Explain To Me Why Pickett's Charge Started So Late

[johncla]

Pickett's division was in place at the Spangler farm around 930am, true?
I think Alexander's arty was ready pretty early in the day. He was making frantic last-minute adjustments in the Peach Orchard around 8am, true?
So if the bombardment was planned to last 30-45 mins, why not start it around 930am as Pickett approached Seminary Ridge?
The infantry were suffering from heat exhaustion as the day went on and the temperature climbed. They would have been more effective earlier in the day, no?
I seem to remember that Longstreet went off and took a nap around 1pm. My goodness. Was he hoping that a vision would come to him in a dream, showing him how to avoid making that attack? That's harsh... but why so late?

 

[Drumfish420]

I have to check but I'm pretty sure the original orders were for Longstreet to attack simultaneously with Ewell at first-light. Running on exterior lines of 5-6 miles long made communications difficult and time consuming, plus Lee was very lenient with his corps commanders; to exercise his orders as they saw fit. J.K. Brandau writes that Pickett's Division was camped along Marsh Creek at the Sachs Bridge around 330pm on July 2nd, so they could have easily been in place at sunrise for a dawn assault. Longstreet didn't want to make any attacks at all, preferring a defensive/maneuver campaign, which is probably why he delayed and delayed some more. It's very possible that he was trying to wait out his commanding general to call off the attack.

 

[6thMichCav]

Edit: I have my dates wrong, but I will leave the punchline after deleting the inaccurate part:

I already know other divisions (Oates, etc) walked similar distances and went straight into battle—and it cost them too. The charge on Little Round Top is full of stories of men fainting from exhaustion, etc. Heck, I can't even rake leaves for four hours on a warm October day without a soda and a nap any more.

 

[Tom Elmore]

A lot of preparation and coordination were required. Don't forget, arrangements were also being made within Heth's division, led by Pettigrew, along with lining up their own artillery support. Also, Trimble was assigned the two brigades of Pender during the morning.

Lee made personal observations in the vicinity of the Peach Orchard around 5 a.m., when Longstreet joined him. Lee, Longstreet, Pickett and Hill were seen a few times along the line throughout the morning.

In the forenoon, Lee stopped to converse with Longstreet near the right wing of the 11th Virginia; Pickett was also present. Lt. Col. Hutter caught parts of their conversation, recalling: "Longstreet saying his command would do what any body of men on earth dared do but no troops could dislodge the enemy from their strong position. Pickett said he thought his division could drive them from his front. My recollection is that Lee said, 'Ask the men if they can dislodge them.' One or two companies from the 11th Virginia moved to the crest of hill to look, including Company B."

As I recall they concluded that the task was daunting but they were willing to make the attempt.

 

[FZ11]

A lot of preparation and coordination were required. Don't forget, arrangements were also being made within Heth's division, led by Pettigrew, along with lining up their own artillery support. Also, Trimble was assigned the two brigades of Pender during the morning.

Lee made personal observations in the vicinity of the Peach Orchard around 5 a.m., when Longstreet joined him. Lee, Longstreet, Pickett and Hill were seen a few times along the line throughout the morning.

In the forenoon, Lee stopped to converse with Longstreet near the right wing of the 11th Virginia; Pickett was also present. Lt. Col. Hutter caught parts of their conversation, recalling: "Longstreet saying his command would do what any body of men on earth dared do but no troops could dislodge the enemy from their strong position. Pickett said he thought his division could drive them from his front. My recollection is that Lee said, 'Ask the men if they can dislodge them.' One or two companies from the 11th Virginia moved to the crest of hill to look, including Company B."

As I recall they concluded that the task was daunting but they were willing to make the attempt.

This^^^^^^ + to quote Newt in the movie "Aliens" : "It won't make any difference."

 

[CavRTO]

A lot of preparation and coordination were required. Don't forget, arrangements were also being made within Heth's division, led by Pettigrew, along with lining up their own artillery support. Also, Trimble was assigned the two brigades of Pender during the morning.

Lee made personal observations in the vicinity of the Peach Orchard around 5 a.m., when Longstreet joined him. Lee, Longstreet, Pickett and Hill were seen a few times along the line throughout the morning.

In the forenoon, Lee stopped to converse with Longstreet near the right wing of the 11th Virginia; Pickett was also present. Lt. Col. Hutter caught parts of their conversation, recalling: "Longstreet saying his command would do what any body of men on earth dared do but no troops could dislodge the enemy from their strong position. Pickett said he thought his division could drive them from his front. My recollection is that Lee said, 'Ask the men if they can dislodge them.' One or two companies from the 11th Virginia moved to the crest of hill to look, including Company B."

