DOCSLIB.ORG

The Command and General Staff School

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
The Command and General Staff School SOLUTION NO., THE COMMAND AND GENERAL STAFF SCHOOL Htp Problwa No ~ . Serie*. IN CASE OP REPLY TO 3E RETURNED TO RECEPTACLE BY 0:00 A.M. US-0. S. 8<hi.. Fort UirrnworUi-f-lS-IS—ttU MEMORANDUM FOR: The Director, 2d Year Class, Coa.nand and General Stuff School, Fort Loavenworth, Kansas. 8UBJEOT: A study of the Campaign of Spotsylvania and Cold Harbor, 1864. I. PAPERS ACCOiiPANYIliG. 1, A bibliography for this study. 2, Five maps showing situation at beginning of the campaign, in vicinity of Spotsylvania ar.d In vicinity of Cold Harbor. II. THK STUDY PRSSKNTEH.-- Two outstanding lessons to be learned from th* Campaign of Spotsylvania and Cold Harbor, 1864. III. HISTORICAL FACTS RELATING TO THE STUDY.- 1. On the irornirve of JJay 7, 1854, the hopes of th* North *rd thoBe of the South rested in the two anri?B facing each othor in tho Virginia woods just tP3t of Ola Wilderness Tavern about sixty riles north of Richmond. The resources of the North \r. men, food, ind equipment were 3till An a state of sufficient supply while thone of the South were f^st reaching exhaustion. (1) Cenyr'tl U.S. Grant was personally directly he Union forces here consisting of the Ariuy of t3io Potomac under Major General George G. Ueade and an independent corps, the IX Corps, cocir,ended by tivjor General Ambrose E, Burnside. The Amy of the Potomac wac organ!t-.J into three corps and th« cavalry as follows: Th« II Corps under Uaj. Gen, Winfield S. Hancock. The V Corps under Uaj. Gen0 Gouvurneur K. larren. The VI Corp8 under Mftj. Gen. John Sedgwick. Tho Cavalry under Idoij. Gen. Philip H. Sheridan. The total strength after the battle of the Wilderness was approximately one hundred thousand sen and more than three hundred guns. (2) The Army of Northern Virginia under General Robert E. Lee totalPU approxinately fifty-one thousand men and two hundred guns. It %CL8 organited into three corps and the cavalry as follows: I Corps under Lt. Gen. R.H, Anderson, who had succeded Lt. Gen. James Longstreet, II Corps under Lt. Gen. R.S. Bwoll, III Corpu under Lt. Gen. A. P. Hill, Cavalry under Maj. Gen. .T.E.B. Stuart. (3) (1) (2-19) (2) (12­ 106 to 116. 5-^80. 4-367,372. 11-482.) (3) (3-182. 11­482.) -1 - 2. Tht» Battle of the Wilderness closed on May 6, 1364. On the morning of Ifey 7, the two armies were disposed as shown on Special Ifap No. 1. (4) After such a battle as was just completed previous Union Generals had recoiled frcro the shock and turned northward for recipera­ tlon and reenforcemento. (5) Not to with Grant. He had made Lie's Aray his objective and he had n? thought of turning backt(6) His general plan was to wear down Lee's Army by constant and persistant fighting on every occasion which offered a chance to diminish Lee's forces, which he knew could not be replaced.(7) A reconnaissance by each side on the rooming of Ifey 7 disclosed to each that the other was not disposed to renev the attack. Lee knew that he must conserve his dwindling tonn power by avoid­ ing costly offensive actions and by the use of defensive works.(8) Grant concluded that Lee could no longer maintain battles in the open field and that therefore his offensive actions would be limited. Tiie present position of the Confederates combined with the wooded terrain wns not favoiable to an attack. The woods reduced Grant's advantage in superiority of men and guns. He decided to draw Leo into the open field and there att&ck him at every opportunity.(9) He desired to interpose his force between Lee's and Richmond. Such a position *rould safeguard Butler scuth of the James River and force L«e to move out of the Wilderness, whero Grant hoped to'attack the Confederate Arw-y in the open. (10) To accomplish this, Grant's immediate plan was to r.ove to Spotsylvania Court House about fifteen nllea southeast of Old Wilder­ neas Tavern, under cover of darkness during tho night of May 7 and 8. (11) Spotsylvania wag not a placo of great ntlitary importance except for the fact that the roads south from th* Vfilderneas net there the main road froa Fredericksburg to Richmond.(12) In order to be prepared for an attack during thn narch from the Wilderneae the movement was ordered to begin from the right flank.(13) General Sheridan wat» directed to give timely warning to the Corps commanders of any advance of the oneay along roads leading in from the right but this mia3ion was not fulfilled. (14)' In order to clear the narrow roadB for the uso of troop move­ ments that night, the wagon trains were moved out during the afternoon. T4) (2-209. 