150th Anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg - First Day

150th Anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg

The Battle of Gettysburg has been greatly mythologized, almost from the very moment the guns stopped firing, and is one of the most written about events in American history.  It is one of my favorite battles (if is actually permissible to have a favorite one), both for the events themselves (operatic to the extreme) and for the endless "what if?" questions it created.  All three days of fighting (which combined together to make the Battle of Gettysburg the bloodiest battle in United States history) deserve special consideration and discussion.  Since it is the 150th Anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg, let us begin this discussion with the First Day of fighting:  Buford's heroic defense. 

The responsibility for the results of the ENTIRE Battle of Gettysburg really lies with one man:  Brig. General John Buford.  It was his actions that placed the battle in and around the little town of Gettysburg, PA, decided the battle lines and ultimately determined the eventual outcome.  Not too shabby for only a cavalry commander who found himself facing down the entire Confederate Army, but he was a man who understood topography and knew how to use it to the Union's advantage.


30 June 1863 --- General Buford's cavalry, marching ahead of the Union Army of the Potomac, arrived in the town of Gettysburg, PA, where they were observed by Confederate troops under General Pettigrew (under division commander Maj. General Henry Heth).  Buford saw that both Union and Confederate were converging on this point, with the latter likely to arrive first, thereby having first shot at occupying the high ground of:  Culp's Hill, Cemetery Ridge, Cemetery Hill and Big and Little Round Top.  This would force the Federal troops to attack the Confederates, who would also be well-entrenched by that time, by attacking across an open field, before then scaling the hills and rocky outcroppings in order to claim victory.  It would be the slaughter of Fredericksburg all over again.  It was clear to Buford that he must delay the Confederates till General Reynolds could arrive with the I, III and XI corps of infantry to occupy and defend this vital high ground.

Determined to delay the enemy and deprive the Confederates of the high ground, General Buford made the decision to dismount his cavalry troops and give any Confederates that dared show their faces in Gettysburg the surprise of their lives.  Then he sent word on to Reynolds to hurry his forces up and waited anxiously for what the morning would bring.




01 July 1863 --- The day dawned as Maj. General Henry Heth's division, part of Lt. General A. P. Hill's Third Corps, moved his forces against what he believed to be a handful of Pennsylvania militia, which he expected to easily disperse and then move into and occupy the town of Gettysburg itself.  However, unbeknownst to the esteemed general, he was instead facing regular army cavalry well prepared for his advance.  In addition, Heth was also in violation of General Robert E. Lee's orders to "avoid a general engagements".

General Buford, for his part, chose appropriate terrain for his delaying action, deciding to align his troops on three ridges west of Gettysburg:  Herr Ridge, McPherson Ridge and Seminary Ridge.  This ground was perfect for his small division in their fight against the numerically superior Confederates.  In addition, many of Buford's men were armed with breech-loading carbines.  These weapons helped even the odds for the Federals in two important ways.  First, though still single shot weapons, they were still able to fire two or three times faster than an average muzzle-loaded weapon.  Also, the new breech-loading design meant that the Union troops could do their reloading behind cover in safety, unlike the Confederates who still had to reload while standing, which made them excellent targets.  Buford's men were going to need all the help they could get, because his 2,748 troops were soon to engage 7,600 Confederate infantry.

Heth led with his artillery, followed by two infantry brigades, and first encountered resistance at 0730.  The dismounted cavalry there made excellent use of cover and their breech-loading carbines to defend their position, giving ground only reluctantly, until the Confederates had pushed them back all the way east to McPherson Ridge.  Around this time (1020) the vanguard of the I Corps finally arrived, led personally by General Reynolds.  He conferred briefly with Buford concerning his position and then  went to hurry the rest of the corps up to support his cavalry.

By 1045 the fighting intensified and became more of an infantry fight, with the morning fighting occurring mostly along either side of the Chambersburg Pike and chiefly on McPherson Ridge.  It was during this early fighting that General Reynolds was shot dead.  While riding in Herbst Woods, the general was recorded as shouting "Forward men!  Forward for God's sake and drive those fellows out of the woods"and then falling from his horse.  A bullet, striking him behind the ear, killed Reynolds instantly.  Though legend (and more than a few romantic historians believe) that a sharpshooter was responsible for the shot, a more likely scenario would be that it was a random shot part of the volley of fire that was directed at the 2nd Wisconsin (which were exchanging fire with the Confederates at this time).  Reynolds was carried from the field and Major General Abner Doubleday (who did not invent baseball) assumed command of the I Corps. 

