So let me share a little insight of my learning curve about Gettysburg with you. The more I read about Gettysburg, the players, the issues, the ridges, the hills, the strategy, the losses on the Union side and the losses on the Confederate side, the missed opportunities, the lack of concise orders, the poor execution of some orders, etc. etc., the more confounded and confused I get. You historians may recognize that I will skip over many important events on this blog page but I'll try to still give you at least a "reader's digest" and if lucky at least an entertaining version of the events of July 1,2 and 3 or 1863, known as the Battle of Gettysburg.
It's been said that the complexity of the Union and Confederate battle strategies challenges most of us and results in an oversimplification of the battle and a glossing over in the history books. But that is the only way I can give you a basic understanding of the battle, and also it's double tapping my own understanding at this point in time.
Larry, Gail, Bill and I boarded a double-decker bus for a two hour tour of the battlefield. It was a beautiful day to celebrate and join the ranks of 65 year-olds and take a tour of one of the most famous battlefields of the Civil War.
General Robert E. Lee lead 75,000 soldiers for the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia. General George G. Meade lead 95,000 soldiers for the Union Army of the Potomac.In the early summer of 1863 Lee's Confederates were marching north through Maryland with recent battle wins at Antietam, Fredericksburg, and Chancelorville. Following Chancelorville victory Lee hoped to move the battles away from Virginia and draw the Union out of Richmond. Neither Lee or Meade had intentions of engaging in battle at Gettysburg but a chance meeting of the two armies set off a series of events that became the biggest and bloodiest battle in the Civil War and Lee's biggest blunder resulting in the loss at Gettysburg and ultimately the downward slide resulting in the loss of the war.
The three days of intense battles was carried out in the cornfields of Gettysburg and the surrounding ridges and hill tops flanking the town. The Union were hunkered down on the high ground giving them a great advantage. The Union also had 20,000 more soldiers. It would prove to be an impossible odds for the Confederacy.
So we're off on our tour with the wind blowing our sunglasses tight against our faces and the summer sun beating down on us. It just don't get no better.
This museum was just across the street from the tour start. We never got back to it.
This is the home and now museum of Jennie Wade. She was the only civilian killed during the battle. She was shot while baking bread in her home.
The Farnsworth House across the street from Jennie Wade's home is believed to be where the fatal shot came from. Stories of ghosts in residence at both homes would fill a separate blog page. I didn't go on the ghost tour with Bill.
We drove past One Lincoln Hotel in the town circle. Across the way on the other side of the circle is the actual hotel Lincoln stayed in during the time he visited the November following the battle and gave his Gettysburg Address.
The red brick building with the green shutters is where President Lincoln stayed.
Gettysburg is not only an interesting town but it is literally part of the battlefield.
Throughout the battlefield there are 439 monuments and 416 markers and tablets dedicated to those who battled here and lost their lives. Most dedications are from the Union and Confederate States. There are many dedicated to specific individuals but mostly to infantries, battalions and brigades represented by States.
Prior to the battle General Lee moved his troops north into Pennsylvania, losing contact with JEB Stuart who had moved up the eastern route to serve as Lee's eyes watching the Union activities. With no clue to Stuarts whereabouts or the Union's progress Lee actually ran into the Union troops of General Meade on June 30th.
July 1. Day one, at dawn, General Lee attacked the Union troops on McPherson's Ridge on the western flank of Gettysburg. Though things were just getting started, we have to score day one to the Confederates for battering the Union line so badly that it put them on the defensive. I can't assure you this is McPherson's Ridge in the picture below, but it could be. It's definitely a ridge.
As we rode through the battlefields we were told that enormous efforts have been given to return the battlefields to what they looked like 150 years ago. So these pictures are very near.
Devil's Den at the foot of Little Round Top
Military Field Hospital
July 2, day two of the battle and still no sign or word from General JEB Stuart. However, General Longstreet and General Pickett (of the infamous Pickett's Charge) were both there with their brigades. You could never accuse the Confederates of not giving it there all because the second day started with an all out attack on the Union's flank. Day two was not such a good day for the Confederates. No matter how hard and how long the Union line was battered it was never broken. The Union kept control of the high ground at Little Round Top. Score one for the Union.
