Peach Tree and Grape Shot - A Civil War TL

Prologue

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It was already dark outside, when the bulky, burly figure of confederate Lieutenant General James Longstreet entered the dimly lit field hospital in the evening of July 2nd, 1863. With careful steps, trying not to disturb any of the sleeping or comatose patients who were lying on simple cots or even directly on the ground, the bearded officer found his way up to the first floor, where two field surgeons were standing besides the bloodied, massive body of a man, whose uniform jacket proved him to be of general rank.

„How is he?“, Longstreet approached one of the surgeons without a greeting.

„We drugged him, sir. He should better be left asleep“, the man with a former white but now deeply red-stained apron answered.

The man on the surgeon's table began to move, wakened by the short conversation between the former two.

„Didn't see much, my boys went in, hit the orchard... How did it go, sir?, he murmured into Longstreets direction, his voice under great pressure and obviously speaking with high effort of being heard.

„Alright, General“. Longstreets still strained voice showed the loss of some of it's bearers emotional burden.

„Did we take the ridge?“, the wounded officer asked pleadingly.

„Yes, you did. You were magnificent today!“, Longstreet answered with a forced exhale. He thought of the prize. Many good men gone from rank and file...

„Could you please get a message to my wife...?“, the man on the table wanted to know. He showed first signs of losing consciusness soon.

„Of course General, what should be delivered?“

„Tell her I am hit but we fought like hell.“, Brigadier General William Barksdale of Mississippi whispered before slipping into a dark and dreamless sleep.
 
Hello to everybody, this is my first post on these forums which I am reading for over a year now. In my timeline I explore a possible different outcome of the Battle of Gettysburg and future consequences in the war. Although I have a certain thesis paper on how this is going to process, I would be grateful for any input or correction one might like to offer. I'll try not only to write from a storytellers perspective but to include also excerpts of (alternate) history books and (alternate) primary sources. Please enjoy ;)
 
General A. P. Hill: The Story of a Confederate Warrior
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„Much debated are history and effect of A. P. Hills mystical illnesses, that impacted his performance in battle quite often. Whether it was a sort of prostatitis, manic depression or the long term results of a sexually transmitted disease, Hill was basically unfit for command in several critical situations. At July 1st 1863, he was more of a spectator than a commander, regarding the actions of his 3rd corps west of Gettysburg. Heth's and Pender's divisions operated independently from each other to a point, where Lee himself had to get orders delivered to Major General Heth personally. Had both divisions linked up to form a coherent line of battle, Reynold's 1st corps might not have been badly mauled but rather destroyed as a fighting force. When Hill reported to Lee in the night of July 1st, he stated to be ill and that he would not be able to lead his troops the following day neither on the offence nor on defensive requirements. Due to the questioning state of Major General Heth, who had received a dangerous head wound and the promotion of Dorsey Pender to divisional command only several weeks ago, Lee found it unwise to assign command to Richard Anderson and to strip his division therefore of the much needed experience for the expected fighting. It was for that reasons the logical decision to transfer Hill's troops under the authority of Lee's most trustworthy subordinate.“
-James I. Robertson Jr., General A. P. Hill: The Story of a Confederate Warrior
 
Recollections of a Confederate Staff Officer
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"In the early morning of July 2nd, 1863, I witnessed one of the most heated arguments Gens. Lee and Longstreet ever had during my time as the latter's aide-de-camp. The army commander repeated his statement from the day before that Meade and the union army were here (at Gettysburg) and therefore he was going to fight them. Longstreet strongly opposed that idea and offered the advice to flank the federal force in south-eastern direction. This would mean to interpose our army between Meade and Washington and might trigger an aggressive reaction which would be benefitial for our cause. Longstreet also argued the lack of cavalry reconaissance and complained about not yet fielding all three divisions of his corps due to Pickett still being miles away. As a reaction, Lee explained A. P. Hill's sickness and told Longstreet, he would be temporally in command of both 1st and 3rd corps to archieve the goal of rolling up the federal line along cemetary ridge. As a matter of fact, Longstreet would be able to field almost 32.000 men in five divisions for this attack, which should start early afternoon as soon as all preparations and troop movements were to be concluded. Under the impressions of the notably changed situation, General Longstreet agreed and proposed to fully cooperate with the wishes of his commander."
-G. Moxley Sorrel, Recollections of a Confederate Staff Officer
 
6 am, July 2nd 1863, Headquarters CSA, Seminary Ridge, Gettysburg
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The morning, despite it being early, was bright and a cool breeze lingered over the countryside. Although the drop of temperature during the night had not totally faded, there was a sense of great heat to come in the air. Seven men were grouping around a map table underneath a strip of canvas.

Assembled were confederate Lieutenant General James Longstreet, Major Generals John B. Hood, Lafayette McLaws, Richard H. Anderson, William D. Pender, Henry Heth and Brigadier General Johnston Pettigrew. The latter was present due to Heth's head wound, received during the assault of his division the day before, and it being not clear whether Heth was fit for duty that 2nd of July.

"To make it short, gentlemen: We are going to attack today.", Longstreet began to address the group of officers facing him. "Almost two corps, en echelon from south to north. The charge is scheduled to start at 4 pm when each single brigade is in position for our attack movement."

"Sam", he said, facing the still boyish, young John Bell Hood. "Your division will step off exactly at 4 pm. No preparatory bombardment to soften them up or, more likely, to make them prepare for our onslaught. As you know, we lack any cavalry recon. Therefore you will advance with a two-brigade-front and your southmost brigade must locate the enemy's flank. Turn it, if possible, but most importantly: Don't get turned yourself."

"My orderlys told me to expect difficult terrain, what about that, sir?", Hood asked, his voice full of scepticism.

"It will be rough, Sam, I won't lie to you. The ground is full of boulders and I cannot tell you the strenght of what you are going to be facing up ahead. But you are leading my crack troops. If anyone can break them, your Texans will do the job. Don't get yourself distracted, your aims are the two positions of high elevation in your front. They command the ground all the way north to Cemetary Hill."

"General Mc Laws", Longstreet continued, "you will attack at 4:15 pm. Same two-brigade-front. Your visual marker will be the peach orchard opposing your men. It might serve as an excellent artillery platform, my scouts were reporting. Your operational objective is the road running parallel to Seminary Ridge, locals call it Taneytown Road. If your men cut that road, it will severe the federal line of retreat."

"Next in line is your division, General Anderson. Your brigades will start off in a single line at 4:30 pm. Don't bring your boys in piecemeal, the union line on Cemetary Ridge is well fortified, brief every single of your brigadiers about that. Hit them all at once with everything you have. Due to Hood's and McLaws' assaults the federals should already have shifted their reserves down south when you are going in."

"Last but not least, concerning the direct assault, are you, General Pender. At 4:45 pm you are to advance towards Ziegler's Grove and the western portions of Cemetary Hill. Attack in a single line of brigades, but keep Scales' depleted regiments in reserve. If everything goes according to the plan, you may strike the finishing blow on old George Meade."

Longstreet faced the remaining two officers: "General Heth, General Pettigrew, your men have suffered the greatest loss yesterday. Therefore you will be spared the brunt of the upcoming action. Your position will be behind McLaws' and Anderson's divisions. As soon as any significant breakthrough is achieved, I gonna send you in to end it."

"Are there any questions?"

Silence was the group's only response to their detailed orders.

"Everybody has to be clear about one thing: Do not hesitate or hold any strengh back. Today might be the day we end all of this. When we succeed in breaching their line, General Ewell will strike from the north, cut their retreat and seal the backdoor. Now gentlemen, get to work!"
 
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