Beyond the town of Gettysburg
- Thread starter Lothar
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Aws man, I’m glad he died for the advancement of the great cause then. Better than in a Civil War era army hospital...
Chapter 18
Chapter 18
July 3, 1863, 9 p.m.
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
The main room of the house was filled with the smoke of cigars and pipes. One of the adjutants had just served freshly brewed coffee, which had briefly interrupted the muttered conversations. When George Meade cleared his throat, curious pairs of eyes looked at him from all directions.
'Gentlemen, we have received a message from General Sickles which I cannot withhold from you.' He unfolded the densely written paper and began to read aloud.
'To the commanding general: My troops began their flank march this morning as planned. At Monterey Pass, several Confederate cavalry brigades stood in our way, but after heavy fighting we were able to drive them out of their formidable higher positions. After we crossed the pass on the heels of the cavalry, an ambush by the rebels revealed itself at the height of the town of Waynesboro. We were faced with numerically superior enemy forces, two or realistically three Confederate infantry divisions. My men defied the overwhelming odds for several hours, inflicting terrible losses on the enemy. Despite this heroism, we could not hold our positions and had to retreat to the western entrance of Monterey Pass. We are still holding this opening and I am optimistic that I will be able to fend off any rebel attack on my lines.'
He left the attendees some time to digest the news, then continued.
'What is your opinion on this?
John Reynolds drew attention to himself.
'Apart from the fact that Dan Sickles is obviously sugarcoating it, this message does contain relevant information. Lee has obviously weakened his lines at Cashtown to stop the 3rd Corps down there. With a quarter to a third of his infantry absent, there is only one realistic option for us: We must attack.'
Maj. Gen. John F. Reynolds, USA.
Dunno if you can attribute that to just fog. Sickles has probably deliberately inflated the size of the force he faced by a factor of 2-3x. McClellan-itis? Or just trying to make himself look less bad? The problem is Reynolds can do math and assumes that those 3 divisions came out of the 75k or so that he believes is the extent of Lee's force.
Part of the fog of war is unreliable reports. I'm pretty certain that Sickles inflated the size of his opposition for the sake of his own reputation. Whether he did it deliberately or subconsciously, is less clear. Ultimately, his reasoning isn't going to matter if the AoP (expecting a weakened opponent) slams into the bulk of the ANV in prepared positions.......
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I suppose you could call it an unreliable report---although if Robert E Lee had written it as disinformation, it could hardly be more misleading. The problem for Reynolds is that he's probably assuming ordinary levels of padding, Picket's force being perhaps 10% or 15% smaller than alleged, not the whopper being sold by Sickles here. I don't think it's unrealistic btw, its just what I'd have to call autodisinformation.
That is certainly true. This false report is a massive opportunity for Lee if Meade chooses to act on it.
Hmmmm, I can see this going down two roads...
The first one, the boring and obvious one, is the one where Lee stays still and the army of the Potomac simply slams into the confederates to be beaten and forced to retreat.
The second one, the interesting one, is the one where Lee tries to do something about what just happened down around his supply line and does weaken his forces just before the army of the Potomac shows up, so the confederates have to deal with a chaotic situation where they are caught with some of their troops heading down there and out of position. We know that Sickles has been pushed off and their supply line doesn't need saving for the moment, but does Lee know it? And can he afford to feel that things are safe and secured?
The fog of war works for both sides, and there is no reason for the confederates to be shielded from Murphy's law.
The first one, the boring and obvious one, is the one where Lee stays still and the army of the Potomac simply slams into the confederates to be beaten and forced to retreat.
The second one, the interesting one, is the one where Lee tries to do something about what just happened down around his supply line and does weaken his forces just before the army of the Potomac shows up, so the confederates have to deal with a chaotic situation where they are caught with some of their troops heading down there and out of position. We know that Sickles has been pushed off and their supply line doesn't need saving for the moment, but does Lee know it? And can he afford to feel that things are safe and secured?
The fog of war works for both sides, and there is no reason for the confederates to be shielded from Murphy's law.
Ramontxo
Donor
Well they have stoped cold an enemy corps I dont see them needing any reinforments there, nor they being asked for. The local division is going to report that there are not any Union forces there
Deleted member 9338
There is a third option, General Couch gathers up as much of the militia that he can, and marches down the valley to Shipensburg. He has by July 4th enough troops to march down with two composite divisions and leave enough troops to keep the governor happy. French can also move up to support Sickles. Lee could be forced to attack, or head out of the noose.
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Interlude III
Interlude III
In the late evening of July 3, the situation is as follows:
The majority of Lee's army is positioned along the South Mountain Ridges with 49,000 infantry (Posey's and Wilcox' brigades from Anderson's division being on their way to bolster Pickett down south). The rebels' obvious weakness is their right flank.
Confronting them are six corps of Meade's army with 61,800 infantry, ready to strike at first light.
Pickett and Sickles each suffered heavy losses in their clashes at Monterey Pass and Waynesboro. While the Confederates lost 1,900 out of 5,200 infantry and 800 out of 1,800 cavalry, the Federals lost 4,000 out of 10,000 infantry (with Birney's division taking the worst of it) and 1,500 out of 3,800 cavalry (Custer suffering the most here). Therefore, both sides took around 40% casualties which impressively proves the ferocity of the fight. Sickles and Kilpatrick both fell back to the pass.
At first thank you all for the input. Unfortunately I was busy the last days with family and children and was therefore not able to reply earlier.
Admittedly, I wrote the last post somewhat under time pressure and was therefore perhaps a bit superficial. On the other hand it helps Sickles in his argumentation if he stays as vague as possible.
