Hood explains Gettysburg

[damYankee]

Years after the battle Longstreet reached out to John Bell Hood and asked for his account of Bell's assault on Little Round Top, this was Hood's reply:

 

[lelliott19]

Years after the battle Longstreet reached out to John Bell Hood and asked for his account of Bell's assault on Little Round Top, this was Hood's reply:

Thanks @damYankee ! I enjoyed this very much.

 

[FZ11]

Years after the battle Longstreet reached out to John Bell Hood and asked for his account of Bell's assault on Little Round Top, this was Hood's reply:

Excellent!! Thank you!

 

[John S. Carter]

Years after the battle Longstreet reached out to John Bell Hood and asked for his account of Bell's assault on Little Round Top, this was Hood's reply:

Years after the battle Longstreet reached out to John Bell Hood and asked for his account of Bell's assault on Little Round Top, this was Hood's reply:

Thank you for this.I have questions as why was Picket late and if Hood had taken the initiative.,as some would say that had it been TJ there he would have not bothered to ask for permission to make the necessary changes.could he had effected the outcome on his position and there by even the battle?.Did this effect his general psycho has to future battles and even when he gained command at Atlanta? Hood became a Burnside latter on by sending troops into a meat grinder as Burnside did at Fredericksburg which leads me to question his story. Hood was a victim of what was referred to as the Peter Principal one who is promoted over his ability but remains there because of length in that position or no one else to fill the position.He was a good officer who followed orders but totally ill fitted of the more demanding position ,correct? It was as with Beal in the West.

 

[J. D. Stevens]

I watched the Gettysburg video and then the Chickamauga video. Both were well done. It was interesting that Hood felt about the moral of the general officers of the Army of Tennessee under Bragg.

 

[Stone in the wall]

Did Longstreet notify Lee as to Hoods wishes to attack on the Unions left and rear?

 

[damYankee]

Good points, and equally good questions, is there any primary documentation to answer these questions?

 

[Cavalier]

I have never seen any primary documentation that Longstreet spoke to Lee regarding Hood's wishes to attack to the right of the round tops on the 2nd. Of course we know he argued for that on the morning of the 3rd.

 

[John S. Carter]

I have never seen any primary documentation that Longstreet spoke to Lee regarding Hood's wishes to attack to the right of the round tops on the 2nd. Of course we know he argued for that on the morning of the 3rd.

Besides TJ was there any other commander in the field that Lee may have considered advise from or did TJ have the freedom of sight command that the others either did not have or dare not carry out Master Lee's orders ? If any should have then Lee's War Horse should have been the one to have that authority.

 

[Stone in the wall]

Besides TJ was there any other commander in the field that Lee may have considered advise from or did TJ have the freedom of sight command that the others either did not have or dare not carry out Master Lee's orders ? If any should have then Lee's War Horse should have been the one to have that authority.

Stuart, Lee listened to Stuart. He may come to Lee reporting some thing like; this corps flank is in the air, we can hit it right here

 

[Cavalier]

It is my impression that Lee asked for advice and took suggestions from his subordinates frequently. It is also my impression that advice was sometimes given to him that was not solicited. Of course weather he acted on that advice was up to him, as army commander.

 

[John S. Carter]

Stuart, Lee listened to Stuart. He may come to Lee reporting some thing like; this corps flank is in the air, we can hit it right here

Stuart was a cavalry officer who reported to Lee as to enemy positions and movement .He was for the most time an independent position as demonstrated at Gettysburg. The only time he had field command was after the death of Jackson.and we know how effective he was there.

 

[Stone in the wall]

Stuart was a cavalry officer who reported to Lee as to enemy positions and movement .He was for the most time an independent position as demonstrated at Gettysburg. The only time he had field command was after the death of Jackson.and we know how effective he was there.

Jackson was not dead, he and A.P. Hill were both wounded. Stuart took command and I know of no other officer with Jacksons force who could have done a finer job of handling the troops.

 

[E_just_E]

I have questions as why was Picket late

Pickett was not late. He was ordered to stay with his Division at Chambersburg and guard the supply train with Imboden. Once ordered to Gettysburg he arrived ASAP. He was just following orders.