As I recall they concluded that the task was daunting but they were willing to make the attempt.

My take away from the conversations is that there were lingering doubts, leadership hesitancy, a seemingly simple order by General Lee to attack required close coordination which failed to materialize, no recognition of the super human efforts required over a long distance on a scorchingly hot day.

 

[Booklady]

I never heard or read that Longstreet took a nap that day. Is that true?

 

[FZ11]

My take away from the conversations is that there were lingering doubts, leadership hesitancy, a seemingly simple order by General Lee to attack required close coordination which failed to materialize, no recognition of the super human efforts required over a long distance on a scorchingly hot day.

One could also say the sheer impossibility of such an attack.

 

[Chalmers' Division]

I never heard or read that Longstreet took a nap that day. Is that true?

First that I have come across this as well. (But Gburg is not my area) I began thinking that had Lee been informed of a nap said general officer would have been relieved of duty immediately. Interesting though.

 

[jackt62]

First that I have come across this as well. (But Gburg is not my area) I began thinking that had Lee been informed of a nap said general officer would have been relieved of duty immediately. Interesting though.

Sounds a bit harsh. Field commanders were often forced to find whatever moments they could to sleep or nap, given their stressful responsibilities and irregular hours. Longstreet would have made certain that all dispositions and orders were made, and reviews undertaken before availing himself of a few moments of repose.

 

[jackt62]

Why did the attack start "so late." Depends on how one defines that term. Leaving aside the specifics of when reconnaissance was conducted and orders written as noted by @Tom Elmore, mounting any large-scale assault such as P-P-T was an enormous undertaking requiring allocation of resources and transmitting instructions from the corps to the regimental level and between the infantry and artillery arms. In the CW era when local communications relied heavily on mounted couriers, just sending and receiving messages along a multi-mile front could take a frustrating length of time. So getting everybody on the same page through the morning of July 3rd was probably as quick a turnaround as might be expected.

 

[Chalmers' Division]

Sounds a bit harsh. Field commanders were often forced to find whatever moments they could to sleep or nap, given their stressful responsibilities and irregular hours. Longstreet would have made certain that all dispositions and orders were made, and reviews undertaken before availing himself of a few moments of repose.

Harsh? Maybe... 20 years ago--- I saw a general officer removed from command in the field over words, NOT actions-- different time/place. Thanks for giving perspective!

 

[bankerpapaw]

One could also say the sheer impossibility of such an attack.

I would say, "What was Lee thinking?"

 

[jackt62]

Harsh? Maybe... 20 years ago--- I saw a general officer removed from command in the field over words, NOT actions-- different time/place. Thanks for giving perspective!

On the other hand, military executions (or at least condemnations not commuted), were more commonplace in 1861 than in the military during the 20th century.

 

[Chalmers' Division]

On the other hand, military executions (or at least condemnations not commuted), were more commonplace in 1861 than in the military during the 20th century.

I chuckled a bit.

 

[johncla]

I never heard or read that Longstreet took a nap that day. Is that true?

Don't know if it's true, but it shows up in Earl Hess' book "Pickett's Charge The Last Attack at Gettysburg". On p 125 Hess describes Col Walton receiving the order to start the bombardment, then writes: "Longstreet went to Spangler's Woods 'to lie down and study for some new thought that might aid the assaulting column' right after he sent the order to Walton."

 

[JerryD]

I never heard or read that Longstreet took a nap that day. Is that true?

NO.

 

[JerryD]

Longstreet claims he never received the order from Lee to attack in the morning, and he did not know what to expect until he met with Lee the morning of the 3rd. I know there is some dispute about that, though. Once they knew the plan, they had to get the troops into position, (the Second Corps troops were not in position and had to be notified, break camp, and be brought up, and aligned). The artillery had to be put into position, coordination between commanders had to be worked out, such as how Pickets troops would have to oblique left to align with the Second Corps troops. All this work was done directly under Lee's nose, so I assume he was aware of and approving of each and every step along the way.

 

[Chalmers' Division]

Don't know if it's true, but it shows up in Earl Hess' book "Pickett's Charge The Last Attack at Gettysburg". On p 125 Hess describes Col Walton receiving the order to start the bombardment, then writes: "Longstreet went to Spangler's Woods 'to lie down and study for some new thought that might aid the assaulting column' right after he sent the order to Walton."

So Nap may not be the term... On Sundays after the pastors' sermon and beating the Presbyterians to the buffet I am zapped and nap for 2-5 hours.

 

[FZ11]

I would say, "What was Lee thinking?"

Right. Longstreet can't take the Federal Left with 22,000 troops on 7/2 so I'll just try the Federal Center with 12,000 troops......Really??