Tennessee_Mountainman
Sergeant
- Joined
- Aug 30, 2016
- Location
- Bartlett, TN
I'll limit myself to 5 from each side:
James J. Archer - Even Davis, with one less regiment bettered him in Day 1. Running, trying to hide and getting arrested in a thicket by a private, is not befit to a general. But he was a political general.
Well he really shouldn't even have been on the field. His health was in decline since the Maryland Campaign of 1862. Before his illness he was nicknamed "Little Gamecock" because of his imposing build and tenacity during battle. His illness finally took a toll on him at Gettysburg, which is why he tried to sit down and rest in a thicket. The Tennessee Brigade itself did excellent. They fought with Buford's Cavalry after marching 6 miles, then held their own against the Iron Brigade before they were finally out flanked and cross-fired. You can say thanks to Henry Heth, Archer protested that his brigade was too lightly manned to advance un-supported. Initially, Archer's Brigade held firm, with the Tennesseans reloading on their backs then rolling over to shoot. However, more elements which outnumbered Archer's own heavily, started flanking from the right and left. Archer thought Davis was holding his left (which he wasn't). and the 24th MI and 19th IN were able to enfilade and rout the Alabamians on Archer's right. By the time the jaws started to close, many couldn't escape, including Archer himself, who was observed to be very fatigued. So I don't think the blame could be on him. Orders are orders, he couldn't reject them.