Wilcox Discovers Humphreys

[Hoplite]

Wilcox's brigade had been deployed to picket the right of the Confederate line on 7/1.
Somehow he did not see or hear Humphreys division moving past him a couple hundred yards away.

What if he had and a fight ensued. Regardless of the outcome, the Confederates would have been alerted to Union troops in that area.
Do you think that might have given Lee pause to reconsider the plans for July 2, which were based on attacking the 'open' Union left flank?

 

[6thMichCav]

Just some casual thoughts on this question. The two flanks blundering into each other may have changed the course of events. If they tangle in the dark, do they fight, or cautiously withdraw? What if Humphreys or Wilcox is killed or injured in the process?

However, in the larger scheme, I think Lee already knew the Federals were on Cemetery Ridge. He still wouldn't know how far they extended until the morning reconnaissance. If Johnson's ride (allegedly) to Little Round Top still doesn't find the enemy, Lee still thinks the flank is shorter, or possibly in the air. But that's where the "course of events" comes in. Meade or Hancock may have changed the alignment if there was a nighttime altercation.

My last thought is that if Wilcox's men marched ~19 miles from Fayette, they would have been as tired as any other period troops, and perhaps some of them were less than alert at the time.

 

[pmuskett]

Humphreys had stopped his men before they got to close to the Black Horse Tavern. He had hear there were Confederates reported near the tavern. The owner of the Tavern even mentioned to Humphrey's that a Confederate picket post not very far away.
Ross's battery also was out there in position too. Lt. George Clark of the 11th Alabama reported that they "rested for the night without disturbance." (From "A Glance Backward or Some events in the past history of my life, pg 36)
Someone blew a bugle when Humphrey's men began to countermarch. No one reported hearing it.

 

[Reconstructed Rebel]

Humphreys had stopped his men before they got to close to the Black Horse Tavern. He had hear there were Confederates reported near the tavern. The owner of the Tavern even mentioned to Humphrey's that a Confederate picket post not very far away.

One of the advantages to armies campaigning in friendly territory- the locals help you out.

 

[Tom Elmore]

Just another was of those strange twists of fate at Gettysburg. I imagine if a firefight broke out there on the evening of July 1, it would have scared the ---- out of the Confederate high command, to consider that a significant Federal force might be positioned on their right and rear to roll up their flank and split their army. It might have frightened the Federal high command as well to think an entire division was isolated there and vulnerable to complete destruction. Darkness always magnifies the level of human fear.

At the least, it may have delayed the extension of the Confederate right along Seminary/Warfield ridges for several hours on the following day, so that Longstreet could not have launched his attack before the late afternoon of July 2.