At around 1100, Lt. Colonel Rufus Dawes, who's great-grandfather had ridden with Paul Revere on his "Midnight Ride", commander of the 6th Wisconsin went into action against the Confederates who were attacking a, by now disorganized brigade of Union troops.  Combined with other brigades of the famous "Iron Brigade", this collection of Federals together forced the Confederates into a deep railroad cut.  Though too deep to be a truly effective firing platform, the combined brigades paid a heavy price in order to capture the cut.

There would be a short in the fighting in the late-morning and early afternoon, while both Union and Confederates saw the arrival of more reinforcements.  With afternoon, came renewed attacks by the Confederates on the Chambersburg Pike, as well as attacks north of Gettysburg.  During the former attacks, some of the fiercest fighting of the war drove the Iron Brigade back, eventually pushing them all the way back to the Lutheran Theological Seminary.  Casualties were high on both sides.  The 24th Michigan lost 399 of 496 and even had 9 color bearers shot down.  However, it was General Heth's wound, a blow to the head, knocking him unconscious, that was to have unfortunate consequences for the Confederates, as Heth's subordinate, did not support the struggling assault.

The attacks to the north of Gettysburg were a disaster for the Union, as they saw the Federal troops attacked, routed and forced to conduct a disorderly retreat to the south, leaving a large number of men as prisoners, including Brig. General Barlow as an injured one.


The nail in the Union coffin for 01 July 1863 was the renewed Confederate attack, leading to an eventual Confederate breakthrough of the Union lines at Oak Ridge.  There were attacks all along the Federal lines, with heavy slaughter on both sides.  The 900 out of 1,400 North Carolinian troops which were completely annihilated in one of the most ferocious artillery barrages of the war, a foreshadowing of Pickett's Charge, was one of the worst incidents for the Confederates.  While for the Union, the 16th Maine got it the worst when ordered to hold their position at all cost while serving as a rear guard against Confederate pursuit during the the Union retreat, they lost 263 out of 298 soldiers. 

In the end, the Confederates successfully pushed the Federals all the way from Seminary Ridge to Cemetery Ridge.  It was a successful day, but one more good push could have "possibly" won the high ground for the Confederates.  However, the man charged with determining whether to take this action or not was General Ewell and he chose "not" to.  General Lee's orders to Ewell had been to "carry the hill occupied by the enemy, if he found it practicable, but to avoid a general engagement until the arrival of the other divisions of the army".  Although this historian is sure that Ewell had a few valid reasons for choosing not to obey this order, fatigue of his men, the difficulty in assaulting the hill through the narrow streets of Gettysburg, the fact remains that by NOT attacking Culp's Hill and Cemetery Ridge he left the Federals in possession of the best terrain....high-ground as strong as that held by the Confederates at the Battle of Fredericksburg. 

As night fell over the town and battlefields of Gettysburg, the Union forces, superbly led by Major General Winfield Scott Hancock fortified their hard-won high-ground as more and more of the Army of Potomac congregated on Cemetery Ridge.  The Confederates meanwhile, rested their troops and worked hard to bring-up those divisions that had not been engaged in the fighting.  Both sides prepared for the resumption of hostilities in the morning.  Neither side was going to leave Gettysburg without a victory. 

150th Anniversary of Battle of Hampton Roads - Day 2

Battle of Hampton Roads: Monitor vs. Merrimack - 09 March 1862

 

Monitor vs. Merrimack (really C.S.S. Virginia)

Today is the 150th Anniversary of the Second Day of the historic Battle of Hampton Roads.  On this date, in 1862, the C. S. S. Virginia (usually called by its original name of "Merrimack") returned to the scene of her great triumphs, expecting to pick-up the battle right where she left off yesterday, by first finishing-off the Minnesota.  Though the Cumberland and the Congress were gone and the Minnesota was still grounded, a new player had entered the field of battle, the U. S. S. Monitor, and she was just itching for a fight.  In fact, this was a fight that she was "born" for.

