My great, great grandfather was there. At the end of the war he was a 1st LT. I believe that he was a SGT at Gettysburg.
K Co. 142nd PA Volunteer Infantry.

That was day two.

And I wouldn't exactly call it a poor decision to attack the Round Tops/Devils Den area. Had an egotistical Union general named Daniel Sickles not moved his men forward into an untenable position (against direct orders), Lee would not have been delayed and Hood's Division would've taken the area and rolled up the Union flank.

An argument can be made too that Lee might well have been right to believe the Union center was weak on the third day, as well - and for a time it was. Unfortunately, the overall Union position allowed for quick movement/reinforcement and Lee's artillery was ineffective, too - due to topography and bad fuses.

One could also give blame to Longstreet who drug his feet all day, delaying his attack until afternoon - which broke up the coordination with Ewell's forces attacking late morning from the north/north-east against Cemetery Hill Edit: Culp's Hill.

Further, the first day was, at best, a draw. Union forces held the high ground - not by accident, but by Renolds' brilliant fall back plan (using the town itself to aid in the [potential] retreat to Cemetery Hill: devised before he was killed, but executed afterward) and Buford's tenacious defense/delaying tactics. The Reb's "coordinated" attack was really a "happy accident" and NOT because of any master battle plan. It only happened because Lee had ordered the army to converge at Gettysburg (or Cashtown) because he'd learned the Union forces were approaching the general area.

That's actually being called into question nowadays. Although it's impossible to say for sure, it's now believed by many historians that the 2nd day at Gettysburg exceeded Sharpsburg as the bloodiest day in US history.

This is probably close to the truth if Jackson had been around.  Also, most likely if Jackson had been there, he would have pushed that first day, and not let the Union have the high ground.  Lee issued (as he usually did) the order to Ewell with the decision to make the final assault up to Ewell, who thought the assault on Cemetery Hill was not practical.  My bet is that Jackson would have taken it, and thus set the course for a different fight.    

Lee gave his men a great bit of latitude - sometimes this was good, when you had able commanders under him, but hurt him in such instances when Stuart took off "around the Union army" again, and not doing what cavalry was supposed to do.  I know everyone blames Stuart, but IIRC, Lee's orders were sufficiently vague to leave Stuart that freedom.  It worked out before, but not this time.

I also agree with the previous statement that Lee believed his men to be invincible.  Maybe not consciously, but somewhere in his mind, because of what his smaller and not-as-well-equipped army had done in the past.  I'm not sure why else you would order Pickett's charge.  

You're entering into the world of "what ifs?". Assuming the South hadn't screwed up, who's to say the North wouldn't have "out thunk them?" You've got to play it as it lies, just as in golf or the hand you're dealt just like in cards.

Coulda, shoulda, woulda doesn't cut it.

Gettysburg may have been the high water mark for Lee and the  Army of Northern Virginia, but the high water mark for the Corn-feds was Perryville and Antietam.  The former meant the Confederacy would never regain the Midwest and the latter meant no foreign recognition would be forthcoming.

That's debatable.  Just a couple months after Gettysburg the AoT(Army of Tenessee) beat the living shit out of the Western Federal army at Chickamauga.   High tide in the west?  I think so, but it didn't mean all that much with the loss of Vicksburg and Gettysburg simultaneously.

In reality, the only way the Confederates were going to win at Gettysburg was if Union commander Meade freaked out and ran like Hooker, Burnside, Pope and McClellan did before him.



By July 1863 the Union Army was better organized, better equipped and even better trained than the Confederate forces in front of them.  At Gettysburg they outnumbered the Confederates by some 15,000 troops and occupied an excellent defensive position against which Lee repeatedly threw his men in a wasted effort to make them fall apart, like they did at Chancellorsville and Second Bull Run.



Most of Lee's victories required some cooperation on the part of the Union commanders and troops.  At Gettysburg, they refused to cooperate.



 

I started this thread with the intent of recognizing the day's history and intent to stay away from most of the speculation while sticking to the facts.  I don't want another north vs south thread.  

This will be an ongoing 3 say thread in honor of those who fought, the wounded, and the dead of BOTH sides at a very critical event in our history.

Fuck the Southern aggressors.

It was the war of Northern Agression.  Get it right you Dumb Billy Yank asshole

We aggressively let you shell us at Fort Sumter.