July 3, day three. Day three was the biggest battle not only at Gettysburg but during the entire Civil War. There were two critical cavalry engagements this day. General Lee made his biggest blunder during this day's battle and it alone changed the course of the Civil War. General Lee ordered General George Pickett to lead an assault against the center of the Union line. During "Pickett's Charge" he loses half his men resulting in a terrible blow to the Confederate. From this point on the Confederates will never win another major battle. The location of this significant defeat became known as the "High-Water mark of the Confederacy", representing the closest the South ever came to it's goal of achieving independence from the Union via a military victory. The second blunder was the order to General JEB Stuart to guard the Confederate left flank. It is on the East Cavalry Field that Stuart's forces collide with the Union cavalry. Union Brig. General George Custer blocked Stuart from achieving his objectives.
Now off to the south General Lee had given orders to General Longstreet and his infantry. That morning Longstreet was to attack the Union flank, early, like 8 a.m. When Lee arrived around 4 p.m. after everything he'd planned was going up in smoke he found Longstreet STILL "getting his poop in a group" and having failed to execute his orders. There was considerable friction between Lee and Longstreet and the controversy over Longstreet's conduct during the battle tainted Longstreet's reputation for a century. It has also been suggested that Longstreet's failure to follow orders was instrumental in the Confederate loss on day three and Lee's eventual retreat back to Virginia. The day's battle marked Lee's most northern invasion of the Union.
Score two for the Union.
General Meade's Headquarters during the battle.
Yes, there was even a battle during the three days for this railroad cut.
The Eternal Light Monument. It is from this memorial that JFK's Eternal Flame originated.
Indiana State Monument
23rd Pennsylvania Volunteers
General George Meade.
General George Meade on equestrian mount.
Virginia State Monument with General Robert E. Lee on equestrian mount.
Virginia State Monument with General Robert E. Lee on equestrian mount.
Louisiana State Memorial Spirit Triumph
Mississippi State Monument
Pennsylvania State Monument
42nd New York Infantry
Casualities of the Battle of Gettysburg
| Union Corps | Casualties (k/w/m) |
|---|---|
| I Corps | 6059 (666/3231/2162) |
| II Corps | 4369 (797/3194/378) |
| III Corps | 4211 (593/3029/589) |
| V Corps | 2187 (365/1611/211) |
| VI Corps | 242 (27/185/30) |
| XI Corps | 3807 (369/1924/1514) |
| XII Corps | 1082 (204/812/66) |
| Cavalry Corps | 852 (91/354/407) |
| Artillery Reserve | 242 (43/187/12) |
| Confederate Corps | Casualties (k/w/m) |
|---|---|
| First Corps | 7665 (1617/4205/1843) |
| Second Corps | 6686 (1301/3629/1756) |
| Third Corps | 8495 (1724/4683/2088) |
| Cavalry Corps | 380 (66/174/140) |
The tour ended two hours later and we were all hungry so we had lunch at the Historic 1776 Dobbin House Tavern. We ate in an underground cellar (yes, at one time it was also part of the Underground Railroad).
Before leaving Gettysburg we went to the Museum and Visitor Center. It was well worth the visit.
Lot's of photos of Gettysburg taken during the Civil War era.
Inside the Museum we went into the Cyclorama, a 360 degree cylindrical painting that's intended effect is to immerse the viewer in the scene being depicted. The painting is the work of French artist Paul Dominique Philippoteaux. It depicts Pickett's Charge, the failed infantry assault that was the climax of the Battle of Gettysburg. In the foreground of the painting are models and life-sized replicas to enhance the illusion. In the picture are Cemetery Ridge and the High-water mark of the Confederacy.
The painting was originally 22 feet high and 279 feet in circumference. In the museum is a 2006 restoration version. It is 42 feet high and 377 feet in circumference.
Aftermath on July 4th when General Lee rode out and met survivors, telling them, "It is all my fault." To Pickett he said "Upon my shoulders rests the blame." Lee's gamble had failed "Too bad. Too bad! Oh too bad!" he exclaimed.
Late on the night of July 3rd and into July 4th the Confederate wounded were loaded into wagons for the journey back toward the South. Lee was forced to abandon his dead and retreat back to Virginia.
The only significant criticism against Union General George Meade was from an infuriated President Lincoln who saw General Meade's failure to seige a golden opportunity to end the war right there. General Meade, out of fatigue and using caution did not pursue General Lee and allowed him to retreat with his soldiers.
It was an amazingly interesting day filled with history, good weather, friends and good food. Thanks Larry, Gail and Bill for a memorable 65th birthday.
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