Posted on 07/03/2013 11:01:00 AM PDT by Wyrd bið ful aræd
Or rather, 150 years ago this minute, 2:00 P.M. eastern time, 12,500 men of three confederate divisions, under the overall command of General Longstreet, stepped into the burning fields of history in what we know as Pickett's charge.
God bless them...Men with the courage to stand up and march in formation across a mile of open, lead-swept ground for a cause they believed in simply aren't born any more.
I'm sure there are FReepers reading this at this moment who had ancestors in that body of men -- I have an ancestor who was standing on the other side of the wall.
As I said, God bless them. And may we always remember them.
heck 10 years ago the President of the United States would be speaking on TV about it even for 20 minutes. This dude in Chief we have now has said nothing about it at all.
Never get into a nit-picking contest with me. :)
Grant’s capture of Vicksburg was arguably of more strategic value than Meade’s victory at Gettysburg, but it is always the latter that marks the day, probably because of Lincoln’s famous address.
Thanks for that story/history. I’ve been to Gettysburg a few times — always impressive. I’ve never walked Picketts Charge but I’d imagine it is awe inspiring. Years ago, I purchased (on Ebay) a copy of the NY Times dated July 6, 1863 with the very first reports of Gettysburg (and some reports on Vicksburg). Truly a significant moment in the history of this great nation.
The biggest exception being Forrest. But he wasn’t from the real aristocracy.
I had eight family members serving for NC in the War. One known member fought at Gettysburg, although it is possible most were there. Of note is my great-great grandfather Augustus Cristopj “Gus” Vogler who was a private in the NC 57th Infantry Co. D from Winston-Salem NC. He fought and was captured on July 2 probably at Culp’s Hill or Cemetary Hill. He may have been wounded but survived the wound and was interred at Point Lookout MD POW facility until his death in early March 1865 a few short weeks before the end of hostilities.
Cleburne was another outstanding leader. And like Forrest, he didn't fit the aristocratic mold either.
You would at least think it would be carried on Turner Classic Movies channel, given it was a Turner production (one of the best things to come out or Turner Broadcasting).
And there's also the eternal coastal media bias.
I believe the 6th Wisconsin captured my wife’s GGgrandfather (55th NC) on July 1st. I don’t remember who opposed the 49th VA at Culp’s Hill. The brigade commander of the 49th was William Smith who was the Govenor-elect of Virginia when he fought at Gettysburg. He was not highly regarded as a commander and at Gettysburg the unit was to guard the left flank from a cavalry attack. On July 2nd, the unit did support the attack on Culp’s Hill.
That is really awesome.
bing forever; google never.
That’s very poignant — I have been boycotting bing since a couple weeks ago their background was a panoply of rainbow flags.
Yeah, him too. But he was moving up till he brought up the desirability of emancipation and black soldiers. If the South was serious about wanting its independence.
The response of the Army, Davis and Congress was highly instructive. His career promptly stopped moving forward, despite his being by far the best officer in that particular army. Army of Tennessee, if I remember correctly.
!
My GGrandfather fought at Culp’s Hill, 60th New York Infantry.
“With a few exceptions, Confederate leadership in the west was nothing to Bragg about.”
Bragg earned his position at Shiloh, but time and again, from Perryville all the way to Franklin and Nashville, consistently missed opportunity after opportunity, and vastly over-estimated the forces against, and under-estimated his own.
The fog of war probably played a part, as did lack of good intelligence, but all of that is still debated.
"If slaves will make good soldiers, our whole theory of slavery is wrong."
Cobb was right, as was Cleburne.
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