Pickett's Charge the Plan

[tmh10]

 

[matthew mckeon]

Wouldn't a better plan have been Longstreet saying: "Line the men up. When I shout "1, 2, 3 go!" everybody run like hell to the Union lines." I mean it wouldn't have worked any worse then the actual plan.

 

[pamc153PA]

There was just so much that was overlooked in the "planning" of the charge that how do you know where to begin? Pettigrew's men are severely degraded--a third short of men after the previous day's fighting. Several of Pettigrew's brigades have green colonels heading them. Oh, and Pettigrew himself never commanded a division (well, he has for a whole two days!). And that 400 yard space between Pettigrew's right and Pickett's left? What about that--do you really want to have a big hole in your line in a frontal attack? And those idle cannons of Hill's and Ewell's--we don't really need them for enfilade fire from the north into the Union lines, do we? On and on . . .

 

[rpkennedy]

There was just so much that was overlooked in the "planning" of the charge that how do you know where to begin? Pettigrew's men are severely degraded--a third short of men after the previous day's fighting. Several of Pettigrew's brigades have green colonels heading them. Oh, and Pettigrew himself never commanded a division (well, he has for a whole two days!). And that 400 yard space between Pettigrew's right and Pickett's left? What about that--do you really want to have a big hole in your line in a frontal attack? And those idle cannons of Hill's and Ewell's--we don't really need them for enfilade fire from the north into the Union lines, do we? On and on . . .

The gap between the divisions was intentional as Pickett was supposed to wheel to the left, meeting up with Pettigrew at the same time they struck the Federal line.

As for the cannons, all of Hill's guns that could be brought to bear participated in the bombardment and the only guns that Ewell could use were the Whitworth guns on Oak Hill. In that respect, there wasn't much more that could be done.

R

 

[pamc153PA]

The gap between the divisions was intentional as Pickett was supposed to wheel to the left, meeting up with Pettigrew at the same time they struck the Federal line.
R

Yes, but in closing the gap, Pickett's advance meant that protection was lost from Willcox and Lane on their right, and they then came under enfilading fire from Stannard's Vermont men and the Little Round Top artillery.

 

[FZ11]

There was just so much that was overlooked in the "planning" of the charge that how do you know where to begin? Pettigrew's men are severely degraded--a third short of men after the previous day's fighting. Several of Pettigrew's brigades have green colonels heading them. Oh, and Pettigrew himself never commanded a division (well, he has for a whole two days!). And that 400 yard space between Pettigrew's right and Pickett's left? What about that--do you really want to have a big hole in your line in a frontal attack? And those idle cannons of Hill's and Ewell's--we don't really need them for enfilade fire from the north into the Union lines, do we? On and on . . .

That was Lee's failing and philosophy. When in Doubt;Delegate it out.

 

[bdietzler73]

That was Lee's failing and philosophy. When in Doubt;Delegate it out.

I agree. Leaving the planning to the others seemed to be the downfall of this charge. But it was what Lee believed it would work.

 

[FZ11]

I am,always,struck by how little Lee knows of the details in this battle. Delegation is his downfall. If Lee is the greatest Commander in the South,then why doesn't Lee command?

 

[pamc153PA]

I agree. Leaving the planning to the others seemed to be the downfall of this charge. But it was what Lee believed it would work.

And it might have, had he had--I hate to say it--Stonewall Jackson. But there were many things that had changed in the two months since Jackson's death when it came to Lee's corps commanders. A.P. Hill was "not there" during much of the battle, Longstreet was not "in sync" with Lee's plans and his actions reflected that, and Ewell chose the wrong definition of Lee's "if practicable" instructions. You can lead by delegating if you're delegating to someone who is on your same wavelength, like Lee and Jackson; but you should understand when your corps commanders need some "guidance," and change up your leading style as needed. Lee just continued to be Lee at Gettysburg, and it showed.

 

[FarawayFriend]

tmh10, thank you for the video. It shows one of my favourite scenes in the film. I really like the grin of Pickett after Longstreet asked him "George, can you take that ridge?"
It's like a bit of sunhine on that dark day. Everytime I see him grin, and ride away so full of confidence and seemingly unconcerned I keep thinking "this time he'll manage. This time there will be no carnage, the Federals will back away ..."
Crazy, but I can't help it. Also I think it's the most impressive scene for Berenger as Longstreet. Just the look in his eyes tells the whole story. Wonderful acting.

 

[Rob9641]

tmh10, thank you for the video. It shows one of my favourite scenes in the film. I really like the grin of Pickett after Longstreet asked him "George, can you take that ridge?"
It's like a bit of sunhine on that dark day. Everytime I see him grin, and ride away so full of confidence and seemingly unconcerned I keep thinking "this time he'll manage. This time there will be no carnage, the Federals will back away ..."
Crazy, but I can't help it. Also I think it's the most impressive scene for Berenger as Longstreet. Just the look in his eyes tells the whole story. Wonderful acting.

The Longstreet of the film and the book is a man who is battling grief over the loss of his children, frustration with battle plans he did not agree with but had to carry out, and anger and grief over the threat to and then the loss of so many of his men - but a man who had to bully through all that anyway. Berenger carried it off beautifully.