THE CIVIL WAR ROUNDTABLE OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA BILL HEWITT 9 SEPTEMBER 2014
PRELUDE TO GETTYSBURG
THE REFLECTION OF MILITARY HISTORY AT GETTYSBURG WHY?
MILITARY HISTORY WHAT HAPPENED? WHAT SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED? WHY? WHAT DID NOT HAPPEN? WHY? WHAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED? HOW? GOAL: TO LEARN WHAT WAS DONE RIGHT AND WHAT WAS DONE WRONG. AND WHY. TO APPLY THESE LESSONS TO ENSURE THE ERRORS OF THE PAST ARE NOT REPEATED NOT TO SELL BOOKS!!!!
TRUE ISMS NO BATTLE IS EVER FOUGHT WHERE BOTH OPPONENTS PREDICT THE EXACT LOCATION BOTH COMMANDERS ALWAYS BELIEVE THEIR CURRENT LOCATION OFFERS THE BEST ADVANTAGES OVER THEIR OTHER OPTIONS ONE COMMANDER IS ALWAYS WRONG.
AGENDA BACKGROUND REORGANIZATION IMPACT LEADERSHIP DECISION-MAKING LOGISTICAL DEMANDS EARLY PHASE UP TO 25 JUNE 28 JUNE FATEFUL DAY 1 JULY TERRAIN ANALYSIS COMMANDER S EXPECTATIONS PIPE CREEK CONCLUSION
MYTHS UNEXPECTED BATTLE FOR BOTH SIDES CHANCE HAPPENING MEETING ENGAGEMENT BOTH ARMIES MOVING LEADERS NOT ENGAGED SUBORDINATES BROUGHT ON BATTLE COMMANDERS HAD NO OPPORTUNITY TO STOP THE BATTLE
REORGANIZATION FEDERALS CAV COMMANDERS HOOKER LACKED RESOLVE AND VISION FOR ARMY CDR MEADE FIGHTER AND PLANNER CONFEDERATE 3 CORPS OF 21,000 MEN 9 DIVISIONS OF 4 BRIGADES BRIGADES BY STATE SENIORITY EWELL LEE SOMETHING ELSE, BUT. GET GUNS INTO FIGHT INTELLIGENCE AND MANEUVER SUPERIORITY
CHANCELLORSVILLE WHAT IS REYNOLDS, HOWARD AND MEADE DOING? LEE IS ALLOWED TO EQUALIZE NUMBERS
CONFEDERATE MARCH TABLES MILES/ DAY* 25 20 15 10 I Corps II Corps III Corps 5 0 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 JUNE STAFFWORK; SLOW MOVEMENT I AND III CORPS AVE MILES/DAY w/ INTERFERENCE * Total number of miles for all three divisions of each corps added together, then divided by three AVE/DAY w/o INTERFERENCE
OFFENSIVE OPTION 25 JUNE Carlisle Harrisburg. Shippensburg Chambersburg E Fayetteville Cashtown. Heidlersburg York Greencastle Fairfield Gettysburg Hanover Williamsport Shepherdstown Harper s Ferry L Hagerstown H Emmittsburg Mechanicstown Middleburg Boonsborough Middletown Frederick City Taneytown CMT TO TRIMBLE 25 JUNE 58 MILES VS. 30 MILES NOTE TO EWELL 26 JUNE 71 MILES VS. 12 MILES MILES 0 5 10 15
16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 AOP MARCH TABLE 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 MILES JUNE NUMBER OF MILES PER DAY AVERAGE 4+ MILES PER DAY
GETTYSBURG DECISION MAKING LEE-- IF HE IS THERE TOMORROW WE WILL ATTACK HIM LEE PROACTIVE MEADE INSTRUCTIONS TO REYNOLDS IF IF IF THEN NOT THAT MEADE REACTIVE IN PLANNING, 30 JUNE, 1 JULY, 3 JULY BUT, RESPONSIVE IN DEFENSE EXECUTION MEADE CAN POINT THE GUN, HE JUST HAS TROUBLE PULLING THE TRIGGER. SO WHAT? MEADE WILL NOT BE BEATEN. HE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO WIN, BUT HE WILL NOT BE BEATEN
DAILY NEEDS FOR THE AOP BG INGALLS CHIEF QUARTERMASTER CHIEF COMMISSARY OF SUBSISTANCE CHIEF OF ORDNANCE MEDICAL DIRECTOR 4,000 7,000 AGENTS AND ASST QMS 4000+ TEAMSTERS AND DROVERS 384,000 LBS OF RATIONS 812,000 LBS OF FORAGE 420,000 GALLONS OF WATER 128,000 LBS SMALL ARMS 580,000 LBS ARTILLERY AMMUNITION TENTAGE MEDICAL SUPPLIES CLOTHING CAMP EQUIPMENT BAGGAGE ETC 4,000 + WAGONS 30,000 HORSES AND MULES CATTLE HERD 2,000?????