1174R7T 5) (9-229. 11-487) 6) (10-306. U-4B3. 12-2) 7) (11-487. 12-22) 3) (4-375. 11-482. 12-18) (9) (2-214,215. 4-375. 11-487) (lil) (2-213. 6—*W. 12,19) (11) (4-375. 12-2,3,19) (12) (9-229. 11-489) (13) (11-488) (14) (2-221) -2­ General Lee, who tyas watchfully awaiting the next Union move, was advised of tin movement of the Union trains on the afternoon cf May 7, (lf>) He could not tell froc. this whethnr Grant would uncover Washington by Rrcov >ra»nt to the South or intended to nove to Fredericfca­ bur£. Howevar, in either case a position at Spctsylvqnin would bo advantageous to the Confederate Army, so General Lee decided to take up a position in readiness at that point, (1M Lee ordered the covenant to begin i'roa the right flank, (17) The cavalry was to r«jconnoiter the roadB fiojr, thu direction of FVederlckaburg and ileli/ the mrch of the Union colunr. at th*. a*r.e time screening the Confederate cov*aent.(i8) The movement toward 3potsylvan!a Court House started as ordered in the Union Ai'ny, beginning between 8:30 and J:00 in the evening. (U) In the Confederate Kr?y the rcoveirent ordered for earl/ on toy 8 actually began a*, about 11:00 P.M. Jia/ 7 by Anderson's Corps.(20) Since the Union movement begun fror. tho Hank firtheat from Spoteylvania while the Confederates began from the flank nearest that point the head cf the Union force had to irarch ov«r three K.ilea further than the head of the Confederate force. On the narrow road through the filderneas the Union advance WAS deJa/ed by the Confederate Cavalry. The head of th<9 Confederate cclunjt met no delays and reAch­ od the vicinity of Pfotc/lvania first and took up a position p.croe* tho road upon which the leading l/nlon corps wn« advancing slowly, de­ layed by the Confederate Cavalry.(21) Warren's Corps could not dislodge Anderson13 Corps and «o await­ ed reinforcements. By the tice these arrived Ccvnfederate reenforcw.enta hac also arrived. Thus Lee reached Spotsylvania first.(22) terrain here at Spotsyl ii was eoaothat undulatinc and while nore open than that in the Wilderness, was still partly covered with tre<*s. Woods and open fields being in aoout equal proportion.(23) During the renaJnder of the 8th and most of the Jth of May both armies developed their columns and prepared uefensive works of en­ trenchments and breastworks,(24) The Confederate Army occupied hastily selected lines north and around Spotsylvania, The flanka were refused with the left resting on Glady Run and tti© ri^ht on the Ny River. The center had been permitted to extend north around high ground in the vicinity of the Me Cool farm house and then south a&ain resulting in the formation of a large salient about a r.ile deep and about three quarters of a mile •vide at the bn..e. (See special cap fJZ) Its weakness vas recognized and a second line was entrenched across its base so that in case of need the salient could be cut out oi the line.(25^ On the yth of Itoy, Grant started Sheridan en a cavalry raid. Hi8 raission fas t.o ride around the Confederate Army, disturb their cowr-ukications and obstruct their avenues of retreat.(26) (lr-) (3-128. 9-22)) (25) (4-376,377. 1-515,516) (16) (0-305. 11-438) (26) (4-375. 6-lb?,lh7.12-19) (17) (11-448) (18) (]1-489) (19) (B-303) (20) (5-290,291. 9-3OS. 7-62) (21) (6-213, 7-70) (22) (1-512) 23J (4-37 5) (24) (1-513, 11-492/ Bheridnn rejoined Grant on the Korth Anna River, the 24th of Ifey having defeated the Confederate Cavalry, destroyfed ten milo3 of railroad, and valuable supijliee and captured,temporarily th« outer defenses for Richmond.(27) During the afternoon of May 9th a Union rftconnaiefiince in force by Hnncock's Corps was initiated around the Confederate left flank. On the tenth of kby the two armies wore facing ee.ch other as shown on Special Map No, 2.(28} While Lee'a position wa3 fairly strong either flank mi £ kit have been successfully turns'), On Ifey Hh BurnBi^e's Corps was in a favorable position froc which to turn Lee's rlp.ht, Hancock was con­ tinuing to exploit the Confederate left on the morning of !&y 10th and was in a position favorable for turning Lee's left, when he nne ordered to withdraw two divisions to assist Warren's Corps in a proposed frontal attack.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Lincoln's Role in the Gettysburg Campaign