Diagram of the U.S.S. Monitor

The U. S. S. Monitor, the brainchild of inventor John Ericsson, was the world's first "true" ironclad.  While the Virginia did have iron-plating, the Confederacy had simply tacked them onto the frame of the Merrimack.  The Monitor was the first of its kind, for it was a ship made entirely out of iron, a new "breed" of warship if you will.  And there she sat, seeking to protect her sister ship the Minnesota, by staring down the Virginia and standing between her and victory.

Monitor and Virginia battle, w/ grounded ships in background

The monumental battle of the 19th century began around dawn with both sides moving in close and the Virginia opening fire first.  However, both ships were soon pouring round after round into their opponent, but to no avail.  After hours of denting each others' iron-plating and numerous near collisions, the Virginia withdrew first, seeing that her main objective, the Minnesota, was now out of range due to the tide.  While the Monitor withdrew also after a shot from the Virginia struck her pilot house, damaging the eyes of her captain, one Captain John L. Worden.

While both sides would claim victory, nothing was really gained.  Though I do consider this naval battle to be the most significant of its kind in all of history.  Because, from the moment the "Monitor" and the "Merrimack" met, every other navy in the world instantly became obsolete.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_hampton_roads 

150th Anniversary - Battle of Hampton Roads

"Battle of Hampton Roads": Confederacy Triumphant - 08 March 1862

C.S.S Virginia

Today is a historic day.  On this date, 150 years ago, in 1862, the ironclad "C.S.S. Virginia" (known in the North as the U.S.S. Merrimack) steamed into Hampton Roads and opened fire on the Union fleet stationed there.  Under the command of the aggressive Captain Franklin Buchanan, she went on the attack.  First, the Virginia rammed the U.S.S. Cumberland, which sank, colors still flying, quickly taking 150 sailors with her.  Then she opened-up on another ship-of-the-line, the U.S.S. Congress.

U.S.S. Cumberland rammed by the C.S.S. Virginia

 Eventually the Congress surrendered, after putting up a spirited, but ultimately futile fight.  But when the Union batteries on shore began firing, Captain Buchanan became incensed and the Virginia returned fire, firing hot shot, cannon balls heated red-hot, into her setting the ship on fire, resulting in 115 more deaths and the explosion of her magazine later on.  As if that wasn't enough indignity to heap upon the Union Navy, the U. S. S. Minnesota had also been run aground and lay there like a sitting duck, just waiting for the Confederates to come and finish her off.  In addition, the frigates St. Lawrence and Roanoke were also run aground.



However, though victorious, the C. S. S. Virginia had sustained damage, two crew members were dead and many more were injured, including Captain Buchanan (a thigh wound from a rifle shot), while her speed had been reduced, shots from the shore batteries had riddled her smokestack, several metal plates had been damaged and two guns had been put out of action.  These problems and the growing darkness made the acting-Captain (Lieutenant Catesby ap Roger Jones) decide to withdraw his ship for the night and to return in the morning to finish off the Union fleet.  So the Virginia retreated from Hampton Roads to the safety of the Confederate waters off Sewell's Point. 

For one day the Confederate Navy ruled the waves.

Meanwhile, the Union had been building an ironclad of their very own and it arrived late that evening.  Taking up a position protecting the Minnesota, the U.S.S. Monitor waited for daybreak.

While the entire world held its breath.....

RIP - Colonel Strong Vincent

In Memoriam:  Colonel Strong Vincent, of the V Corps, who with quick wits and even quicker thinking, saved Little Round Top, and with it the entire left flank of the Union Army, for the Federals.  For this action, he was rewarded with a mortal wound and a deathbed promotion to Brigadier General.  Three cheers for Colonel Strong Vincent: the Savior of Gettysburg!

Hip Hip Huzzah!

Hip Hip Huzzah!

Hip Hip Huzzah!

RIP - Colonel Strong Vincent
       -Wounded 02 July 1863, Gettysburg
       -Died 07 July 1863

The Union owes you a debt that can never be repaid.  Rest in peace, for your sacrifice was not in vain, the Union was saved.

Flag's Birthday - 04 July 1861

Happy Birthday Old Glory!

Welcome to the Union Kansas!

