- Joined
- Sep 4, 2014
- Location
- Lexington, SC
Those were the words of Lt Gen. James Longstreet following the repulse of the Pickett. Pettigrew, Trimble Charge.
"General Pickett, finding the battle broken, while the enemy was still reinforcing, called the troops off. There was no indication of panic. The broken files marched back in steady step. The effort was nobly made, and failed from blows that could not be fended. Some of the files were cut off from retreat by fire that swept the field in their rear. Officers of my staff, sent forward with orders, came back with their saddles and bridles in their arms. Latrobe's horse was twice shot. Looking confidently for advance of enemy through our open field, I rode the line of batteries, resolved to hold it until the last gun was lost. As I rode, the shells screaming over my head and ploughing the ground under my horse, an involuntary appeal went up that one of them might take me from the scenes of such awful responsibility; but the storm to be met left no time to think of one's self. The battery officers were prepared to meet the crisis------no move had been made for leaving the field. My old acquaintances of Sharpsburg experience, Captain Miller, was walking up and down behind his guns, smoking his pipe, directing his fire over the heads of our men as fast as they were inside of the danger-line; the other officers equally firm and ready to defend to the last. A body of skirmishers put out from the enemy's lines and advanced some distance, but the batteries opened severe fire and drove it back. Our men passed the batteries in quiet walk and would rally, I knew when they reached the ridge from which they stared."
Many believe that the Confederates were whooped following the Pickett, Pettigrew, Trimble Charge. The Union failed to put the final nail in the coffin by not making an immediate and aggressive counter attack. According to James Longstreet the Confederates were ready and eagerly awaiting a foolish charge by the Union. It would have been disastrous. The Union would have had to cross the same open ground the Confederates failed to cross. Despite popular opinion the batteries were still well armed with enough ammunition to fend off a counter attack even after the massive display of artillery that had never before been witnessed on earth.
Prudence proved best and the inevitable that would have surly happened following a haphazardos effort by the Union army was avoided, Preserving Gettysburg as the unprecedented Union victory we know today.
The correct call was to not counter attack at Gettysburg.
Source: From Manassas to Appomattox. Page 394 and 395
"General Pickett, finding the battle broken, while the enemy was still reinforcing, called the troops off. There was no indication of panic. The broken files marched back in steady step. The effort was nobly made, and failed from blows that could not be fended. Some of the files were cut off from retreat by fire that swept the field in their rear. Officers of my staff, sent forward with orders, came back with their saddles and bridles in their arms. Latrobe's horse was twice shot. Looking confidently for advance of enemy through our open field, I rode the line of batteries, resolved to hold it until the last gun was lost. As I rode, the shells screaming over my head and ploughing the ground under my horse, an involuntary appeal went up that one of them might take me from the scenes of such awful responsibility; but the storm to be met left no time to think of one's self. The battery officers were prepared to meet the crisis------no move had been made for leaving the field. My old acquaintances of Sharpsburg experience, Captain Miller, was walking up and down behind his guns, smoking his pipe, directing his fire over the heads of our men as fast as they were inside of the danger-line; the other officers equally firm and ready to defend to the last. A body of skirmishers put out from the enemy's lines and advanced some distance, but the batteries opened severe fire and drove it back. Our men passed the batteries in quiet walk and would rally, I knew when they reached the ridge from which they stared."
Many believe that the Confederates were whooped following the Pickett, Pettigrew, Trimble Charge. The Union failed to put the final nail in the coffin by not making an immediate and aggressive counter attack. According to James Longstreet the Confederates were ready and eagerly awaiting a foolish charge by the Union. It would have been disastrous. The Union would have had to cross the same open ground the Confederates failed to cross. Despite popular opinion the batteries were still well armed with enough ammunition to fend off a counter attack even after the massive display of artillery that had never before been witnessed on earth.
Prudence proved best and the inevitable that would have surly happened following a haphazardos effort by the Union army was avoided, Preserving Gettysburg as the unprecedented Union victory we know today.
The correct call was to not counter attack at Gettysburg.
Source: From Manassas to Appomattox. Page 394 and 395
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