 

[E_just_E]

Full transcript of the letter here. Was written about 12 years after the battle. Bit confusing because he is referring to both Big Round Top (the one he could go around) and Little Round Top (the one of the "left" of the Union line) as "Round Top."

12 years, plus the trauma of getting hurt early in the battle, plus the full blown politics in the 1870s... I just would not really think of this as an extremely reliable testimony of the events.

 

[MBuehner]

Pickett was not late. He was ordered to stay with his Division at Chambersburg and guard the supply train with Imboden. Once ordered to Gettysburg he arrived ASAP. He was just following orders.

Right, which is another knock against Stuart's absence and Lee's mishandling of the remaining cavalry.

Interestingly, I would argue Lee (with Longstreets concurrence asumedly) apparent overkill in defending their wagon train probably dates back to losing a distressing portion of Longstreets ordinance wagons to Union cavalry escaping Harpers Ferry during the Maryland campaign.

 

[damYankee]

I have to remind myself every time I go over Gettysburg in my head that Lee had not planned to engage the Union there. Speaking only for myself, trying to blame any one single commander involved in the outcome of Gettysburg denies that basic fact.
I can not bring myself to make excuses for Lee at Gettysburg. He was in charge, it was his analysis of the battlefield and his plan that was executed. He met with Longstreet and Hood and other listened to their concerns and recommendations, and went ahead with his plan while complaining that Stuart's absence left him blind.
In his previous victories he waited to spring his traps, he carefully determined the enemies weakness then exploited it. He maneuvered, and put witted his opponents.
He had completed one state goal for his invasion of Pennsylvania, IMO the most important mission was raiding the pantry, his livestock and food goods trains stretched out over some 25 miles by many accounts, his frontiersmen had to clear fence rails on both sides of the pikes to have the room needed to have troops marching on both sides of the trains and guiding the livestock.
Declare victory and get home. At most demonstrate to buy time for the supply trains to get back k into Virginia.
But he insisted on a full frontal assault to as witnesses close to him said "end this once and for all."
He had bought into Davis's fantasy about fighting that one big battle that would finally convince the North to give up .
But with every big battle and victory what happened? A bigger Union army challenged him, while Union forces were carving up the Tennessee the Trans Mississippi and marching into the Deep South, Lee was looking for one final battle to end all battles in Virginia, Maryland or Pennsylvania.
The dog still had bite. But his hamstrings were being chewed up. Lee may have been the head of CSA but if you kill the body the head dies,
At Gettysburg came Lee's greatest feat, his brilliant withdrawal. Imagine his statue and the moral of his men and the embarrassment of the Union, if as the morning smoke filled mist slowly lifted as the sun warmed the wheat fields and orchards only to allow the Yankees to see the ANV had slipped back into Virginia.

 

[Stone in the wall]

Right, which is another knock against Stuart's absence and Lee's mishandling of the remaining cavalry.

Interestingly, I would argue Lee (with Longstreets concurrence asumedly) apparent overkill in defending their wagon train probably dates back to losing a distressing portion of Longstreets ordinance wagons to Union cavalry escaping Harpers Ferry during the Maryland campaign.

Lee had little cavalry to mishandle. The newest 2 brigades were with him Albert Jenkins, and Imboden these were basically a little better than mounted infantry and lacked training. Also with the army were some smaller units like 35th battalion and McNeils rangers. The 3 probably best brigades were with Stuart. For some unknown reason Robertson would keep his and Jones brigades guarding the empty valley.

 

[MBuehner]

Lee had little cavalry to mishandle. The newest 2 brigades were with him Albert Jenkins, and Imboden these were basically a little better than mounted infantry and lacked training. Also with the army were some smaller units like 35th battalion and McNeils rangers. The 3 probably best brigades were with Stuart. For some unknown reason Robertson would keep his and Jones brigades guarding the empty valley.

True, but thats my point. Lee could have brought up Robertson and Jones at any time but didnt seem to consider it. Whether it was because he expected Stuart to appear at any moment or some other reason, it was his own call to leave them guarding passed that no longer needed guarding.

 

[rpkennedy]

For some unknown reason Robertson would keep his and Jones brigades guarding the empty valley.

That's an easy explanation: incompetence.

Ryan