‘I’m not a military man and so cannot judge myself. But my Grandfather always said the Lord took Stonewall Jackson because other wise the South would have won and the Lord new it was not right that we should win.’
Many believe the war would have ended sooner had Jackson lived. His tactics worked well against politicians and officers with political connections to gain them a combat command, but would have been disasterous later in the war, specifically two months after his untimely death, at Gettysburg.
He’d have charged Culp’s and Cemetary on July 1st, 1863.
And gotten his ass handed to him.
>>Many believe the war would have ended sooner had Jackson lived. His tactics worked well against politicians and officers with political connections to gain them a combat command, but would have been disasterous later in the war, specifically two months after his untimely death, at Gettysburg.
He’d have charged Culp’s and Cemetary on July 1st, 1863.
And gotten his ass handed to him.<<
Interesting, thank you. I’ll defer to you on the strategy question - I’m completely out of my depth there.
Re: Pikes. Yes, Jackson did order pikes, but please put that order in context. At the start of the war, Jackson sat in Harper's Ferry, which was being threatened by Federal troops moving into Maryland. He did not have adequate weaponry for the green troops assembling at and being sent to Harper's Ferry.
When Richmond could give him no firm answer as to whether or not the weaponry was forthcoming, he then asked for the pikes. These were not his weapon of choice. This is confirmed by the fact that when the Union army took over Harper's Ferry upon Johnston's retreat, they found the pikes in a warehouse. Why? Jackson finally received enough rifle to outfit his small army.
Now, about Jackson at Gettysburg. Such tough talk... LOL! He would have charged Culp's Hill and Cemetary Ridge and gotten his ass handed to him.
I'm amazed that you believed that the Pennsylvania campaign would have ended in the same manner... with Lee surprised at Gettysburg. If Jackson had lived, perhaps the whole dynamics would have changed and there would not have been a meeting between the two armies at Gettysburg.
I am also suprised that you would think Jackson would have responded to the unfolding battle like Ewell did. Of course, now we are in theoreticals, so what ifs are all we have to go on... but Jackson in 1863 and the returning Ewell in 1863 did not have the same thought processes, vision, etc. They would not have approached the routed Union Army in the same way.
You also do not take into consideration that Lee divided his army into three corps in response to Jackson's death. If Jackson had lived, there would have been no Third Corps pushing the Union front or no Second Corps suddenly descending upon Howard's flank. So, you cannot just drop Jackson into the battle of July 1st and expect to find the conditions the same. Jackson's survival would have changed everything.
You don't have to agree with me (of course)... but I just couldn't let this assault on Stonewall's reputation stand without some type of defense. :>)
Badeye, I would also be interested in further explanation of your statement that when faced with Meade/Grant, suddenly Jackson's tactics would not have worked?
Have a great day!