Addressing Gettysburg- The Gettysburg Shoe Myth with Scott Hartwig

Regular contributor to Addressing Gettysburg, author and former chief of interpretation here at Gettysburg National Military Park, Scott Hartwig, is back to, hopefully, put an end to the Battle of Gettysburg's "shoe myth" for once and for all.
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Here's the blogpost that inspired this episode
npsgnmp.wordpress.com/2011/10...
npsgnmp.wordpress.com/2011/10...

[@timm1894]

I could listen to Scott all day long. I actually took notes on Heth and Buford. Great stuff.

[@addressinggettysburg]

Thank you. So could I. Just saw him today and enjoyed our conversation.

[@slatephotonet]

Terrific interview. Thank you both.

[@addressinggettysburg]

You’re quite welcome. And thank you!

[@gpfoster1966]

Putting on my Gettysburg Movie nerd cap, the line that kept running through my head through this interview: "Things will get out of control, Mr. Heath. That is why we have orders. Perhaps you misunderstood them?" And then almost in the next breath, Lee says, "I cannot understand what has happened to General Stuart. I have heard nothing. Do you understand me, sir? I have no idea what lies in front of me. It may be the entire Federal army!"

[@addressinggettysburg]

😂

[@MarkFlashman]

They came looking for shoes, and anything else they could get their hands on.

[@addressinggettysburg]

Prior to reaching Gettysburg, yes. They had plenty that they had stolen from other towns on the way by the time they reached here on July 1.

[@eldonhagen1257]

I read about the 'Marsh Creek Skirmish', which happened on June 26th 1863, the same day the rebels raided Gettysburg for supplies. Confederates encountered Pennsylvania State Cavalry & Militia between Cashtown and Gettysburg, and after a brief skirmish they took a few hundred of them prisoners. The rebels ultimately let them go, but before they did they confiscated the PA state militias' newly issued boots and muskets.
Maybe it was this type of 'shoe shopping' that Heth had in mind on July 1, they did think it was state militia in Gettysburg, even after Pettigrew reported the presence of union cavalry. It seems plausible that they would send a small force into Gettysburg to overpower the supposed 'state militia' and steal their boots, guns and rations...but.....it wasn't PA State Cavalry...it was Buford, and a bit later...the Iron Brigade!

[@addressinggettysburg]

I don’t think that’s the shoe shopping Heth had in mind. I think the shoe myth was a CYA thing slipped into Heth’s report that Lost Causers, years later, picked up on and amplified in order to paint a picture of poor, barefoot, starving Rebs. The Rebs had orders to concentrate at Cashtown or Gettysburg. Heth was already at Cashtown. The whole ANV was gathering supplies wherever they went, so it makes sense that Heth would send Pettigrew in on the 30th with a wagon for whatever he can find. When he comes back saying he found troops, it also makes sense to me that Heth would bring his division to Gettysburg in order to secure the other town that the army is ordered to concentrate at. Also, Heth would have, or should have, known that Early was through there in the 26th. Since the army is on a raid-in-force, he would have assumed that Gettysburg was picked dry. So if he really did hear about a supply of shoes, he should have assumed Early already got it. History is funny. There’s what happens and then, the second it’s over, it turns into someone’s adorned version of things. I think most decisions are made based on practical considerations at the time.

[@josephdenice731]

Great episode as always!

[@addressinggettysburg]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@tberkoff]

I would argue that Reynolds swiftly and ably brought his 1st Corps onto the field, but Reynolds's actions during the short time he was on the battlefield was most unimpressive. He should have managed the deployment of his divisions, especially his 1st Division, rather than leading individual companies and regiments into the fight (which results in his death). As a result, the 1st Division is easily flanked on the right side by Davis's brigade, and in the process decimates Cutler's brigade, imperiling the entire corps.

[@tberkoff]

@@markcrampton5549 No. Wing commanders should not be leading individual regiments into battle.

[@markcrampton5549]

@@tberkoff You mean like Hancock & the 1st Minnesota? Or Jackson at Cedar Mountain?

[@tberkoff]

@@markcrampton5549 Completely different situation on July 2. The Union left was in complete disarray and Hancock was the only general officer in that area. Reynolds was showboating when he led the 2nd Wisconsin into the battle.

[@malafunkshun8086]

Watching the first part of this got me thinking if anyone has ever written a history about the Gettysburg Battlefield guides.
If anyone hasn’t, well there you go!
Another fruitful topic for a Gettysburg history (or PhD Dissertation).
Aloha 😊🤙🏼

[@addressinggettysburg]

Great question

[@tberkoff]

I was surprised there was little discussion about how AP Hill was a novice at corps command at Gettysburg and many of the Confederate mistakes on July 1st (and on July 2-3) could be blamed on Hill. Hill seems like a non-player for the remainder of the battle and Lee gives command of the assault on July 3 to Longstreet, not Hill, despite 2/3 of the force coming from Hill's corps.

[@addressinggettysburg]

Good point, but this was really about how the shoe myth came to be. Not an analysis of the First Day's fight. We'll get to Hill and his VD eventually lol

[@charlescritchfield8199]

Good episode

[@addressinggettysburg]

Gracias