alternatehistory.com

Late last week, I had the chance to return to the Gettysburg battlefield on vacation. As a Civil War buff, it's a bit of pilgrimage for me over the years. As I have thought about the Union Army of the Potomac's order of battle, it seems to be quite top heavy to me in terms of number of infantry corps. Might it have made sense to reduce the number of infantry corps from 7 to 6 for the sake of efficiency when it comes to command and control?

For example, maybe given its poor performance at Chancellorsville, break up the 11th corps, with a three brigade division going to 3rd corps and another going to 12th corps? It had only 6 brigades, so it would be a likely candidate. Maybe a POD would be the loss of Oliver Howard and a division commander or two at Chancellorsville.

Granted, such a reorganization in those two short months is probably not likely, but what might have changed on the first day had those changes been implemented? I can't remember off the top of my head which corps arrived after 1st and 11th, I think it was 2nd or 3rd. How might the presence of 2nd corps or 3rd corps (reinforced) changed the outcome of day 1? Would the Union still find itself digging in on Cemetery and Culp's Hills? I do have a strong hunch that was the plan all along.

Here is an order of battle for basic reference:

http://gettysburg.stonesentinels.com/battle-of-gettysburg-facts/strength-casualties-usa/
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