Who's charging, anyway?

[infomanpa]

I understand why the term, "Pickett's Charge," isn't accurate, but why do current writers use the awkward, "Pickett, Pettigrew, Trimble Charge?" Would't it be less wordy to simply call it "Longstreet's Charge?" My understanding is that he was totally in command of all 3 divisions.

 

[amweiner]

Well, some sources refer to it as Longstreet's Assault. Certainly it's referred to as such at the High Water Mark monument in Gettysburg...

http://civil-war-picket.blogspot.com/2013_05_01_archive.html

 

[Billy Yank]

It all depends on your orientation. Perhaps I'll call it: Hancock's Defense.

 

[infomanpa]

Well, some sources refer to it as Longstreet's Assault. Certainly it's referred to as such at the High Water Mark monument in Gettysburg...

Great point! Looks like they got it right.

 

[GABoy]

Or, you could call it A. P. Hill's charge minus A. P. Hill.

 

[E_just_E]

Well...

how much time do you have?

Bottom line: The naming is all politics. And politics are fickle. One of these days they'll call it "Lee's charge" after the man who ordered it, but until then...

 

[Irishtom29]

Pickett's Charge suffices, I don't think we need to parade knowing that other divisions were involved by using another, clumsier name for the event. If you say "Pickett's Charge" people who know what you're talking about know what you're talking about, know what I mean?

 

[Billy Yank]

Pickett's Charge suffices, I don't think we need to parade knowing that other divisions were involved by using another, clumsier name for the event. If you say "Pickett's Charge" people who know what you're talking about know what you're talking about, know what I mean?

Well...true, but along the way, we've made it difficult for the neophytes to grasp: Antietam/Sharpsburg, Bull Run/Manassas, Chaplin Hills/Perryville, Stones River/Murfreesboro, Fair Oaks/Seven Pines, South Mountain/Boonesboro, Pea Ridge/Elkhorn Tavern, etc.

 

[Jamieva]

Or, you could call it A. P. Hill's charge minus A. P. Hill.

You could call it the battle of Gettysburg minus AP Hill