 

Let us?

More like

You won a little, you lost a little. No more owning people and we'll let you have most of the NASCAR races.



I think it worked out for the best.





 

And you get to keep most of the crazy socialist libtards...

DEAL!

The Tennessee Brigade left much blood on the field there. There is a nice monument to them there.

Come back tomorrow for the Day 2 monument pics.

He's going to need a skin graft for that burn.

I need to get back over there. I haven't been since middle school.

Thank god the south lost i mean think about it.

No such thing as states rights. Out of control federal government.
We are so much better off with Washington, D.C. Running shit for everyone.
Why should the states have any say about their laws or rules.


Ohh I forgot it was fought over slavery, because the great Lincoln cared so much about the poor colored people.


Free health care for everyone!!!!!!
Free food and booze !!!!!

Yay freedom

This, sorry I live south and have no respect for the northern deep thinkers to this day.

This also

Attention, Mississippians! Battalions forward! Dress to the colors and Forward to the foe! Onward, Brave Mississippians! For Glory!"






















 
 

And now the federal govt owns all of us...good job!

Wait, are you suggesting that the Confederacy was the champion of state and individual rights?

Gettysburg was important, but it could not have singularly decided the fate of the country.  Despite the persistent belief during the war (and afterwards) that a single battle could have ended everything, four years of fighting bloody engagements pretty well proved that it was virtually impossible for either side to completely destroy the other militarily in a single tactical act.

Had Lee somehow won at Gettysburg, there is no reason to believe the Army of the Potomac would have disintegrated, that other Union forces could not have maneuvered to further contest Lee's move through Pennsylvania, or that the Lincoln Administration would have capitulated after a single loss in one portion of the war front.  Union forces were performing quite well in Mississippi, Tennessee, Louisiana, Arkansas, and some other parts of the Confederacy at that time.

Aw, perk the fuck up!!!

1921 - The Communist Party of China is founded.

Your state has more people on welfare than working. Sounds like you've got your share of government-lovers too. Wasn't that kinda the point of the Civil War, btw? Too much Federal Gubmint? Seems everyone in the south forgot while standing in line for their phony disability claims.




 
 

No, not really.  Southern secessionists did not oppose the size and scope of the federal government in general.  They had no problem utilizing national government authority to protect their own interests.  The Deep South's problem in 1860 and 1861 was how the Lincoln Administration might use federal authority against their slaveowning interests and the slavery-based society.  The Upper South was largely split on the matter, and many seceded after Lincoln called for troops--ultimately deciding to join their sister slaveowning states in creating a new federal government with similar authorities as the previous one.

Can we talk about the Battle instead of having all of you dance around screaming about politics like a bunch of kansas city faggots?

Well Said!
Day 2,   almost 10,000 casualties on both sides.  A little respect is due.
The Glory of Men not the politics of peons.

That picture of Barksdale's charge at the Peach orchard.  That barn is still there along with the cannonball hole in the gable.    

The politics led to the men fighting.  They weren't there for fun.  They were trying to accomplish something; they were fighting for larger political objectives.

Agreed totally.  but these three days I feel are to celebrate the bravery and glory of those men not the reasons that put them there.

This is GD...you know the rules. No topic shall remain pure, and the Civil War is never over. And beans in chili.



 

No.  Mobility was not restored until the development of the tank.  See WWI.



 

DAY 2

WARNING: Graphic photos of the casualties below

A metric shitton of action occurred today.  In the early morning hours, Longstreets scouts report that a large number of Federal Troops have arrived both very late in the evening and overnight.  They have started to prepare defensive positions in the shape of a "Fish Hook" running from Culps Hill on the Federal Right, over Cemetary Hill, and southward on Cemetary Ridge down to the Round Tops(Little Round Top only occupied by Signal Corps at this time in the AM).

Lees Plan is to Feign a attack at Culps Hill using Ewells Corps(Ordering Ewell to fully engage if an advantage presents itself to split the Federal Line or turn the Right Flank), in an attempt to force the Federals to shift their Reserves and Artillery from Cemetary Ridge.  Longstreets Corps would then traverse North on the Emmitsburg Road back towards the town sweeping up the unsuspecting Federals on the Left Flank.