34-Star Flag introduced upon Kansas being admitted to the Union

In addition to July Fourth being considered America's birthday, it is also the date most of our states have entered the Union and had the honor of having a star added to the flag.  Though this honor has been award to many, today we are hear to discuss the admission of one in particular, one which caused the Union a great deal of trouble, even helping to bring about the Civil War.  I am of course speaking of "Kansas".

Kansas began as part of the "Kansas-Nebraska Territory", before it was decided by Congress to divide this massive piece of territory into two potential states, they would eventually become the states of Kansas and Nebraska.  But before they could a decision had to be made regarding whether slavery would be permitted to exist or not.  Would Kansas enter the Union as a "Free" or a "Slave" state?  That was the question that soon had people up in arms and also arming themselves.

The "Kansas-Nebraska Act", which included the concept of "popular sovereignty" sought to end this turmoil.  Unfortunately all it did was hasten the Union's slide towards Civil War.  (Thanks a lot Kansas!)  As Kansas was flooded with anti-slavery and pro-slavery men, vicious fighting began to occur.  In accordance with this, Kansas soon earned the moniker "Bleeding Kansas" due to all of the bloodshed.

Into this fray stepped John Brown.  Though famous for his later raid on Harper's Ferry.  He couldn't resist getting involved in the Kansas fight.  One night at the pro-slavery settlement of Pottawatomie Creek, Brown and a group of men he led, forced 7 pro-slavery men from their homes and hacked them to death with broadswords.  Other altercations between groups pro and anti slavery made Kansas Territory into a battleground 7 years before the Civil War would make the entire nation into one huge battlefield.

Eventually, those settlers opposed to the extension of slavery into Kansas were victorious and Kansas was admitted as a free state on 29 January 1861.  However, it was not until 04 July 1861 that Kansas was formally represented by a star on the American flag.  The Star-Spangled Banner is a lucky old gal, she gets to celebrate multiple birthdays.  But today, it is important to remember the 34-star flag that served as Kansas induction into the United States and this momentous event occurred exactly 150 years ago today.

Happy Birthday Kansas!

Independence Day 2011

The Fourth of July, or as it is more commonly known here in the United States, "Independence Day", is the day we celebrate the adoption of the "Declaration of Independence" in 1776. 

With this document, we were declaring our independence from Great Britain.  A reality that was not yet set in stone at this point.  There were still 7 long years of war yet to come.  But the Second Continental Congress was just chock full of optimism at this point in time (where it came from, this historian has yet to discover) and was convinced that declaring our independence from Great Britain before really being able to back it up militarily was the way to go.  And so the Continental Congress had decided to vote to formally break ties with Great Britain.  However, they had voted to do so on:  02 July 1776, so what is the big deal about 04 July 1776?  Well, even though the Continental Congress felt pretty confident in their voting results (there were only 13 colonies after all) they thought that maybe they needed something more concrete, explaining exactly WHY they had felt the need to formally declare their independence.  So a "Committee of Five" had been delegated (even back before the Constitution statesmen and politicians just LOVED committees it seems!) back in June of 1776 to draft a written declaration of independence.  These five men were:  John Adams, Roger Sherman, Robert Livingston, Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson.  On 28 June 1776, the Committee of Five presented their first draft (written primarily by Thomas Jefferson, that much of the story surrounding the Declaration is true) to the Continental Congress. 

This austere body considered the wording, argued over wording and disagreed over wording, right up to the evening of 03 July 1776. 

Yes, you read those last words correctly.  The Continental Congress, voted to declare America's independence from Great Britain BEFORE they had a written document stating as much.  Good to know that our government had just as much trouble agreeing on things in 1776 as they do today. 

Regardless, by 04 July 1776, the Second Continental Congress had reached an agreement, signed the formal "Declaration of Independence" and then ordered broadsheets of the declaration to be printed and distributed throughout the land.  If by "signed on 04 July 1776" you actually mean "signed on 02 August 1776", which was when the signatures (including President John Hancock's enormous scrawl) were actually added, then yes, everyone signed on 04 July 1776.