DAILY REQUIREMENTS --ANV HORSE 10 LBS OATS 14 LBS HAY 26 LBS 10 GALLONS HUMAN 20 OZ PORK/ SALTED BEEF 12 OZ HARD BREAD OR 18 OZ BREAD/ CORNMEAL 2.5 OZ PEAS OR BEANS TABLESPOON OF SALT
ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA DAILY REQUIREMENTS 750,000 LBS OF FEED/FORAGE 300,000 GALLONS WATER 1000 COWS 75,000 LBS PORK OR BEEF 70,000 LBS FLOUR OR CORNMEAL 10,000 LBS OF PEAS OR BEANS 2,500 LBS OF SALT 23,000 LBS OF FEED 12,000 GALLONS DAY
EARLY MOVEMENT
PA MD Williamsport PLANNING AND EXECUTION Shepherdstown E E Hagerstown E RESPONSE TO AOP ATTACKS Frederick City EARLY OPERATIONS (18-22 June) CURRENT AND FUTURE NEEDS Harper s Ferry Baltimore Winchester H L H L H Chester Gap H L Leesburg. L L. Aldie Upperville. Middleburg. Thoroughfare Gap Fairfax Rockville Washington LEGEND UNION ATTACKS H Sperryville. MILES 0 10 20 30 CONF I CORPS CONF II CORPS CONF III CORPS
LEE: WITH A VIEW TO DRAW HIM FURTHER AWAY FROM HIS BASE
MOVE TO 25 JUNE
Hagerstown Option 21-25 June Chambersburg E E Cashtown Gettysburg PA MD Greencastle E Fairfield Emmittsburg Williamsport L H E Hagerstown E Middleburg Martinsburg Boonsborough Shepherdstown H Middletown LEGEND L H H Harper s Ferry H Frederick City CONF I CORPS CONF II CORPS CONF III CORPS MILES 0 5 10 15
LEE: AS THESE DEMONSTRATIONS DID NOT HAVE THE EFFECT OF CAUSING THE FEDERAL ARMY TO LEAVE VIRGINIA AND AS IT SEEMED NOT DISPOSED TO ADVANCE WE BEGAN PREPARATION TO CROSS THE POTOMAC
25 JUNE LEE WRITES DAVIS- BREAKS LINE OF COMMUNICATIONS LEE INSTRUCTS CHANGE FROM FORCES JOINING HIM TO CONDUCTING FEINT TOWARD WASHINGTON LEE TOLD STUART TO CROSS BY NEXT DAY (23 JUNE NOTE) LEE REQUESTS MG SAM JONES TO ADVANCE INTO WESTERN VA HOTCHKISS MAKES MAPS TO HARRISBURG AFTER LEE/EWELL MEET LEE IS EXECUTING CONTINGENCY PLAN
EVENTS UP TO 28 JUNE
Chambersburg Option 26-28 June Carlisle E Harrisburg E. Shippensburg Chambersburg L L H Fayetteville H E Cashtown. Heidlersburg York LEGEND Greencastle L H Fairfield Emmittsburg Gettysburg Hanover PA MD CONF I CORPS CONF II CORPS CONF III CORPS Hagerstown Mechanicstown Middleburg Taneytown MILES 0 5 10 15
Chambersburg Terrain 28 June Carlisle Harrisburg. Shippensburg LEGEND ANV CORPS Chambersburg Fayetteville. Cashtown. Heidlersburg York PROJECTED AOP THRUST Greencastle Hagerstown Gettysburg Fairfield Emmittsburg Taneytown Hanover PA MD Mechanicstown Middleburg Williamsport Boonsborough Shepherdstown Harper s Ferry Middletown Frederick City MILES 0 5 10 15
