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Awesome post. Go Team Blue!On June 3, 1863, Lee's army began to slip away northwesterly from Fredericksburg, Virginia, leaving A.P. Hill's Corps in fortifications above Fredericksburg to cover the departure of the army, protect Richmond from any Union incursion across the Rappahannock, and pursue the enemy if Hill thought it advantageous.
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Keep in mind there was a Presidential election coming up. Lincoln’s opponent was calling to let the South withdraw from the Union.Was a crazy plan from the start. With Vicksburg outnumbered 2 to 1 Forces should have been sent there to make sure a Union army couldn't sweep across the south.
Barkley and his troops at a minimum should have been sent to Vicksburg.........And Lee should have never invaded.
His last invasion of the North was a failure. Only thing that saved him there is inaction by the North.
Also the South's transport system was unbelievably shitty. They couldn't get troops there. Just look at how it took Longstreet's corps to get to Tennessee.Keep in mind there was a Presidential election coming up. Lincoln’s opponent was calling to let the South withdraw from the Union.
So bringing the war to the North making life hell for Northerners was Lee’s goal. Get Lincoln out.
What he SHOULD have done was not commit treason and fight the Union.It was a last chance at any sort of major offensive action for the South in 1863. Lee should have just continued on his raid deep into northern territory instead of being lured piecemeal and ineffectively into Gettyburg, or he should have committed fully to fighting a battle there on the first day. Time was not on his side. Even the best Generals will make mistakes sooner or later. Napoleon did, several times.
Shitty or not they needed to move with rail as many as could to Vicksburg. This allowed an army to sweep across the entire south.Also the South's transport system was unbelievably shitty. They couldn't get troops there. Just look at how it took Longstreet's corps to get to Tennessee.
That’s cool to learn such things. Have you been able to retrace his war movements yet?
What he SHOULD have done was not commit treason and fight the Union.
Well it's more like their movements as I had several on both sides a my dad's family that served in the 33rd.That’s cool to learn such things. Have you been able to retrace his war movements yet?
We recently moved to Virginia and unknown to us bought a home 5 miles from where my wife’s 5X G-Grandparents lived in Colonial times. Located his pension record and found he was at the battles of Trenton and Germantown. Then the bastard says ‘and other engagements’. Still trying to retrace his war experience.
Always amazing that the Confederates came to Gettysburg from the north, the Union came from the southOn June 3, 1863, Lee's army began to slip away northwesterly from Fredericksburg, Virginia, leaving A.P. Hill's Corps in fortifications above Fredericksburg to cover the departure of the army, protect Richmond from any Union incursion across the Rappahannock, and pursue the enemy if Hill thought it advantageous.
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Well, yes and no. Longstreet arrived at Spotsylvania exactly as Union forces were ready to crush Lee. And during the siege of Richmond Union forces tried to take Lynchburg, a vital supply line only to be be thwarted by Early arriving by trains from Richmond to repulse the Union at the last minute. What’s funny in that one was Early had empty trains leave and come back empty blowing their whistle and the townspeople cheering at each ‘arrival’ of more Confederate troops. Union could hear all that and were completely fooled into thinking Early had twice the size of army.Also the South's transport system was unbelievably shitty. They couldn't get troops there. Just look at how it took Longstreet's corps to get to Tennessee.
He almost blew the battleThe most colorful character in the Gettysburg campaign was Gen. Dan Sickles of NY. Sickles was a NY politician who raised a regiment and was awarded a generals rank without having a bit of military experience. He moved his troops at Gettysburg against orders and suffered 40% casualties. Sickles had his leg amputated from cannon fire and was carried off the field smoking a cigar and was awarded the MOH. After the war he had his amputated leg preserved and on display. He found his wife in a compromising position and shot the man who happened to be the grandson of the author of the National Anthem, Francis Key and was the first defendant to be found not guilty of murder by reason of temporary insanity.
