Warren on July 1

[Andy Cardinal]

It is well known that Meade sent Hancock to Gettysburg on July 1 after Reynolds was killed to take charge of the field & to determine whether or not Gettysburg was the place to fight. Hancock retained command of the field until Slocum arrived on Cemetery Hill later in the evening. To Hancock goes credit for 3 (at least) crucial decisions that led to the final result of the battle.

1. Recognizing the importance of Culp's Hill & sending Wadsworth's division there.

2. Recognizing the importance of Little Round Top & sending Geary's division there.

3. Recognizing the importance of what is now called Stevens Knoll & sending Stevens's battery there.

Of course there is the bigger picture of rallying & inspiring the troops on Cemetery Hill as well.

Meade also sent Warren to Gettysburg, I assume at about the same time he sent Hancock. Surmising Meade's thought process a bit, I know he relied on trained engineers to determine the ground. For example, he sent specific orders for Humphreys to examine the ground around Emmitsburg on June 30. I assume he sent Warren to Gettysburg on July 1 for the same reason.

While Meade certainly trusted Hancock's judgment, and relied on him to handle the troops, Warren was also intended to be part of the decision making process about continuing the fight at Gettysburg I would think.

Remarkably, Warren got lost on his way to Gettysburg and didn't reach the battlefield until later.

My question is this -- what role, if any, did Warren play on July 1? I find little reference to it in the histories I've read, including the two most recent biographies of Warren. But I assume there was more to it than he got lost, reached the field late, and then did nothing until July 2. Is anyone aware of any information about this or have any thoughts about it?

 

[infomanpa]

To Hancock goes credit for 3 (at least) crucial decisions that led to the final result of the battle.
2. Recognizing the importance of Little Round Top & sending Geary's division there.

I was under the impression that Geary never actually occupied LRT, but was sent to reinforce the southern flank of the Union lines, which ended just north of LRT. It was Warren who later recognized the importance of LRT.

 

[Andy Cardinal]

I was under the impression that Geary never actually occupied LRT, but was sent to reinforce the southern flank of the Union lines, which ended just north of LRT. It was Warren who later recognized the importance of LRT.

Yes I think you're right, he more likely occupied the hill where the New Jersey monument is located today. I assume skirmishers we're sent to LRT, but I may be mistaken.

I guess to be more accurate, I should have said Hancock recognized the importance of protecting the left flank & sent Geary there.

 

[JohnW.]

According to the Corps of Engineers web page he assisted Hancock and Uh-oh Howard in establishing the Union position on Cemetery Hill.

http://www.usace.army.mil/About/His...n-the-Civil-War/battles/warren-at-gettysburg/

 

[Michael W.]

A very good question. And I don't know, either. Anyone out there know when Warren actually arrived on the field?

 

[rpkennedy]

Yes I think you're right, he more likely occupied the hill where the New Jersey monument is located today. I assume skirmishers we're sent to LRT, but I may be mistaken.

I guess to be more accurate, I should have said Hancock recognized the importance of protecting the left flank & sent Geary there.

We don't know where exactly Geary was but I don't think his men were actually up on LRT. I believe that they probably camped roughly along modern Sedgwick Ave. with their left somewhere near Sedgwick's equestrian monument.

Ryan

 

[Andy Cardinal]

From Jordan's biography of Warren (p. 89):

Shortly before Meade sent Hancock to Gettysburg, he dispatched Warren to the same place. Traveling by way of Emmitsburg, Warren arrived at Cemetery Hill a few minutes after Hancock and was able to assist in the organizing the army's lines there. He and Hancock, the two men there without specific units look after, galloped about the hill pulling the scattered forces into a cohesive whole.

That is it, with no citation.

In his comprehensive history of July 1, Martin writes (p. 482):

It is interesting to note that this message informed Howard [these were the orders sending Hancock to Gettysburg at 1:10; Martin writes Howard here, but he obviously means Hancock] that General Warren was also going to be on the field. Surviving sources you not really relate when or with what orders Meade sent his chief engineer to the field. Presumably his orders were to determine if Gettysburg were good location for a battle, just as Hancock was ordered to do.

Martin also writes (pp. 490-491) that, with Warren's concurrence, Hancock decided "if the position could be held until night, it would be the best place for the army to fight on if attacked." Hancock's 5:25 dispatch to Meade in Taneytown also noted that "General Warren is here."

 

[Michael W.]

From Jordan's biography of Warren (p. 89):

Shortly before Meade sent Hancock to Gettysburg, he dispatched Warren to the same place. Traveling by way of Emmitsburg, Warren arrived at Cemetery Hill a few minutes after Hancock and was able to assist in the organizing the army's lines there. He and Hancock, the two men there without specific units look after, galloped about the hill pulling the scattered forces into a cohesive whole.

That is it, with no citation.

In his comprehensive history of July 1, Martin writes (p. 482):

It is interesting to note that this message informed Howard [these were the orders sending Hancock to Gettysburg at 1:10; Martin writes Howard here, but he obviously means Hancock] that General Warren was also going to be on the field. Surviving sources you not really relate when or with what orders Meade sent his chief engineer to the field. Presumably his orders were to determine if Gettysburg were good location for a battle, just as Hancock was ordered to do.

