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30 - Up and Over
The Army of Northern Virginia went into position face to face with the Army of the Potomac in the early morning of July 7, 1863. Longstreet formed the right flank, Early was in the centre and Hill formed the end of the line. Lee immediately saw that Wade Hampton and John Chambliss had not exaggerated the previous evening. The altitudes were impressive and in many places so steep that an ascent seemed almost impossible. Longstreet began to advise against an attack from the first minute on. He called the enemy's position Fredericksburg in reverse, especially because there was a running water, Pipe Creek, which had to be crossed during an advance. Early, new in command, was cautious, but noted that it would be possible to take the position, although one would lack the means to hold it. Hill was in his tent, as he had fallen ill once more. Lee was torn as he was uncomfortable avoiding the enemy and struggled with the question of an attack until Richard Anderson arrived with a young officer and asked that Lee listen to the latter.
Colonel David Lang was actually the commander of the 8th Florida, but led the entire small brigade, because the real brigadier was ill with typhoid fever. The 25-year-old man had been a land surveyor before the war and naturally had an eye for terrain. He had been studying the lines of the Union Army since daybreak and had come across one, probably the only weak point. In front of the junction between the V and VI Corps there was a hill which dominated parts of the position in terms of elevation. Because of the angle of the slope, troop movements on the side facing away from the Union lines were hidden from the eyes of Meade's troops. Lang therefore proposed a limited and unusual attack. As in Napoleonic times, an attack column of twelve regiments was to be formed, five regiments deep. Only the first line would have their muskets loaded, the rest would proceed with bayonets attached. This column would be carefully led up the hill on the Confederate side and wait for the attack signal just below the topographical point. Should the order be given, the column would advance like a man and enter the position at storm speed. The first line would soften the enemy with a salvo point blanc and drive them away in close combat. The following regiments would then widen the breach and, if possible, roll up parts of the V. Corps, which would now be attacked additionally in the front by Hill's remaining corps. The speed, stealth and refusal to form a firing line would minimise losses in the attack column and the surprise factor would demoralise the enemy.
Lee was very enthusiastic about the idea of attacking a Union Corps in isolation and, if necessary, wearing it down. He was impressed by Lang's suggestion and therefore gave him permission to assemble his attack formation of hand-picked regiments. In keeping with his fighting spirit, Lang decided to form the first line out of the 740 men of his Florida Brigade. For the second line, the colonel chose the 26th North Carolina from Pettigrew's and the 11th Mississippi from Davis' brigade, Heth's division. The 26th North Carolina was raised in 1861 from central and western North Carolina, with Zebulon Vance as its first colonel. Vance was elected Governor of North Carolina in 1862 and command of the unit passed to 20-year-old Colonel Henry K. Burgwyn. The 26th spent the next year defending the North carolina coast, seeing its first action at New Bern. It then went north and fought in the Seven Days Battles before returning to the North Carolina coast. In 1863, it marched northwards and became attached to General Lee's army, where they were given the distinction of being not only the largest, but the best trained regiment present. The 11th Mississippi on the other hand was maybe one of the scrappiest regiments in Confederate servie. Raised among sharpshooting, wild backwoodsmen, it had also a company of university students who prided themselves on being always undisciplined and impulsive. Both units, as different as they were, were known to be combative and their task would be to cleanse the trenches after invading them. The third line was comprised of Archer's 14th Tennessee and Davis' 42nd Mississippi. Behind them were the 10th and 11th Alabama from Wilcox' brigade. Finally, the 6th, 12th and 16th Virginia from Mahone's brigade would bring up the rear. All together they represented some of Hill's best fighters, led by competent officers. The attack column thus numbered almost 4,500 men.
Chapter 30 - Up and Over
The Army of Northern Virginia went into position face to face with the Army of the Potomac in the early morning of July 7, 1863. Longstreet formed the right flank, Early was in the centre and Hill formed the end of the line. Lee immediately saw that Wade Hampton and John Chambliss had not exaggerated the previous evening. The altitudes were impressive and in many places so steep that an ascent seemed almost impossible. Longstreet began to advise against an attack from the first minute on. He called the enemy's position Fredericksburg in reverse, especially because there was a running water, Pipe Creek, which had to be crossed during an advance. Early, new in command, was cautious, but noted that it would be possible to take the position, although one would lack the means to hold it. Hill was in his tent, as he had fallen ill once more. Lee was torn as he was uncomfortable avoiding the enemy and struggled with the question of an attack until Richard Anderson arrived with a young officer and asked that Lee listen to the latter.
Colonel David Lang was actually the commander of the 8th Florida, but led the entire small brigade, because the real brigadier was ill with typhoid fever. The 25-year-old man had been a land surveyor before the war and naturally had an eye for terrain. He had been studying the lines of the Union Army since daybreak and had come across one, probably the only weak point. In front of the junction between the V and VI Corps there was a hill which dominated parts of the position in terms of elevation. Because of the angle of the slope, troop movements on the side facing away from the Union lines were hidden from the eyes of Meade's troops. Lang therefore proposed a limited and unusual attack. As in Napoleonic times, an attack column of twelve regiments was to be formed, five regiments deep. Only the first line would have their muskets loaded, the rest would proceed with bayonets attached. This column would be carefully led up the hill on the Confederate side and wait for the attack signal just below the topographical point. Should the order be given, the column would advance like a man and enter the position at storm speed. The first line would soften the enemy with a salvo point blanc and drive them away in close combat. The following regiments would then widen the breach and, if possible, roll up parts of the V. Corps, which would now be attacked additionally in the front by Hill's remaining corps. The speed, stealth and refusal to form a firing line would minimise losses in the attack column and the surprise factor would demoralise the enemy.
Lee was very enthusiastic about the idea of attacking a Union Corps in isolation and, if necessary, wearing it down. He was impressed by Lang's suggestion and therefore gave him permission to assemble his attack formation of hand-picked regiments. In keeping with his fighting spirit, Lang decided to form the first line out of the 740 men of his Florida Brigade. For the second line, the colonel chose the 26th North Carolina from Pettigrew's and the 11th Mississippi from Davis' brigade, Heth's division. The 26th North Carolina was raised in 1861 from central and western North Carolina, with Zebulon Vance as its first colonel. Vance was elected Governor of North Carolina in 1862 and command of the unit passed to 20-year-old Colonel Henry K. Burgwyn. The 26th spent the next year defending the North carolina coast, seeing its first action at New Bern. It then went north and fought in the Seven Days Battles before returning to the North Carolina coast. In 1863, it marched northwards and became attached to General Lee's army, where they were given the distinction of being not only the largest, but the best trained regiment present. The 11th Mississippi on the other hand was maybe one of the scrappiest regiments in Confederate servie. Raised among sharpshooting, wild backwoodsmen, it had also a company of university students who prided themselves on being always undisciplined and impulsive. Both units, as different as they were, were known to be combative and their task would be to cleanse the trenches after invading them. The third line was comprised of Archer's 14th Tennessee and Davis' 42nd Mississippi. Behind them were the 10th and 11th Alabama from Wilcox' brigade. Finally, the 6th, 12th and 16th Virginia from Mahone's brigade would bring up the rear. All together they represented some of Hill's best fighters, led by competent officers. The attack column thus numbered almost 4,500 men.
- Lothar
- Word Count: 790