    LINCOLN'S ROLE IN THE GETTYSBURG CAMPAIGN By EDWIN B. CODDINGTON* MOST of you need not be reminded that the battle of Gettys- burg was fought on the first three days of July, 1863, just when Grant's siege of Vicksburg was coming to a successful con- clusion. On July 4. even as Lee's and Meade's men lay panting from their exertions on the slopes of Seminary and Cemetery Ridges, the defenders of the mighty fortress on the Mississippi were laying down their arms. Independence Day, 1863, was, for the Union, truly a Glorious Fourth. But the occurrence of these two great victories at almost the same time raised a question then which has persisted up to the present: If the triumph at Vicksburg was decisive, why was not the one at Gettysburg equally so? Lincoln maintained that it should have been, and this paper is concerned with the soundness of his supposition. The Gettysburg Campaign was the direct outcome of the battle of Chancellorsville, which took place the first week in May. There General Robert E. Lee won a victory which, according to the bookmaker's odds, should have belonged to Major General "Fight- ing Joe" Hooker, if only because Hooker's army outnumbered the Confederates two to one and was better equipped. The story of the Chancel'orsville Campaign is too long and complicated to be told here. It is enough to say that Hooker's initial moves sur- prised his opponent, General Lee, but when Lee refused to react to his strategy in the way he anticipated, Hooker lost his nerve and from then on did everything wrong.
    [Show full text]
  • The Battle of Sailor's Creek
    THE BATTLE OF SAILOR’S CREEK: A STUDY IN LEADERSHIP A Thesis by CLOYD ALLEN SMITH JR. Submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies of Texas A&M University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF ARTS December 2005 Major Subject: History THE BATTLE OF SAILOR’S CREEK: A STUDY IN LEADERSHIP A Thesis by CLOYD ALLEN SMITH JR. Submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies of Texas A&M University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF ARTS Approved by: Chair of Committee, Joseph Dawson Committee Members, James Bradford Joseph Cerami Head of Department, Walter L. Buenger December 2005 Major Subject: History iii ABSTRACT The Battle of Sailor’s Creek: A Study in Leadership. (December 2005) Cloyd Allen Smith Jr., B.A., Slippery Rock University Chair: Dr. Joseph Dawson The Battle of Sailor’s Creek, 6 April 1865, has been overshadowed by Lee’s surrender at Appomattox Court House several days later, yet it is an example of the Union military war machine reaching its apex of war making ability during the Civil War. Through Ulysses S. Grant’s leadership and that of his subordinates, the Union armies, specifically that of the Army of the Potomac, had been transformed into a highly motivated, organized and responsive tool of war, led by confident leaders who understood their commander’s intent and were able to execute on that intent with audacious initiative in the absence of further orders. After Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia escaped from Petersburg and Richmond on 2 April 1865, Grant’s forces chased after Lee’s forces with the intent of destroying the mighty and once feared iv protector of the Confederate States in the hopes of bringing a swift end to the long war.
    [Show full text]
  • Gettysburg Essay
    Essential Civil War Curriculum | Garry E. Adelman Gettysburg | March 2017 The Battle of Gettysburg By Garry E. Adelman with James Taub, Civil War Trust fter his May 1863 victory at the Battle of Chancellorsville, Confederate General Robert E. Lee ordered his Army of Northern Virginia into the Blue Ridge A Mountains where his northward movement was screened by the terrain. Using what intelligence he could assemble, Union Major General Joseph Hooker, succeeded on June 28 by Major General George Gordon Meade, aimed to keep the main body of his Army of the Potomac between General Lee and the U.S. Capital at Washington. In late June, Confederate forces were spread out on a 90-mile front across south central Pennsylvania, with Union forces edging ever closer to the Southerners. Lacking most of his cavalry, which was engaged in a raid around the Federal army, General Lee was unaware of the approaching Federal forces until the end of June, whereupon he ordered his three corps to converge near Gettysburg. At that same time, the most advance Union element—Brigadier General John Buford’s cavalry division—arrived in Gettysburg on June 30, 1863. Buford saw the importance of controlling the network of ten Essential Civil War Curriculum | Copyright 2017 Virginia Center for Civil War Studies at Virginia Tech Page 1 of 9 Essential Civil War Curriculum | Garry E. Adelman Gettysburg | March 2017 roads that converged at the town square and deployed his brigades to the west and north of town. The stage was set for the bloodiest and most famous of all North American battles.