Martin also writes (pp. 490-491) that, with Warren's concurrence, Hancock decided "if the position could be held until night, it would be the best place for the army to fight on if attacked." Hancock's 5:25 dispatch to Meade in Taneytown also noted that "General Warren is here."

Well there you go. Thanks for bringing it to light. I had no idea, now I do.

 

[General Butterfield]

Interesting thread topic, I don't know the answer myself. I have Jordan's bio as qouted already. I haven't got my hands on the other Warren bio by Girardi, it seems to be unavailable everywhere I look, if anyone has that book does it mention anything of significance?

 

[Carronade]

Does anyone know when or by whose orders the Union signal outpost was established on LRT?

 

[Andy Cardinal]

I have watched Girardi's lecture on C-SPAN but have not been able to get the book. The other one I would like to get my hands on is the much older Gouverneur Kemble Warren: The Life & Letters of an American Soldier by Nelson.

I have read a book by Jermann which is most about the court of inquiry.

 

[Andy Cardinal]

Does anyone know when or by whose orders the Union signal outpost was established on LRT?

This is a great question!

There was a whole system of signal stations as I understand it, but I have not found much info about it. I would appreciate if anyone can provide any information about this, or at least where to look.

 

[Andy Cardinal]

I've been pondering the Warren on July 1 question for some time -- for whatever reason -- I'm not sure any documentary evidence is out there.

I find the whole decision-making process on July 1 to be very interesting, and there seem to be less answers for July 1 than some of the other days. From the Union side, Reynolds & the decision to fight.... Slocum's slow movement.... Sending Hancock to Gettysburg.... When & why Meade decided to abandon Pipe Creek & concentrate the whole army at Gettysburg....

Given Meade's reliance on Warren throughout the entire campaign, I have to believe he played some part in this decision-making. I also wonder -- what I have read about Warren suggests he got lost on his way to Gettysburg. It has always seemed amazing to me that the army's chief engineer would get lost. I wonder if he was sent on purpose to Emmitsburg first to survey the terrain? I know both Reynolds & Meade were considering Emmitsburg as a potential battlefield on June 30.

 

[Iron Brigade]

According to the Corps of Engineers web page he assisted Hancock and Uh-oh Howard in establishing the Union position on Cemetery Hill.

http://www.usace.army.mil/About/His...n-the-Civil-War/battles/warren-at-gettysburg/

This is what I found also. Quote from Coddington "Gettysburg Campaign":

"Whatever the actual relationship between Howard and Hancock, they, together with Buford and General G.K. Warren, chief engineer of the AOTP, who had arrived meanwhile, quickly prepared the survivors of the two corps for further action."

 

[Iron Brigade]

I've been pondering the Warren on July 1 question for some time -- for whatever reason -- I'm not sure any documentary evidence is out there.

I find the whole decision-making process on July 1 to be very interesting, and there seem to be less answers for July 1 than some of the other days. From the Union side, Reynolds & the decision to fight.... Slocum's slow movement.... Sending Hancock to Gettysburg.... When & why Meade decided to abandon Pipe Creek & concentrate the whole army at Gettysburg....

Given Meade's reliance on Warren throughout the entire campaign, I have to believe he played some part in this decision-making. I also wonder -- what I have read about Warren suggests he got lost on his way to Gettysburg. It has always seemed amazing to me that the army's chief engineer would get lost. I wonder if he was sent on purpose to Emmitsburg first to survey the terrain? I know both Reynolds & Meade were considering Emmitsburg as a potential battlefield on June 30.

Here is more info I found on Warren's whereabouts, also from Coddington. I hope this helps:

"Meade was too good an engineer not to be aware of the need to know the geography of an area, and he took particular pains to become familiar with the roads and topography. Under his direction members of the general staff, including Generals Warren and Hunt, spent hours locating good positions along the Little Pipe Creek line and examining the country between it and Gettysburg. Meade gave his commanders special instructions to learn about the roads connecting the locations of different corps on July 1."

 

[E_just_E]

Slocum's slow movement....

I know that it makes a great pun, but on the record Slocum admitted that he took it easy because those were the orders from Meade, and if he were ordered to rush North, he would do so.

 

[Andy Cardinal]

I know that it makes a great pun, but on the record Slocum admitted that he took it easy because those were the orders from Meade, and if he were ordered to rush North, he would do so.

I have come to the conclusion over time that Slocum's July 1 performance was not as poor as critics have said. Aside from uncertainty due to Meade's orders, the 12th corps did more on July 1 than is usually acknowledged, and I believe played a role in Ewell's thinking that evening.

But, it is a good (almost irresistible) pun -- as is "Uh Oh" Howard.

 

[E_just_E]

But, it is a good (almost irresistible) pun -- as is "Uh Oh" Howard.

That last one is not a pun, is a given name

He sent all but 1 brigades North on July 1st to be devoured... Saved by the bell at Cemetery Hill.

 

[Andy Cardinal]

That last one is not a pun, is a given name

He sent all but 1 brigades North on July 1st to be devoured... Saved by the bell at Cemetery Hill.

Saved by W. S. Hancock on Cemetery Hill -- and to keep it with this thread, possibly G K. Warren with the assist as well.

 

[E_just_E]

Saved by W. S. Hancock on Cemetery Hill -- and to keep it with this thread, possibly G K. Warren with the assist as well.

Heard that Warren really liked his sleep, even in the Antebellum days...