Gettysburg Project Help Please

[Firefly]

I am doing a project on the Battle of Gettysburg and I am trying to figure out how the Gettysburg Campaign fit in with the battle (and why it's called the Gettysburg Campaign when the battle of Gettysburg was neither the first nor last battle in the campaign). I'd also like to know some of the political/strategic motives for Generals Lee and Meade and what Lincoln had to do with it all.

 

[Nathanb1]

I am doing a project on the Battle of Gettysburg and I am trying to figure out how the Gettysburg Campaign fit in with the battle (and why it's called the Gettysburg Campaign when the battle of Gettysburg was neither the first nor last battle in the campaign). I'd also like to know some of the political/strategic motives for Generals Lee and Meade and what Lincoln had to do with it all.

First, have you gone to the National Park Service Gettysburg National Battlefield website? The Civil War Preservation Trust? They have some excellent material. I'm guessing you're a student?

 

[M E Wolf]

O.R.--SERIES I--VOLUME XXVII/1 [S# 43].
OPERATIONS IN NORTH CAROLINA, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGINIA, MARYLAND,
PENNSYLVANIA, AND DEPARTMENT OF THE EAST.
June 3-August 3, 1863.
PART I.
The Gettysburg Campaign.(*)
SUMMARY OF THE PRINCIPAL EVENTS.(+)
June 3-Aug. 1, 1863. -- The Gettysburg Campaign.
4, 1863. -- Skirmish on the Lawyers' road, near Fairfax Court-House, Va.
Skirmish at Frying Pan, Va.
4- 5, 1863. -- Expedition from Yorktown to Walkerton and Aylett's, Va.
5- 7, 1863. -- Reconnaissance through Gates County, N. C., and down the Chowan River.
6, 1863. -- Skirmish near Berryville, Va.
7- 8, 1863. -- Expedition from Gainesville, Va.
8, 1863. -- Scout from Suffolk, Va., to South Mills, N. C.
9, 1863. -- The Departments of the Monongahela and the Susquehanna constituted.
10, 1863. -- Capture of the steamer Maple Leaf off Cape Henry, Va.
10, 1863. -- Skirmish at Seneca Mills, Md.
Maj. Gen. W. T. H. Brooks, U.S. Army, assumes command of the Department of the Monongahela.
Maj. Gen. Darius N. Couch, U.S. Army, assumes command of the Department of the Susquehanna.
June 11, 1863. -- Skirmish at Diascund Bridge, Va.
Skirmish near Suffolk, Va.
11-13, 1863. -- Expedition from Brightwood, D.C., via Seneca Mills and Poolesville, Md., to Leesburg, Aldie, and Chantilly, Va.
12-18, 1863. -- Expedition from Suffolk to the Blackwater, Va.
14, 1863. -- Skirmish at Nine-Mile Ordinary, Va.
17-18, 1863. -- Scout from Rocky Run to Dover and Core Creek, N. C.
18, 1863. -- Scout on the Peninsula, Va.
18-19, 1863. -- Scout from Camp Piatt, on the Big and Little Coal Rivers, W. Va.
20, 1863. -- Skirmish at Diascund Bridge, Va.
23-28, 1863. -- Expedition from Yorktown to the South Anna Bridge, Va., and skirmish.
24, 1863. -- The Department of West Virginia constituted.
