Battle of Gettysburg- July 3, 1863- 161st Anniversary Special
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 6 ก.ย. 2024
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As Dawn approached on July 3, Robert E. Lee considered his options. The attacks of the day before had achieved limited success, with the capture of ground, the wrecking of the Federal Third Corps and the bloodying of two others. Yet, the Confederates had not accomplished their objective of driving the Union soldiers off of Cemetery Hill. It had been touch-and-go many times, but every breakthrough had been met with Union reinforcements. But, in war, even limited success could be considered something to build on to achieve victory.
According to his after-battle report, Lee wrote that the plan had remained unchanged from the day before. Reinforcing their gains on Culp's Hill from the night before and renewing the attack on the Union Right would be Richard Ewell's Corps.
During the growing darkness of the night before, the Confederates had captured some vacant Union fortifications. A renewal of the attacks on the Union position could threaten the Army of the Potomac and their avenue of resupply along the Baltimore Pike. At the same time, reinforced with a fresh division of Virginians under George Pickett, James Longstreet was to renew his attack from the day before on the southern end of the battlefield on the Union Left. While such a plan was indicated in his report after the battle, Longstreet would contend that he did not receive orders to that effect the night before when he had visited with Lee. It was a confusion of orders that would ultimately lead to inaction on the southern end of the battlefield on the morning of July 3.
The same could not be said about what occurred on the Union Right.
The Union forces would initiate an attack for the first time since the battle began. Union 12th Corps soldiers returning from being sent to reinforce the southern end of the battlefield would find in the darkness of the morning that the fortifications they had built were now occupied by some squatters with unfriendly dispositions.
When informed of this, Union 12th Corps commander Henry Slocum declared that the men of the 12th Corps would drive them out in the morning. At around 4 in the morning, the Union artillery opened fire. A Union artillerist would later write, "We poured shot and shell into them." These missiles of death and destruction would splinter trees and send branches careening to the earth and on top of Rebel soldiers.
This morning, the fighting on Culp's Hill foreshadowed what the war would become. It was not the pageantry of bayonets gleaming in the sunlight, banners fluttering in the air, or officers leading their men with their hats on the tips of their swords across open fields. Instead, wave upon wave of Rebel soldiers, including the vaunted Stonewall Brigade, would throw themselves into the hellfire sent their way by the enemy in relative safety behind breastworks or in trenches.
Some Union soldiers reported that they fired as many as 200 rounds.
Still, the Confederates came on as reinforcements arrived. Every attack was futile and found limited or no success.
But the futile attacks were not restricted to the Confederates that morning.
The 2nd Massachusetts and the 27th Indiana were ordered to charge across Spangler's Meadow toward Confederates behind a stone wall. Lt. Colonel Mudge, upon receiving the order, stated, "It is murder, but it is the order." Then, to his men, he yelled, "Up, men, over the works! Forward, double quick !" Both regiments would attack and were bloodily repulsed. Mudge, who had been a sparring partner of Robert E. Lee's son at Harvard before the war, would be killed in the attempt.
By late morning, the last Confederate attacks from Maryland and Virginia units were repulsed, and the fighting died down. No ground was gained, and the Union forces still held the critical high ground covering the Baltimore Pike.
There had been no attack on the southern end of the battlefield. Still, Lee had one final option: the division under George Pickett.
Lee, now, turned his attention to the Union Center. Lee had often asked his men to do the unthinkable before the Battle of Gettysburg. Almost every time, they had delivered him victory. So long as there was a chance for victory with these men, Lee would take it.
The plan was a simple one. It called for the massing of just under 150 cannons to bombard the Union Center, softening its defenses to provide an infantry assault with a...
Wow, this one felt as auditorily impactful as it was for all of those young men. Blue or Grey, their experiences that day was conveyed to us in shocking audio. And Fran’s audio was truly shocking and descriptive.
“Loved this anniversary special the most. Well worth the wait” - from well known AG listener John B
The symphonic ending by the Walk Tallers was the cherry on top!
