Gettysburg exaggerations

[jameswoods]

I watched a U-Tube video the other night titled, "Guides of Gettysburg". It turned out to be more of a promotion of the Ghost Tours than about the Licensed battlefield guides.

However, during the presentation the Jenny Wade House guide mentioned that "51,000" men lost their lives in the fighting. Now, the carnage was awful enough without having to inflate the approximate 8,000 actual deaths to match the total casualties suffered (closer to 46,000). I'm sure that members of the Forum have encountered other exaggerations that have caused them to shake their heads.

For example, another statistic often elaborated upon is the number of times the Wheatfield changed hands during the 2nd day's battle. Six times seems to be the most quoted but I believe three times more accurately states the case.

Any others?

 

[Wallyfish]

51,000 deaths at Gettysburg is a commonly used number that is obviously incorrect. Many people confuse a casualty with a death. I don't feel that they are exaggerating, I simply think they don't understand the CW definition of a casualty. Unfortunately I see this 51,000 deaths at Gettysburg all to often.

Now most historic accounts do have the Wheatfield changing hands 6 times on July 2nd. So I buy that.

Most times, I believe people who write/produce pieces on Gettysburg just get the facts wrong versus an attempt at exaggeration.

Other than the discussed number of deaths, the Gettysburg Battle started because of shoes myth drives me crazy.

 

[Kurt G]

The shoe myth and the 51,000 dead drive me nuts as well . I'd add that the 20th Maine saved the Union on LRT and that Stuart was going to attack the Union lines from the rear on day 3.

 

[Tom Elmore]

Let's look at the Wheatfield more closely:

Union held it until about 6:10 p.m. July 2 by my calculations (until 17 Maine and Tilton/Sweitzer fell back).
1) Confederates held (or exercised control over) a portion of the Wheatfield for about 20 minutes.
2) Union (Cross and Kelly) reclaim the Wheatfield by 6:30 p.m. July 2.
3) Confederates (Wofford and friends) clear the Wheatfield by about 7:10 p.m. July 2.
4) Union (McCandless) exerts control over east half of Wheatfield, and Confederates (Wofford) over the west half the night of July 2/3.
Union (McCandless and 62 NY of Nevin) take back full control of the Wheatfield by 5:25 p.m. on July 3.

That makes four times by my count that the Wheatfield switched hands completely or partially.

 

[Tom Elmore]

My favorite is that Lee was incapacitated by stomach and/or heart issues that affected his performance. Having tracked Lee all over the field and recorded his conversations with multiple people, I can only say that if Lee was incapacitated to even a slight degree, he still managed to out-perform nearly everyone else on the field who was in the best of health and working at their peak.

 

[bdtex]

My favorite is that Lee was incapacitated by stomach and/or heart issues that affected his performance

Gettysburg and North Anna do sound a little alike.

 

[BarryR]

My favorite is that Lee was incapacitated by stomach and/or heart issues that affected his performance. Having tracked Lee all over the field and recorded his conversations with multiple people, I can only say that if Lee was incapacitated to even a slight degree, he still managed to out-perform nearly everyone else on the field who was in the best of health and working at their peak.

and he could shoot lightening bolts out of his ...

*edited for implied vulgarity

 

[Kurt G]

Another one is that Meade wanted to retreat.

 

[Saint Jude]

Another one is that Meade wanted to retreat.

You can thank "Historicus" (Dan Sickles) and his cronies for that one.

 

[W. Richardson]

I have visited Gettysburg Battlefield 5 times and for the death of me, I still can not figure out how they had all the fighting, and for 3 days, and not harm all those monuments there.................lol.......lol

Respectfully,
William

One Nation,
Two countries

 

[WJC]

Most times, I believe people who write/produce pieces on Gettysburg just get the facts wrong versus an attempt at exaggeration.

Unfortunately, many authors do not do original research: they rely on what another author has written. All too often this leads to simple mistakes being perpetuated as absolute facts.

 

[GELongstreet]

Simply taking casualties for dead, an error that can happen easily when taking a first look. Even the Brandos got it wrong ...

 

[E_just_E]

The Copse of Trees
(esp. in its latest edition, as both a target for Pickett and Steuart)

 

[rpkennedy]

I have visited Gettysburg Battlefield 5 times and for the death of me, I still can not figure out how they had all the fighting, and for 3 days, and not harm all those monuments there.................lol.......lol

Respectfully,
William

One Nation,
Two countries
View attachment 307683

They were lowered into the ground like a missile silo. It's how they are stored at night these days.

Ryan

 

[W. Richardson]

They were lowered into the ground like a missile silo. It's how they are stored at night these days.

Ryan

I always wondered how they did that Now I know................lol
Ryan I do hope you and your family are all doing well my friend.

Respectfully,
William

One Nation,
Two countries

 

[JPK Huson 1863]

I realize the shoe thing is always said to be mythical but read an account in an era paper that pins down where those shoes could be found. Hang on. I was so surprised I saved it.

McIllheney's Store? Seems specific.

 

[thomas aagaard]

I realize the shoe thing is always said to be mythical but read an account in an era paper that pins down where those shoes could be found. Hang on. I was so surprised I saved it.
..
McIllheney's Store? Seems specific.

to judge this source, the first thing to do would be to find out if there where any store with that name at the centre square..

 

[klongstreet]

to judge this source, the first thing to do would be to find out if there where any store with that name at the centre square..

My problem with this is even if a store was on the square, Ewell/Early had already gone through the town and would have snapped them all up.

 

[thomas aagaard]

My problem with this is even if a store was on the square, Ewell/Early had already gone through the town and would have snapped them all up.

Sorry I was not more clear about my point.
If the store do not exist, it disprove the source.

 

[OldReliable1862]

My favorite is that Lee was incapacitated by stomach and/or heart issues that affected his performance. Having tracked Lee all over the field and recorded his conversations with multiple people, I can only say that if Lee was incapacitated to even a slight degree, he still managed to out-perform nearly everyone else on the field who was in the best of health and working at their peak.

Well, there's another thing I'd taken for granted that may not be quite true.

As a western theater, I wish we could have such minute discussion of events at Murfreesboro or Chickamauga.