The Plan fell apart quickly when Ewell attacked around 8AM, as Longstreet was waiting for the rest of his Brigades to arrive from Cashtown and fill the vacant spots in his lines before moving out around Noon.  While moving into position, Longstreets corps was spotted by the Federal Signal Corps on Little Round Top, which forced the Cornfeds to reroute their units so they could not be observed, which delayed the attack again until the afternoon.  This gave the Federal Commanders time to extend and reinforce the Left flank with freshly arrived troops, Including the 20th Maine Infantry.

About Noon on Day 2, JEB Stewart came galloping into the ANV Headquarters to report to General Lee.  After a berating by Genreal Lee, Stewarts Cavalry was ordered to Rearm and Refit for action on Day 3, so the Cavalry did not play a part in the Second Days action.

Around 2PM, Longstreet and AP Hills men were in position, and the order to attack was given.  Longstreets men swept through the Peach Orchard and into the Devils Den, while elements of Longstreets and Hills Corps met and poured into the Wheatfield.  This is where the post earlier comes into play.  My personal favorite action of the day was the immense courage and zeal showed by Lt. Gen. William Barksdales Mississippi Brigade in the Peach Orchard and the Wheatfield.  The 21st, 26th, and 17th Mississippi Infantry smashed through General Sickles poorly positioned men(which he moved against direct orders from General Hancock trying to prevent just such a disaster) and was cutting a huge hole in the Federal lines.  The Mississippi Brigade effectively destroyed the Federal III Corps while sustaining moderate casualties.  Haistily retreating Federal troopers of III Corps reported to Hancock that there was a very strong attack coming through the Wheatfield and they were unable to hold.  Hancock immeadiatly ordered in his reserve infantry and artillery from behind the Round Tops and about 5PM, the Federal Batteries opened up on the Mississippi Brigade with high explosive and Canister Shot from an estimated range of 600 yards, stopping the Mississippians in their tracks and effectively destroying them as a fighting unit.  Lt. Gen Barksdale was Killed along with 70% of the Brigade in some of the worst fighting of the war.

On the Federal extreme Left Flank, Several attacks by Alabama and Tennessee Units left the 20th Maine Infantry(holding the end of the line) at about 50% strength and "1 or 2 shots per man".  Facing another assault on his position and about to be overrun, Col. Chaimberlain ordered his remaining men to fix bayonets and prepare to charge, arranging his unit into a L shape, ordering his companies to swing down the hill.  The charge was successful in holding the line and Col. Chaimberlain was awarded the MoH for his actions along with a Presidential Unit Citation.

Also on this day, 1300 miles to the south, General Pemberton is completely surrounded by Grants Army and Navy forces, and is about to give in to the immense pressure of constant shelling and lack of supplies for this starving and nearly out of ammunition army just barely holding on to the defenses at Vicksburg.  The fate of the Army of Vicksburg, numbering nearly 27,000 men, hangs in the balance.  More on this tomorrow

Stay tuned for the most famous part of the battle, tomorrow, when Longstreet is ordered to send his entire corps into the Federal Center, known as Picketts Charge.

Barksdale's Mississippi Brigade in the Peach Orchard

 

Smashing through Sickles Artillery Batteries



General Barksdales headstone, located in the Greenwood Cemetary, Jackson, MS



Col. Chaimberlain leading the 20th Maine in their famous but desperate charge



The surviving members of the 20th Maine at a reunion on their position after the war



The aftermath of Day 2 (graphic, but this is why we are here)



I may have left out information, keep in mind Im trying to summarize a metric shitton of information into a post short enough to keep ARFcom GDs attention.  We honor the dead from both sides on Day 2 today.  Discuss.

Valor at its finest...

DAY 3

General Lee wished to renew the attack on Friday, July 3, using the same basic plan as the previous day: Longstreet would attack the Federal left, while Ewell attacked Culp's Hill.  However, before Longstreet was ready, Union XII Corps troops started a dawn artillery bombardment against the Confederates on Culp's Hill in an effort to regain a portion of their works lost on the Second Day. The Confederates attacked, and the second fight for Culp's Hill ended around 11 a.m with the lines almost unchanged.

