks like Eric's in person (especially when held in Gettysburg). What is the best resource to find upcoming talks on Gettysburg so I could attend in person?

I enjoy the talks on TV immensely, but to see a talk live, then to immediately go to the battlefield afterwards would be a big thrill to me.

I was suprised to hear the two stories below found in Eric's Protecting the Flanks book.

General Gregg told Custer who was ordered to move to join Kilpatrick's division to "Say you never got the message". Gregg needed him there.

Later General Gregg sent a staff officer over to Lt. James Chester ordering Chester to withdraw his guns. Chester felt it was too late to withdraw his guns. Chester went on to say "Tell the General to go to hell".

I have read many Gettysburg books and I don't remember reading too many times that officers disobeyed orders. Exactly the opposite occurred in many cases, for instance Colonel Charles R. Mudge, replied to the order to attack, "Well it is murder, but it's the order." in the Spangler Spring area on the 2nd Mass charge.

Was Gregg's and Chester's comments simply post battle bravado or did they really disobey orders?

 

[Eric Wittenberg]

Gregg specifically told Custer that he would assume responsibility for him staying. That's how critical Gregg felt the position was. Events proved him correct.

As for Chester, he was probably right that it was too late to withdraw his guns.

 

[Yankeedave]

What would have happened if custer et all had complied? i know this sounds dumb but would Stuart have tried to charge culps and /or powers hills? hmmm...he has no ammo..what could additional yankee cav on the southern flank have done?

 

[Eric Wittenberg]

Great talk Eric. I had it taped on C-span and watched it before I saw this thread. Capt. Brooke-Rawle would be proud (!)-
Greg

I hope he doesn't mind, but I'm going to out our friend @captaxe here. Greg is my friend J. Gregory Acken. Some of you are undoubtedly familiar with the phenomenal book that Greg did of the letters of Capt. Francis Donaldson of the 118th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry of the Army of the Potomac's Fifth Corps: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0811709019/?tag=civilwartalkc-20.

The fight on East Cavalry Field is of particular interest to Greg, because he is in the process of editing the letters of Lt. William Brooke-Rawle of the 3rd Pennsylvania Cavalry for publication. Brooke-Rawle took part in the fighting there, and then spent the rest of his life documenting the battle. They're good letters and will be a worthy addition to the body of knowledge.

 

[Eric Wittenberg]

What would have happened if custer et all had complied? i know this sounds dumb but would Stuart have tried to charge culps and /or powers hills? hmmm...he has no ammo..what could additional yankee cav on the southern flank have done?

You're forgetting that Gregg had McIntosh's brigade there and his cousin J. I. Gregg's brigade nearby. It's not the cakewalk you might think....