That was what I was just going to ask. Why didn’t they stick to the plan and ignore Devil Den and Round Tops. Wasnt it just disobeying orders for Hood and Longstreet to not stick to the road ? Was it fear of their flank being hit by Ward ?
Not around them...straight up Emmitsburg Rd. like Lee wanted...you would have half of sickles 3rd corps on your right ...but wouldn't they just fall back to original position so they wouldn't be cutoff from AoP
They couldn't ignore Devil's Den because there were troops there. The plan did not account for Sickles' corps being out there because they weren't when it was made.
Traditionally, the addition of a star to the American flag occurs on the 4th of July following the state’s admittance. The 7th WV Infantry would have added a star the day after the battle.
I think when Wright crossed the Emmitsburg Road and advanced towards the gap that had formed in the Union line there was still a good hour of daylight left. Posey mismanaged the protracted battle that had boiled over at the Bliss farm piecemealing out company sized groups of soldiers to the battle that see-sawed back and forth all afternoon. As Wright began his advance east Posey was in the midst of clearing the Bliss farm of Yankees for the final time. However he felt he couldn't advance across Emmitsburg Road due to a strong Union skirmish line that had formed on his left that could swing around and threaten his rear. Mahone and Pender's Division had a skirmish line only it was far to the west. Had it been extended further it could have pinned the Union skirmishers allowing Posey to advance to support Wright without fear of attack from the skirmishers. Of course, had that happened you still would have had a problem with Mahone's inexplicable refusal to advance. What's more puzzling is Mahone's brigade's disposition INBETWEEN two of Pender's brigades!?! Also Anderson's Division very much was supposed to be part of the attack-in-echelon assault!
Really good layout and analysis. Thanks folks.
Glad you enjoyed it
That was what I was just going to ask. Why didn’t they stick to the plan and ignore Devil Den and Round Tops. Wasnt it just disobeying orders for Hood and Longstreet to not stick to the road ? Was it fear of their flank being hit by Ward ?
I think they were worried about being flanked on the march if they tried to move around those 2 areas.
Not around them...straight up Emmitsburg Rd. like Lee wanted...you would have half of sickles 3rd corps on your right ...but wouldn't they just fall back to original position so they wouldn't be cutoff from AoP
They couldn't ignore Devil's Den because there were troops there. The plan did not account for Sickles' corps being out there because they weren't when it was made.
General Sickles. The greatest General in American history.
@@refugeeca lol General Meade would have something to say about that
Traditionally, the addition of a star to the American flag occurs on the 4th of July following the state’s admittance. The 7th WV Infantry would have added a star the day after the battle.
Ah yes. Good point
I think when Wright crossed the Emmitsburg Road and advanced towards the gap that had formed in the Union line there was still a good hour of daylight left. Posey mismanaged the protracted battle that had boiled over at the Bliss farm piecemealing out company sized groups of soldiers to the battle that see-sawed back and forth all afternoon. As Wright began his advance east Posey was in the midst of clearing the Bliss farm of Yankees for the final time. However he felt he couldn't advance across Emmitsburg Road due to a strong Union skirmish line that had formed on his left that could swing around and threaten his rear. Mahone and Pender's Division had a skirmish line only it was far to the west. Had it been extended further it could have pinned the Union skirmishers allowing Posey to advance to support Wright without fear of attack from the skirmishers. Of course, had that happened you still would have had a problem with Mahone's inexplicable refusal to advance. What's more puzzling is Mahone's brigade's disposition INBETWEEN two of Pender's brigades!?! Also Anderson's Division very much was supposed to be part of the attack-in-echelon assault!
Yeah, once a battle starts, it’s pretty much chaos.