Right now (Saturday, April 27, 2013) we are in Gettysburg
and, of course, studying the Battle of Gettysburg. The Battle of Gettysburg was
a 3-day battle. Up until then, General Lee’s armies were defeating the Union
army over and over again. So, one day, Lee decided to invade the North for the
second time in his career. There are three reasons why he invaded the North: 1)
he wanted to win on the northern soil and maybe it would cripple the
north, 2) if he won another battle
on northern soil, Europe would recognize the Confederate cause and they may
gain support, and 3) he wanted to get his soldiers some shoes. So he slowly
made his way into Pennsylvania towards Gettysburg. Lee didn’t want to engage
any Union soldiers. The Union army
knew that Lee was on the move, but didn’t know where he was. One Calvary group rode into Gettysburg
and recognized how important it was because of the terrain (hilly) and that
there were 10 roads that intersected in the town. Word was sent back to Meade, and riding ahead, LT. Jones
spotted some Confederate Infantry coming out from the trees. Jones spotted a
Confederate mounted soldier and shot at him. He missed but that was the first shot
fired at Gettysburg. The Calvary were able to slow down the Confederates long
enough for Union Infantry reinforcements. The Union and Confederates clashed
but soon, the Union soldiers were pushed through and out of Gettysburg. Confederate
General Ewell and Gordon were riding through Gettysburg when a stray bullet hit
Ewell in the leg. Gordon asked, “Are you hurt?” “No,” Ewell replied. “It don’t
hurt a bit to get shot in a wooden leg.”
That was the first day of Gettysburg.
The
next day was filled with battles. The Union lines were shaped like a fishing
hook. The Confederates’ lines were also configured like a fishing hook. The
Confederates, thinking they had won the first day, commenced several attacks
along the Union lines but all were repulsed. The major battles were fought at:
Culp’s Hill and Little Round Top. At Little Round Top, Sickle was supposed to
be posted from on the hill down cemetery ridge and be connected with the rest
of the army. However, he moved
down the hill towards the Confederate army, which left a gap in the Union lines
and Little Round Top unprotected (only a signal corp. was there). Seeing this,
Lee sent some men to attack the gap. A battle commenced but reinforcements came
and sealed the gap although there was much loss of life. Chief Engineer Warren was sent to
check on Sickles and realized that Little Round Top was not defended. He was able to get men to defend
it just as the Confederates came out of the trees and started up the hill. This
was the famous Devil’s Den and Slaughter Pen battles. If the Confederates had taken Little Round Top, the
Confederates would have won Gettysburg.
The 3rd and last day’s highlight of Gettysburg is
Picket’s charge. (Quick fact! The Confederate 1st Maryland Battalion
had a mascot, an American bull dog named Sally. There was a rumor that Sally
would only bark at three things: women, Politicians, and Union soldiers. She barked throughout the battle and
then refused to leave the dead and wounded on the field for 3 days after the
battle ended. She survived
Gettysburg but would be killed later at another battle.) Lee wanted to split
the Union lines on Cemetery hill so he sent 12,000 Confederate soldiers and
some cannons, under the command of Longstreet and Picket. When all was ready,
the Confederates opened artillery fire. The Union responded with similar
blasts. The firing lasted for 2 hours before Confederate cannons ran out of
ammunition. The battlefield was dense with smoke. Later, Picket received a letter from the artillery commander
and it said, “The guns have been driven off. For god’s sake, come quick, or we
cannot support you. Ammunition nearly out.” Quickly, Picket rode over to Longstreet and asked, “General,
shall I advance.” Longstreet knew that if he gave the order, it would only
spell death for many many the soldiers, so Longstreet said nothing. Picket
asked again, “General, shall I advance?” Longstreet, overwhelmed with emotions,
came to a decision. He gave the order to attack with a simple nod of his head.
First, when the Confederates advanced, no one shot because the lines of
Confederates marching towards them amazed the Union soldiers. Then, the guns
came to life. Cannons roared to life as they shot. They tore gaps in the
Confederate lines but they still kept advancing because they were going to win.
The Confederates actually breeched the Union line, but the Union soldiers were
able to push them back. But in the
end, the Confederate soldiers were pushed back. Lee, riding his horse Traveler,
told the retreating soldiers, “ Do not be discouraged men. It is my fault. It
is all my fault.” Lee soon found Picket, whose eyes were filled with tears, and
commanded him to prepare his division for a possible counter attack. Picket
Responded, “I have no division.” 12,000 Confederates charged at the Union lines
and over 5,000 soldiers would have been killed. Lee has lost Gettysburg and
this would be the last time that Lee would ever get a chance to invade the North.
It is pretty exciting to be here where Gettysburg was
fought. There are memorials
everywhere. I also found out that
the Union had a regiment of sharpshooters who wore green shirts and pants for
camouflage and high brown boots.
You had to be invited into this regiment. Each mad had to be able to place ten shots in a circle of 10 inches in diameter from 200 yards away. This regiment alone held
off the Confederate charge of Little Round Top and was instrumental in
defending Little Round Top. [MH]
in honor of Sally the dog.
Hey look! it's Abe Lincoln!