TERRAIN ANALYSIS Carlisle Harrisburg Establishing Mobility Corridors Shippensburg Road Hubs Chambersburg Fayetteville. Cashtown. Heidlersburg York Greencastle Fairfield Gettysburg Hanover Williamsport Shepherdstown Harper s Ferry Hagerstown Emmittsburg Mechanicstown Middleburg Boonsborough Middletown Frederick City Taneytown PA MD MILES 0 5 10 15
HARRISON S REPORT 28 June, PM Carlisle E Harrisburg DEFENSE OF CHAMBERSBURG. Shippensburg Chambersburg L Fayetteville H. Cashtown. Heidlersburg York Greencastle Fairfield Gettysburg Hanover Hagerstown Emmittsburg Taneytown Williamsport Boonsborough Mechanicstown Middleburg? Shepherdstown Middletown Frederick City MILES Harper s Ferry 0 5 10 15
EVENTS UP TO 1 JULY
LEE: AS OUR COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE POTOMAC WERE THUS MENACED, IT WAS RESOLVED TO PREVENT HIS FURTHER PROGRESS IN THAT DIRECTION BY CONCENTRATING OUR ARMY ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE MOUNTAINS
HARRISON S REPORT 29 June, PM COMMANDER S INTENT AND CASHTOWN OPTION?. Shippensburg Carlisle E Harrisburg Chambersburg L Fayetteville H. Cashtown. Heidlersburg York Greencastle Fairfield Gettysburg Hanover Hagerstown Emmittsburg Taneytown Williamsport Boonsborough Mechanicstown Middleburg? Shepherdstown Middletown Frederick City MILES Harper s Ferry 0 5 10 15
FEDERAL MOVEMENT (PLANNED) FOR 1 JULY GOAL: MOVE TOWARD HANOVER AND HANOVER JUNCTION E York L H Cashtown. Heidlersburg Gettysburg Fairfield Hanover 12 1 Emmittsburg 11 5 Taneytown 3 Mechanicstown Middleburg 2 6 Westminster HANOVER JUNCTION Manchester PA MD Frederick City MILES 0 5 10 15 Rockville
MEADE: TO HALLECK AT 4:30PM ON 30 JUNE: I SHALL PUSH ON TOMORROW IN THE DIRECTION OF HANOVER JUNCTION AND HANOVER..
LTC JOSEPH DICKINSON DECISION MAKING CHANGE
Rockville FEDERAL MOVEMENT TO CONTACT ACTUAL MOVEMENT ORDERS FOR 1 JULY L Emmittsburg Cashtown H 1 Fairfield 3 11 Gettysburg 12 Mechanicstown Middleburg 2 E. Heidlersburg Taneytown 5 Hanover York Manchester 6 Westminster PA MD Frederick City EWELL NO LONGER EXPOSED GETTYSBURG NOW CENTRAL MILES 0 5 10 15
LEE: THE ADVANCE OF THE ENEMY TO THE LATTER PLACE WAS UNKNOWN, AND THE WEATHER BEING INCLEMENT, THE MARCH WAS CONDUCTED WITH A VIEW TO THE COMFORT OF THE TROOPS.