So how exactly did "04 July 1776" become America's birthday anyway?  Since the Continental Congress:

1)  Had commissioned a committee to write a formal declaration in June 1776

2)  Had taken receipt of a rough draft of said formal declaration of independence on 28 June 1776

2)  Had already voted to declare independence on 02 July 1776

3)  Was still debating the wording of said formal declaration of independence on 03 July 1776

4)  Didn't finally accept the Committee of Five's "Declaration of Independence" and have broadsheets printed until 04 July 1776

5)  But didn't bother to sign this "formal", and so important enough that we had to form the country's very first "committee" in order to get it written, "Declaration of Independence" until 02 August 1776.

Why did Americans settle on 04 July 1776 as the nation's birthday?  The cynical historian wants to say that the American people were just too lazy to properly take the time to sort this muddle out and went with the easy choice of "04 July 1776".  But I think that the answer is simply that the first time the ordinary people (those not privy to the governmental secrets of the Second Continental Congress) heard about the "Declaration of Independence" was when they saw copies of it plastered across the walls of buildings and being hawked in the streets by printers in every town and hamlet across the now "former" 13 colonies and adopted THAT day, 04 July 1776, as America's birthday.  It is probably fitting anyway, since the common people of America are the backbone of this country and back in 1776, they were the ones who were actively fighting for the independence that Thomas Jefferson was talking about in such grand and abstract words. 

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness".

Might have been written by Jefferson, but it was embodied by every American citizen, from 1776 up to 04 July 2011.

Fall of Vicksburg - 04 July 1863

If the Battle of Gettysburg was the proverbial nail in the Confederacy's coffin, then the fall of Vicksburg on 04 July 1863 was the first shovels of dirt into that coffin's grave. 

With the fall of this mighty citadel, the Western Theater of the war was forever lost to the Confederacy.  Though the loss of New Orleans early in the Civil War was a great loss to the Confederacy, they were still a force to be reckoned with in the west.  The battles of Shiloh and Chickamauga proved the Rebels' tenacity and they had well-placed forts and cities (such as Forts Henry and Donelson, Port Hudson and Vicksburg) with which to defend this vast region of the Confederacy.  However, ineffective (and downright incompetent generalship on the part of some) helped lead to the Confederate losses in this area.  The Union, on the other hand, led ably by Major General Ulysses S. Grant and his subordinates Generals Sherman and Thomas, had amazing and frequent successes in the Western Theater.  All of this hard work by Grant eventually led the Union Army into a siege of the town of Vicksburg, the mighty citadel of the Mississippi River. 

Beginning on 25 May 1863, Grant and his forces encircled the town.  Though earlier assaults had been beaten back, rather than continue to attempt such futile attacks, Grant settled in for a siege.  His army forces prevented breakout attempts by the Confederates (led by Lt. General John Pemberton, a northerner) though they did try and were even close to succeeding when a retreat back inside the Rebel works was inexplicably ordered.  And Federal naval forces under the command of Rear Admiral David Porter commanded the Mississippi River.  This encirclement was only possible due to a daring run past the river guns at Vicksburg which had then picked-up Grants soldiers and transported them down river nearer to the city itself.  Grant had a masterful way of somehow managing to get the Army and the Navy to work together, which produced major dividends for his campaigns.  Was these actions were complete there was nothing to do but starve out the Confederates.  For 39 days Union and Confederate troops exchanged artillery and musket fire.  Before General Pemberton and his men had had enough.  On 03 July 1863, Pemberton sent a note out to Grant asking him for surrender terms.  Grant considered unconditional surrender (terms which served him well at Fort Donelson and earned him a positive moniker) but did have the resources to feed 30,000 prisoners of war and did not want to spend time (several months at least) shipping them to Union prison camps.  Considering their dejected state, he also doubted that they would ever be healthy enough to fight again and hoped that they would carry the stigma of defeat throughout the Confederacy.  Thus Grant agreed to parole all of them. 

The surrender of the city of Vicksburg was finalized on 04 July 1863.  Though it would take the fall of Port Hudson on 09 July 1863 for the Union to have complete control of the entire Mississippi River, by all accounts Confederate control of it no more.  With Union control of the Mississippi River, the Confederacy was effectively cut in two.  Never again would they successfully challenged Federal control of the Western Theater of the war.  Old General Winfield Scott's "Anaconda Plan" was actually in effect.  Thanks to Union control of the oceanic and freshwater waterways, the Confederacy was slowly being strangled to death.