26, 1863. -- Skirmish on Loup Creek, W. Va.
26-27, 1863. -- Descent on Portland Harbor, Me.
28, 1863. -- Brig. Gen. Benjamin F. Kelley, U.S. Army, assumes command of the Department of West Virginia.
Reconnaissance from Plymouth to Nichol's Mills, N. C.
29-July 4, 1863. -- Confederate expedition to Beverly, W. Va.
July 1, 1863. -- Maj. Gen. Daniel H. Hill, C. S. Army, assigned temporarily to command of troops in the Department of Richmond.
1- 7, 1863. -- Expeditions from White House to South Anna River and Bottom's Bridge, Va.
3, 1863. -- Suffolk, Va., evacuated by the Union forces.(*)
3- 7, 1863. -- Raid on the Wilmington and Weldon Railroad, N. C.
4, 1863. -- Skirmish at Fayetteville, W. Va.
5- 7, 1863. -- Expedition from Plymouth to Gardner's Bridge and Williamston, N. C.
8, 1863. -- Maj. Gen. Andrew A. Humphreys, U.S. Army, announced as Chief of Staff, Army of the Potomac.
9, 1863. -- Explosion at Fort Lyon, Va.
-- , 1863. -- Expedition from Richmond to Mathias Point, Va.
13-16, 1863. -- Reconnaissance from Newport Barracks to Cedar Point and White Oak River, N. C.
Draft riots in New York City, Troy, and Boston.
13-25, 1863. -- Expedition from Fayetteville, W. Va., to Wytheville, Va.
14, 1863. -- Maj. Gen. William H. C. Whiting, C. S. Army, assigned to command of the Department of North Carolina.
15, 1863. -- The Departments of North Carolina and of Virginia consolidated.
17-20, 1863. -- Expedition from New Berne to Swift Creek Village, N. C., and skirmish.
18, 1863. -- Maj. Gen. John G. Foster, U.S. Army, assumes command of the Department of Virginia and North Carolina.
Maj. Gen. John A. Dix, U.S. Army, assumes command of the Department of the East.
18-24, 1863. -- Expedition from New Berne to Tarborough and Rocky Mount, N.C.
20, 1863. -- Brig. Gen. George W. Getty, U.S. Army, assumes command of the Seventh Army Corps, Department of Virginia and North Carolina.
21, 1863. -- Brig. Gen. John D. Imboden, C. S. Army, assigned to command of the Valley District, Va.
25, 1863. -- Expedition to Gloucester Court-House, Va.
July 25-27, 1863. -- Scout to Goose Creek, Va.
25-31, 1863. -- Expedition from New Berne to Winton, and skirmish at Potecasi Creek, N. C.
25-Aug. 3, 1863. -- Expedition from Portsmouth, Va., to Jackson, N. C.
26-29, 1863. -- Expedition from Plymouth to Foster's Mills, N. C.
28, 1863. -- Skirmish at Fayetteville, W. Va.
28-Aug. 3, 1863. -- Mosby's operations about Fairfax Court-House, and skirmish near Aldie, Va.
29, 1863. -- Brig. Gen. Innis N. Palmer, U.S. Army, assumes command of the Eighteenth Army Corps, Department of Virginia and North Carolina.
31, 1863. -- Skirmish at Morris' Mills, W. Va.
Aug. 1, 1863. -- The Fourth and Seventh Army Corps discontinued.
1- 8, 1863. -- Expedition from Warrenton Junction toward the Blue Ridge Mountains, Va.
2, 1863. -- Skirmish at Newtown, Va.