{Chefs Kiss}
A magnificent set of podcasts for Gettysburg 161. Top quality. Brilliantly written and narrated, with some fantastic contributions by the various LBGs. Anyone interested in the Battle of Gettysburg should listen to these podcasts. Mick - London, England.
Thanks, Mick!
AG Team and Battlefield Guides,
I am a long-time listener from MI. I can not thank all you artisans and expert historians enough for keeping our shared history alive. Thank You!
Very kind of you. Thank you. And you’re welcome
Thr description about Pickett's charge is horrifying.
But it gives a glimpse into the past I would not have taken on my own.
Great narration and great work on this channel!
I tried to find the most horrifying and least glorifying quotes I could. The ones that didn’t make the cut were because I couldn’t get through the read without quivering. Which, now that I think about it, probably would have worked better. Thank you for the compliments! Glad you enjoyed it
So many thoughts to unpack here. Can definitely see the influence of your narratives cross into these Anniversary Shows. I thought Fran did a tremendous job as well. But my favorite part is the “little known or seldom mentioned facts “ that you sprinkle in Matt. The forward AOP regiments collecting Day 2 rifles and loading them at the wall is a great example. Congratulations on your work here. Well done young man.
Thank you. Six Questions Lentz had a good hand in those little tidbits.
I don't know how you can top the anniversary episodes. The last one was well worth the wait. Wow! Thank you, Matt. It's just wonderful! Charlie Fennel rocks love how he used The Clash!
Thank you. I’m going to resume working on the narrative episodes which are like this but more in depth and more produced. I give myself no deadlines on those lol
Take your time. That way, the episode will work out the way you want. You are doing a wonderful job.
Excellent job to Matt and the AG team. They produce top tier products. From AG today, Ask a guide and much more they never disappoint. I’m grateful to be a long time listener and I’m excited to see what the future brings. Superb job by all! If you haven’t make sure to sign up as a Patreon, it is well worth it!
Thank you for your support!
Wow, Matt! This anniversary special edition was AMAZING!
Thank you very much!
Bravo on 161 content Matthew! 👏🏻 bravo 👏🏻
Thank you, Ghost
Awesome job. Love the descriptions and explanations of the experiences that those men had to go through. I'd love to hear one of these as the 4th and what the armies were doing and and the aftermath of the battle.
Some day. Not now. I’m tapped lol
@@addressinggettysburg you deserve a break. Had a hell of two months.
Impressive. All your hard work recently has paid off. These 3 episodes are damn good. I take back some of what I’ve said about you 😂😂😂
Lol
Thanks Matt ❤❤❤❤
These episodes are powerful! And when you're ready to expand your coffee menu here's a few suggestions: "Jubal's Early Morning Brew," "20th Maine's Bayonet Charge Brew," "Devil's Den Blend," "Union Blue Brew," and of course "General Ewell's Rocket Fuel" (Maybe "Four Score Bold Pour?") Sorry, I couldn't help myself
Great suggestions!
Absolutely superb.
Thanks for posting this.
Dr. Charlie Fenmell is the best!! GO EER'S!!
Dang dude, this was super good
Thank you
Wonderful…. thank you.
Thank you too!
Fantastic!
Thank you!
Many historians posit that Pickett's Charge was a reasonable risk on the part of Lee. It was Malvern Hill all over again. It was the Union assault at Fredericksburg, it was a precursor to Franklin a year later. It was a tremendous error of judgement. Other than Edward Porter Alexander noting some Union guns being pulled out of the line near the copse of trees, there was NO indication that Union artillery was weakened - from Cemetery Hill to Little Round Top, the Union guns kept up their fire. The soldiers and officers knew it was suicide to make that charge. It was inexcusable. If a charge were to be made, it should have been directed at the apex of the Union line at Cemetery Hill, like Upton's charge at Spotsylvania.
They had tried the hills and it didn’t work out too well. I get what Lee was thinking about hitting the center, but what bothers me is that he had to know that, even if Anderson’s brigades had joined, he didn’t have the reinforcements needed to exploit any breach in the line that Pickett’s/Trimble’s/Pettigrew’s men might have made. It was a sad waste of life, but I guess he had to try.
War is not pretty.