It will be a mixture of both options. Lee detaches a pair of brigades, but is still stronger than Meade and Reynolds thought. The following battle, I can promise you, will not be a one-sided affair.
I cannot imagine that Meade would allow the militia, which operates independently of his main army, to venture too far. After all, Sickles has shown that even a veteran corps can get caught on the wrong foot. Couch is currently gathering men in the north and is proving to be a nuisance. French, well, he is actually not doing much at the moment, regarding Meade's order more like a recommendation. He, or better his forces, will play a role later, however.
Admittedly, I wrote the last post somewhat under time pressure and was therefore perhaps a bit superficial. On the other hand it helps Sickles in his argumentation if he stays as vague as possible.
It will be a mixture of both options. Lee detaches a pair of brigades, but is still stronger than Meade and Reynolds thought. The following battle, I can promise you, will not be a one-sided affair.
I cannot imagine that Meade would allow the militia, which operates independently of his main army, to venture too far. After all, Sickles has shown that even a veteran corps can get caught on the wrong foot. Couch is currently gathering men in the north and is proving to be a nuisance. French, well, he is actually not doing much at the moment, regarding Meade's order more like a recommendation. He, or better his forces, will play a role later, however.
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Chapter 19
Chapter 19
July 4, 1863, 8:15 a.m.
Union left flank
South of Cashtown, Pennsylvania
From the back of his horse, Major General John Sedgwick watched the unfolding scenery.
The morning mist had been dispelled by the smoke from the short but powerful cannonade of Henry Hunt's artillery reserve. Now Sedgwick had the honor of leading the attack en echelon.
His first two divisions under Horatio G. Wright and Albion P. Howe, more than 7,800 infantrymen, had already made contact with the enemy on the high ground. Prisoners from the Confederate skirmish line claimed to be with Hood's division in Longstreet's Corps. Already Wright's southernmost brigade, Torbert's, visibly overlapped the rebels' right flank. Sedgwick now planned to take advantage of his numerical superiority to an even greater extent.
He turned to the commander of his third division, Major General John Newton, who accompanied him.
'John, Lee's flank is open like a barn door. Lead your men to the left and tell them to take revenge for Chancellorsville. Move forward now!'
'Yes, sir!' Newton saluted with a broad grin and began barking the necessary orders.
Only minutes later, his three brigades, more than 4,700 men, began to move.
By God, we'll finish them, thought Sedgwick quietly.
On his right was now also the noise of battle to be heard. This meant that Reynolds was about to go in. And like beads on a string, the other corps would follow. The even pressure along the entire front would make it almost impossible for Lee to bring any significant reinforcements to his threatened right flank. And with each step that Newton's men would take to push the rebels back, the enemies would be forced further away from their life line and home base.
Maj. Gen. John Sedgwick, USA.
Deleted member 9338
While I do not know if Imboden was aware of the word it was in some use by the ACW.
paranoia (n.)
"mental disorder characterized by systematized delusions of more or less definite scope," 1848 (earlier paranoea 1811), from Greek paranoia "mental derangement, madness," from paranoos "mentally ill, insane," from para- "beside, beyond"
Chapter 20
Chapter 20
July 4, 1863, 10:00 a.m.
Confederate right flank
South of Cashtown, Pennsylvania
The noise of the battle was almost overwhelming. Muskets cracked, men screamed, cannons roared. The day slowly but surely began to warm up and the characteristic smell of spilled blood was in the air.
Major General John Bell Hood gesticulated frantically and his voice almost turned to hysteria as he tried to influence his superior.
'General Longstreet, the enemy is hammering my position from all sides. My lines are stretched to the breaking point. Law, Robertson and Benning are heavily engaged. I have taken Tige Anderson back at right angles, but he has been mortally wounded a few minutes ago and his brigade is on the verge of breaking apart. I need reinforcements, we can't hold out much longer. I need support to be able to completely take back my line without getting fully wrecked!'
'John, with the best will in the world, I just can't conjure up any reinforcements right now. McLaws is struggling to hold back Reynolds' corps. If it wasn't for a counterattack from Barksdale, his position would have been stormed long ago. He can't even spare a single regiment. Hell, even his staff is on the front line.'
'Then the battle is lost', Hood murmured darkly.
'Pull yourself together John, you have to buy me time, no matter how. I'm trying to bring the remaining brigades from Anderson's division in, but they are still standing near Cashtown'. Longstreet was slowly losing patience and hope as well.
A young corporal reached the two mounted men, hastily saluting and not waiting for permission to speak.
'General Hood, General Longstreet, I must report that General Robertson is down, badly wounded. The situation at the front is confused, sirs!'
A thought flashed through Hood's mind at least. It seemed insane, but what else was left in this situation? He began to speak in a somewhat calmer voice.
'Corporal, take a horse and ride immediately to General Law. Tell him that I am personally taking command of the Texas Brigade and that he should see to it that the rest of the division separates itself from the enemy. Tell him to keep a tight hold on McLaw's right flank, move to a new line and keep it as tight as possible until the next attack comes. Tell him that support is on the way'.
'John, what are you doing?' Now Longstreet seemed seriously confused.
Hood turned to the corps commander again with fiery eyes.
'I will buy you the time you need. My Texans would follow me to the gates of hell, and that is where I intend to lead them now. We'll stake everything on this and storm Sedgwick's center. Of course, we will be overwhelmed, but that will cost him time he doesn't have. We are sacrificing a brigade to save the army. And I'm not the type to delegate that task to someone else.'
Longstreet listened speechlessly and with his mouth open.
'General, it has been an honor serving under your command!' With these words, Hood spurred his mount and chased toward the front.
Longstreet slowly took off his hat and stared into nothingness.
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