JUNE 3-AUGUST 1, 1863. -- The Gettysburg Campaign.
SUMMARY OF THE PRINCIPAL EVENTS.
June 3, 1863. -- Skirmish near Fayetteville, Va.
5-13, 1863. -- Skirmishes at Franklin's Crossing (or Deep Run), on the Rappahannock, Va.
9, 1863. -- Engagements at Brandy Station (or Fleetwood) and Beverly Ford, Va.
Skirmish at Stevensburg, Va.
12, 1863. -- Skirmishes at Newtown, Cedarville, and Middletown, Va.
13, 1863. -- Skirmish at White Post, Va.
Skirmish at Berryville, Va.
Skirmish at Opequon Creek, near Winchester, Va.
Skirmish at Bunker Hill, W. Va.
13-15, 1863. -- Engagement at Winchester, Va.
14, 1863. -- Skirmish at Berryville, Va.
Skirmish at Martinsburg, W. Va.
15, 1863. -- Skirmish near Williamsport, Md.
17, 1863. -- Skirmishes at Catoctin Creek and Point of Rocks, Md.
Skirmish at Thoroughfare Gap, Va.
Action at Aldie, Va.
17-18, 1863. -- Skirmishes at and near Middleburg, Va.
18, 1863. -- Skirmish near Aldie, Va.
19, 1863. -- Action at Middleburg, Va.
20, 1863. -- Skirmish at Middletown, Md.
21, 1863. -- Skirmish near Gainesville, Va.
Skirmish at Frederick, Md.
Engagement at Upperville, Va.
21-25, 1863. -- Skirmishes at and about Thoroughfare Gap and Hay Market, Va.
22, 1863. -- Skirmish near Dover, Va.
Skirmish at Greencastle, Pa.
Skirmish near Aldie, Va.
24, 1863. -- Skirmish at Sharpsburg Md.
25, 1863. -- Skirmish near McConnellsburg, Pa.
26, 1863. -- Skirmish near Gettysburg, Pa.
June 27, 1863. -- Skirmish near Fairfax Court-House, Va.
28, 1863. -- Maj. Gen. George G. Meade relieves Maj. Gen. Joseph Hooker in command of the Army of the Potomac.
Skirmish between Offutt's Cross-Roads and Seneca, Md.
Skirmish near Rockville, Md.
Skirmish at Fountain Dale, Pa.
Skirmish at Wrightsville, Pa.
28-29, 1863. -- Skirmish near Oyster Point, Pa.
Affair on the Little River Turnpike, Va.
29, 1863. -- Skirmish at McConnellsburg, Pa.
Affairs at Lisbon and Poplar Springs, Md.
Skirmish at Westminster, Md.
Skirmish at Muddy Branch, Md.
30, 1863. -- Skirmish at Sporting Hill, near Harrisburg, Pa,
Skirmish at Fairfield, Pa.
Skirmish at Westminster, Md.
Action at Hanover, Pa.
Evacuation of Maryland Heights, Md.
July 1, 1863. -- Skirmish at Carlisle, Pa.
1-3, 1863. -- Battle of Gettysburg, Pa.
2, 1863. -- Skirmish near Chambersburg, Pa.
Skirmish at Hunterstown, Pa.
3, 1863. -- Action at Fairfield, Pa.
4, 1863. -- Action at Monterey Gap, Pa.
Skirmish at Fairfield Gap, Pa.
Skirmish near Emmitsburg, Md.
5, 1863. -- Skirmish at Smithsburg, Md.
Skirmish near Green Oak, Pa.
Skirmish near Mercersburg, Pa.
Skirmish near Fairfield, Pa.
Skirmish near Greencastle, Pa.
Skirmish at Cunningham's Cross-Roads, Pa.
Skirmish at Stevens' Furnace (or Caledonia Iron Works), Pa.
6, 1863. -- Action at Hagerstown, Md.
Action at Williamsport, Md.
7, 1863. -- Skirmish at Downsville, Md.
Skirmish at Harper's Ferry, W. Va.
Reoccupation of Maryland Heights, Md.
Skirmish at Funkstown, Md.
8, 1863. -- Action at Boonsborough. Md.
Skirmish near Williamsport, Md.
9, 1863. -- Skirmish at Benevola (or Beaver Creek), Md.
10, 1863. -- Skirmish at Old Antietam Forge, near Leitersburg, Md.
Skirmish near Clear Spring, Md.
10-13, 1863. -- Skirmishes at and near Hagerstown, Md.
Skirmishes at Jones' Cross-Roads, near Williamsport, Md.
Skirmishes at and near Funkstown, Md.
11-14, 1863. -- Reconnaissance to, and skirmish (12th) at, Ashby's Gap, Va.
14, 1863. -- Skirmish near Williamsport, Md.
Skirmish near Harper's Ferry, W. Va.
Action at Falling Waters, Md.
15, 1863. -- Skirmish at Halltown, W. Va.
Skirmish at Shepherdstown. W. Va.
16, 1863. -- Skirmish at Shanghai, W. Va.
July 16, 1863. -- Action at Shepherdstown, W. Va.
17, 1863. -- Skirmish near North Mountain Station, W. Va.
Skirmish at Snicker's Gap, Va.
18-19, 1863. -- Skirmishes at and near Hedgesville and Martinsburg, W. Va.
20, 1863. -- Skirmish near Berry's Ferry, Va.
Skirmish at Ashby's Gap, Va.
21-22, 1863. -- Skirmishes at Manassas Gap, Va.
Skirmishes at Chester Gap, Va.
23, 1863. -- Action at Wapping Heights, Manassas Gap, Va.
Skirmish near Gaines' Cross-Roads, Va.
Skirmish near Snicker's Gap, Va.
Skirmish near Chester Gap, Va.
24, 1863. -- Skirmish at Battle Mountain, near Newby's Cross-Roads, Va.
25, 1863. -- Skirmish at Barbee's Cross-Roads, Va.
31-Aug. 1, 1863. -- Skirmishes at Kelly's Ford, Va.
Aug. 1, 1863. -- Action at Brandy Station, Va.