MOVEMENT TO CONTACT CLEARING THE PASSES THE OFFENSIVE OPTION MILES/ DAY* 25 CONFEDERATE MARCH TABLES 20 15 10 I Corps II Corps III Corps 5 0 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 JUNE STAFFWORK; SLOW MOVEMENT I AND III CORPS AVE MILES/DAY w/ INTERFERENCE * Total number of miles for all three divisions of each corps added together, then divided by three AVE/DAY w/o INTERFERENCE
Confederate Locations (- Army Trains) 1500 hours 1 July Pickett Hood Chambersburg McLaws Longstreet s Trains. Shippensburg Ewell s Trains Fayetteville. Cashtown Johnson Early and Rodes Gettysburg Greencastle MILES Fairfield Anderson Heth and Pender 0 5 10 15
COMMANDER S EXPECTATIONS 1 JULY York L Cashtown H 1 Fairfield11 E. Heidlersburg Gettysburg 5 12 Hanover Emmittsburg 3 2 Taneytown Mechanicstown Middleburg Manchester 6 Westminster PA MD Frederick City MILES 0 5 10 15 Rockville
PIPE CREEK Chambersburg. Heidlersburg York Cashtown Greencastle Gettysburg Hanover Williamsport Shepherdstown Hagerstown Boonsborough Middletown 3 Emmitsburg Mechanicstown Frederick City Middleburg Taneytown Westminster Manchester Harper s Ferry MILES Leesburg Rockville 0 5 10 15 Washington D C
PIPE CREEK 22 MILES LONG REQUIRES MORE ORDERS WHICH DO YOU PROTECT DEPOT OR CAPITAL WHAT HAPPENS IF REYNOLDS GETS DESTROYED Chambersburg. Heidlersburg York Cashtown Greencastle Gettysburg Hanover Williamsport Shepherdstown Hagerstown Boonsborough Middletown 3 Emmitsburg Mechanicstown Frederick City Middleburg Taneytown Westminster Manchester Harper s Ferry MILES Leesburg Rockville 0 5 10 15 Washington D C
MEADE: PRELIMINARY ORDER, WHICH WAS A MERE CONTINGENT ONE, AND INTENDED ONLY TO BE EXECUTED UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES WHICH HAD NOT OCCURRED.
CONCLUSION BOTH COMMANDER S EXPRESSED A LEVEL OF SURPRISE MEADE S TESTIMONY LEE HAD TO FIGHT OR WITHDRAW - LOGISTICS SURPRISED THE BATTLE FOUGHT AT GETTYSBURG?? MAXIM: DO NOT CONCENTRATE IN THE FACE OF THE ENEMY LEE FEDERAL ARMY NOT YET UP (2 JULY) 6 MILES/DAY = MIDDLEBURG 8 MILES/DAY = EMMITSBURG/TANEYTOWN
LEE: FINDING OURSELVES UNEXPECTEDLY CONFRONTED BY THE FEDERAL ARMY, IT BECAME A MATTER OF DIFFICULTY TO WITHDRAW THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS WITH OUR LARGE TRAINS THE COUNTRY WAS UNFAVORABLE FOR COLLECTING SUPPLIES WHILE IN THE PRESENCE OF THE ENEMY S MAIN BODY, AS HE WAS ENABLED TO RESTRAIN OUR FORAGING PARTIES
CONCLUSION --AOP MEADE: SHOULD NOT HAVE SENT UNITS TOWARD GETTYSBURG COULD HAVE IMPLEMENTED PIPE CREEK AT ANY TIME COULD HAVE SENT INSTRUCTIONS TO REYNOLDS 11AM COULD HAVE GIVEN HANCOCK INSTRUCTIONS 1 PM COULD HAVE STOPPED SICKLES 3:15 COULD HAVE STOPPED SLOCUM 3:45 COULD HAVE RETREATED EVENING I JULY
CONCLUSION LEE: TELL HILL NOT TO ADVANCE AT MEETING 30 JUNE AM TELL HILL TO STOP AT CASHTOWN 9AM TELL EWELL (THRU BROWN) TO MOVE ON GETTYSBURG 9 AM RIDE FORWARD WITH HILL 9AM STOP HETH ATTACK 12AM STOP EWELL ATTACK 12:30 STOP PENDER ATTACK 3:30 WITHDRAW NIGHT 1 JULY
CONCLUSION BATTLE WAS PREDICTABLE BOTH COMMANDERS DECIDED TO STAY AND FIGHT ONE WAS WRONG
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