Meade may have been a cranky middle aged son-of-a-gun. Lee himself (supposedy) stated Meade would be cautious. And Meade was cautious. Yet, regardless of his being reactionary, he did something that had not been accomplished in the previous year, the army he pulled together in three days, and with proactive generals, Meade and the Army of the Potomac defeated Lee. Dr. Guelzo is brilliant. If Victor Davis Hansen is the face of WWII at the moment, Guelzo is the face of the Civil War. Maybe Meade should be given credit for what he did, and Lee apparently called this as well, he and his generals capitalized on Lee's mistakes. Hats off to Meade, it took 4 generals, but Meade did what the other 4 couldn't.
I have to disagree in part with Prof Guelzo's characterization of the Corps commander's view of Dan Sickles at 48:25. Sickles was a "political general" meaning he was purely a political appointment. All the other Corps commanders were West Pointers as was Meade. So the "less than affection" was due in part more to his not being a professional than his politics. Also no doubt playing into the "less than affection" was Sickles pre-war reputation. Sickles was censured by the New York State Assembly for escorting a known prostitute, Fanny White, into the Assembly's chambers. He literally got away with murder, having shot and killed Philip Barton Key II, the United States Attorney for the District of Columbia and the son of Francis Scott Key, in DC. He subsequently confessed to the murder and pleaded temporary insanity-the first use of this defense in the United States-and ultimately acquitted. All this would have been well known to most in the Union (and Confederate) ranks as the trial was the main topic of conversations in Washington for weeks, and the extensive coverage of national papers was sympathetic to Sickles. Sickles' character and rank was an anathema to the West Point professionals. Meade did not simply "post Sickles and the III Corps waaay out on the left flank his Army," that was located in the most convenient place to post III Corps as it arrived at Gettysburg up Taneytown Road, which runs east (behind) the Round Tops and Cemetery Ridge. Where else would III Corps go? XII Corps held the right flank on Culps Hill; XI Corps was on Cemetery Hill with I Corps to the left and II Corps next in line holding the north end of Cemetery Ridges. Meade placed Sickles on southern Cemetery Ridge that linked up with the II Corps on his right and anchored his left on Little Round Top to secure the AoP's left flank. It was simply a matter of timing and location, all Sickles' units had to do is make a left flanking movement from Taneytown Road and quickly move into position. As is was, Sickles, with no professional military training, thought he knew better and, acting without authorization from Meade, marched III Corps to occupy the Peach Orchard, a slightly higher piece of ground 0.7 miles (1,100 m) to his front, owned by the Sherfy family. This had two significant negative consequences: his position now took the form of a salient, which could be attacked from multiple sides; and he was forced to occupy lines that were much longer than his two-division corps could defend. Meade rode to the III Corps position and impatiently explained “General Sickles, this is neutral ground, our guns command it, as well as the enemy’s. The very reason you cannot hold it applies to them.” Meade was furious about this insubordination, but it was too late to do anything about it-the Confederate attack was imminent.
This Professor is very knowledgeable about the civil war and communicates it extremely well! Learning is fun!
Yes, an outstanding speaker and very well spoken. Appreciated all of it. Thanks.
56:40 a brilliant description of the limitations both technological and numerical and visual of military communication
I read that Kelsey Grammer will play the part of Allen Guelzo in the movie.
Meade may have been a cranky middle aged son-of-a-gun. Lee himself (supposedy) stated Meade would be cautious. And Meade was cautious. Yet, regardless of his being reactionary, he did something that had not been accomplished in the previous year, the army he pulled together in three days, and with proactive generals, Meade and the Army of the Potomac defeated Lee. Dr. Guelzo is brilliant. If Victor Davis Hansen is the face of WWII at the moment, Guelzo is the face of the Civil War. Maybe Meade should be given credit for what he did, and Lee apparently called this as well, he and his generals capitalized on Lee's mistakes. Hats off to Meade, it took 4 generals, but Meade did what the other 4 couldn't.
I just ordered his book. Great listen!!
Glenn Krzywicki Hi, is the book read by this author? Thanks
I love this, this time was very very fascinating, so are the key men! What a time of history, and fantastic battles.
this is excellent. I'm buying his book
This guy could make a mint reading audio books!
I love this guy! If he’s speaking, iam listening. Thank you sir, for the free education. 🤗
Most educational. Great lecture. Thank you.
Gettysburg together with Vicksburg certainly were the beginning of the end for the CSA.Brave men.❤️🎶🎶🎶🎵🎵🎵
I have to disagree in part with Prof Guelzo's characterization of the Corps commander's view of Dan Sickles at 48:25. Sickles was a "political general" meaning he was purely a political appointment. All the other Corps commanders were West Pointers as was Meade. So the "less than affection" was due in part more to his not being a professional than his politics. Also no doubt playing into the "less than affection" was Sickles pre-war reputation. Sickles was censured by the New York State Assembly for escorting a known prostitute, Fanny White, into the Assembly's chambers. He literally got away with murder, having shot and killed Philip Barton Key II, the United States Attorney for the District of Columbia and the son of Francis Scott Key, in DC. He subsequently confessed to the murder and pleaded temporary insanity-the first use of this defense in the United States-and ultimately acquitted. All this would have been well known to most in the Union (and Confederate) ranks as the trial was the main topic of conversations in Washington for weeks, and the extensive coverage of national papers was sympathetic to Sickles. Sickles' character and rank was an anathema to the West Point professionals.
Meade did not simply "post Sickles and the III Corps waaay out on the left flank his Army," that was located in the most convenient place to post III Corps as it arrived at Gettysburg up Taneytown Road, which runs east (behind) the Round Tops and Cemetery Ridge. Where else would III Corps go? XII Corps held the right flank on Culps Hill; XI Corps was on Cemetery Hill with I Corps to the left and II Corps next in line holding the north end of Cemetery Ridges. Meade placed Sickles on southern Cemetery Ridge that linked up with the II Corps on his right and anchored his left on Little Round Top to secure the AoP's left flank. It was simply a matter of timing and location, all Sickles' units had to do is make a left flanking movement from Taneytown Road and quickly move into position. As is was, Sickles, with no professional military training, thought he knew better and, acting without authorization from Meade, marched III Corps to occupy the Peach Orchard, a slightly higher piece of ground 0.7 miles (1,100 m) to his front, owned by the Sherfy family. This had two significant negative consequences: his position now took the form of a salient, which could be attacked from multiple sides; and he was forced to occupy lines that were much longer than his two-division corps could defend. Meade rode to the III Corps position and impatiently explained “General Sickles, this is neutral ground, our guns command it, as well as the enemy’s. The very reason you cannot hold it applies to them.” Meade was furious about this insubordination, but it was too late to do anything about it-the Confederate attack was imminent.
very enging
Are you having a stroke lol. You misspelled "engaging "
6th 8uaa Zip And the