Lee was forced to change his plans. Longstreet would command Pickett's Virginia division of his own First Corps, plus six brigades from Hill's Corps, in an attack on the Federal II Corps position at the right center of the Union line on Cemetery Ridge. Prior to the attack, all the artillery the Confederacy could bring to bear on the Federal positions would bombard and weaken the enemy's line.

Around 1 p.m., from 150 Confederate guns of the Virginia Artillery Battalion began an artillery bombardment that was probably the largest of the war, and the largest ever in the Western Hemisphere. In order to save valuable ammunition for the infantry attack that they knew would follow, the Army of the Potomac's artillery, under the command of Brig. Gen. Henry Jackson Hunt, at first did not return the enemy's fire. After waiting about 15 minutes, about 80 Federal Artillery, Mostly Ohio Boys, added to the din. The Army of Northern Virginia was critically low on artillery ammunition, and the shelling did not significantly affect the Union position. Around 3 p.m., the cannon fire subsided, and 12,500 Southern soldiers stepped from the ridgeline and advanced almost a mile in the open to Cemetery Ridge in what is known to history as "Pickett's Charge". As the Confederates approached, there was fierce flanking artillery fire from Union positions on Cemetery Hill and north of Little Round Top, and musket and canister fire from Hancock's II Corps. In the Union center, the commander of artillery had held fire during the Confederate bombardment (in order to save it for the infantry assault, which Meade had correctly predicted the day before), leading Southern commanders to believe the Northern cannon batteries had been knocked out. However, they opened fire on the Confederate infantry during their approach with devastating results. Nearly 75% of the Virginians did not return to their own lines. Although the Federal line wavered and broke temporarily at a jog called the "Angle" in a low stone fence, just north of a patch of vegetation called the Copse of Trees, reinforcements rushed into the breach, and the Confederate attack was repulsed. The farthest advance of Brig. Gen. Lewis A. Armistead's brigade of Maj. Gen. George Pickett's division at the Angle is referred to as the "High-water mark of the Confederacy", arguably representing the closest the South ever came to its goal of achieving independence from the Union via military victory.

Cavalry Actions, Day 3

There were two cavalry engagements on July 3. Stuart was sent to guard the Confederate left flank and was to be prepared to exploit any success the infantry might achieve on Cemetery Hill by flanking the Federal right and hitting their trains and lines of communications. About three miles east of Gettysburg, in what is now called "East Cavalry Field", Stuart's forces collided with Federal cavalry of Brig. Gen. David McMurtrie Gregg's division and Brig. Gen. Custer's brigade. A lengthy mounted battle, including hand-to-hand sabre combat, ensued. Custer's charge, leading the 1st Michigan Cavalry, blunted the attack by Wade Hampton's brigade, blocking Stuart from achieving his objectives in the Federal rear. Meanwhile, after hearing news of the day's victory, Brig. Gen. Judson Kilpatrick launched a cavalry attack against the infantry positions of Longstreet's Corps southwest of Big Round Top. Brig. Gen. Elon J. Farnsworth protested against the futility of such a move but obeyed orders. Farnsworth was killed in the attack, and his brigade suffered significant losses.

At the end of the day, General Picketts Brigade was almost completely destroyed.  When asked by General Lee to reform his division for a counter attack, Pickett replied "Sir, I have no division you speak of."  Lees command staff took notice of the situation and advised General Lee that they should move out with the nightfall.  General Meade had several requests from his men, and from Washington, to run down the ANV and destroy what was left of it.  Meade knew better than this, and did not give chase, knowing the ANV was still above 50% combat strength and was still dangerous.  The war for Southern Independence(Northern Aggression) would drag on for almost two more years.  The casualties suffered by both armies were staggering, In 3 days of fighting it is estimated that nearly 53,000, yes you read that right, FIFTY-THREE THOUSAND men were killed or wounded.  I hope you will take time today to recognize them and the sacrifices they made.















Captured Confederates after Picketts Charge:

I'm convinced that the mustache is responsible.

Funny how the Union invaded the South to free the slaves there, while they still kept slavery in their states.  

Funny to think of the size of these battles on our own lawns. I don't think any movie or anything has ever done justice to the sheer scale of these engagements. 90 thousand troops versus 70 thousand is insane.

This.  Ive been a reenactor for a few years and have participated in some large scale events, but nothing Ive done is even near half the scale of any actual battle.  I don't think most people grasp the immense scale of the battles.