 

[K Hale]

Must... resist... temptation...

 

[Nathanb1]

Behave yourself. Someone is at least showing some initiative, not cutting and pasting off Wikipedia.

 

[M E Wolf]

Firefly,

Welcome to CivilWarTalk. Thank you for excellent questions.

I am doing a project on the Battle of Gettysburg and I am trying to figure out how the Gettysburg Campaign fit in with the battle (and why it's called the Gettysburg Campaign when the battle of Gettysburg was neither the first nor last battle in the campaign). I'd also like to know some of the political/strategic motives for Generals Lee and Meade and what Lincoln had to do with it all.

The label of 'campaign' is the connecting actions, skirmishes, pursuits and movements before and after a major battle for which they are named. Gettysburg, a three day bloody battle was profound whereas, skirmishes, actions though reported weren't as profound as a real battle or engagement. Yet, this unbroken interaction back and forth between armies never really break the 'dance' or the chain connection of a series of movements, manipulations and such as to out wit the 'enemy' army.

Political wise, President of the Confederate States of America, Jefferson Davis; wished to pose a severe threat by one of his best commanded armies, which was the Army of Northern Virginia under the leadership of General Robert E. Lee. When the Civil War was over, Virginia had over 2,000 battles, actions, skirmished, and conflicts of various degrees in the Commonwealth of Virginia alone. Because the Confederate Capitol was in Richmond, the Federal/Union Capitol was in Washington, D.C., the tug-of-war to control the land and or military advantage was the goal--especially for President Davis. To strangle Washington and cut the Federal City off from all military and inter-urban support as to force it's surrender. General J. Early's attack on the Maryland side of Washington, D.C., was proof of this effort. General Lee was just the vehicle for the political/strategic motives and goals for his President, just as General Meade was the vehicle for President Lincoln, as to force the rebellion to a close as to re-unite what he saw as a 'united' group of states belonging to one system of federal government to which gathered in a union formed a strong nation. With General Meade's appointment to control the Army in the East, just days before the engagement in battle with General Lee at Gettysburg, Meade's political goals, in my opinion, had zero time to form as he was busy planning his leadership goal for the army which he took over from General Hooker.

General Meade would have been informed of the President's (Lincoln) goals, as well as the advice and strategy information from the Secretary of War, Stanton and Chief of Staff of the Army, General Halleck. Using intelligence gathered, his job was making sense of it all and plotting the movement and guess where the enemy would target next. So too, for the Confederacy, General S. Cooper chief of staff for the C.S.A., would also be involved in studying intelligence and informing General Lee. President Davis tended to be more hands on what would be the Secretary of War's duties and this is evident in the series of communications throughout the war. Davis had been a Secretary of War, in the Federal Government system years prior. He knew the job well--even better than President.

Just some personal observations and comments,

Respectfully submitted,
M. E. Wolf

 

[K Hale]

Behave yourself. Someone is at least showing some initiative, not cutting and pasting off Wikipedia.

"What Lincoln had to do with it all"?

 

[ole]

"What Lincoln had to do with it all"?

All eyes were on The Army of the Potomac, so Lincoln's involvement is hardly noticed.

One thing you might note, firefly, is that Lincoln's orders were to intercept and destroy the Army of Viginia (probably recalling the escape of that army after the battle at Antietam). There was an additional caveat which had to handicap Meade's plans: "And keep between the AoNV and Washington, Baltimore and Philadelphia." (paraphrased)

Meanwhile, Lincoln stayed busy by making sure Meade's requirements were met.

As for the "campaign" question, M E Wolf answered it: campaigns are usually named for the most notable battle -- not always, but usually. For example, the Overland Campaign couldn't possibly be better named "The Wilderness," or "Spottsylvania Court House."