    [Show full text]
  • Daniel Lawlor
    National Park Service St. Paul’s Church U.S. Department of the Interior National Historic Site Mt. Vernon, NY 914-667-4116 www.nps.gov/sapa Civil War Veteran of “Fighting 69th” Buried at St. Paul’s Survived Six Months as Prisoner in North Carolina By David Osborn Site Manager, St. Paul’s Church National Historic Site March 2012 Daniel Lawlor’s service as a combat solider in the Union army lasted little only a few weeks, but he survived six months of deteriorating conditions at a prison camp in North Carolina, enjoying a lengthy post war civilian life through 1916, when he was buried at the historic cemetery at St. Paul’s Church. A laborer born in Ireland, Lawlor signed up on July 30, 1864 in New York City, unusual since volunteering had stalled in the fourth year of the Civil War, largely because of the horrendous casualty rate in the Virginia Overland Campaign and the perception that the Union’s military offensives were stalled. Avoidance of the stigma of the draft, the lure of the $100 enlistment bonus (about $1,400 today), or the immigrant’s desire to demonstrate patriotism may have contributed to his decision. About five years older than the average recruit, the 31-year-old joined a unit offering ethnic familiarity, the New York Volunteer 69th Infantry, part of the Irish brigade, several regiments whose ranks reflected a prevalence of Emerald Isle men. The unit had also been labeled the “Fighting 69th” by Confederate General Robert E. Lee. Religious service in the field for the 69th during the Civil War.
    [Show full text]
  • 1 WHAT IF REYNOLDS LIVED and OTHER UNION WHAT-IFS for the BATTLE of GETTYSBURG? Terrence L. Salada and John D. Wedo Was The
    WHAT IF REYNOLDS LIVED AND OTHER UNION WHAT-IFS FOR THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG? Terrence L. Salada and John D. Wedo Was the Battle of Gettysburg a Northern victory or a Southern defeat? Did Confederate generals make so many mistakes and did the army lose so many top officers that the Federals fell into an unavoidable victory? Many Southern apologists think so, and they present a long list of such adversities to make their case. Their case is simply that the North won the battle because it was lucky. This paper presents an accounting of similar Union adversities, along with the recorded solutions and shows that the North had its own list of woes and met them head on. Furthermore, analysis of each Union adversity with alternate solutions and their results, as presented in this paper, shows that the Union army won the battle the old fashioned way: they earned it. The Battle of Gettysburg was fought in 1863. It is perhaps the most studied event in United States history. The Battle of Iwo Jima was fought in 1945. It is perhaps the most famous land battle of the Pacific Theater in World War II. History records that each battle had a definite winner and loser and that both were decisive. The book on Iwo Jima has been closed since 1945: no one argues about it in 2013. But arguments about Gettysburg continue to this day. Not surprisingly, the Civil War and, in particular, the Battle of Gettysburg, are favorite discussion topics. Speculation about what might have happened is common not only to history, but in other areas such as politics and sports.
    [Show full text]
  • W(H)Iter Corps?
    W(H)ITHER CORPS? D. Robert Worley August 2001 ***** The views expressed in this report are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, the Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government. This report is cleared for public release; distribution is unlimited. ***** Comments pertaining to this report are invited and should be forwarded to: Director, Strategic Studies Institute, U.S. Army War College, 122 Forbes Ave., Carlisle, PA 17013-5244. Copies of this report may be obtained from the Publications Office by calling commercial (717) 245-4133, FAX (717) 245-3820, or via the Internet at [email protected] ***** Most 1993, 1994, and all later Strategic Studies Institute (SSI) monographs are available on the SSI Homepage for electronic dissemination. SSI’s Homepage address is: http://carlisle-www.army. mil/usassi/welcome.htm ***** The Strategic Studies Institute publishes a monthly e-mail newsletter to update the national security community on the research of our analysts, recent and forthcoming publications, and upcoming conferences sponsored by the Institute. Each newsletter also provides a strategic commentary by one of our research analysts. If you are interested in receiving this newsletter, please let us know by e-mail at [email protected] or by calling (717) 245-3133. ISBN 1-58487-061-3 ii FOREWORD In a March 2001 address to the Association of the United States Army, General Eric Shinseki noted, “We are once again an army between the wars, and once again, we are challenged to adjust to break old paradigms.
    [Show full text]
  • Successful Missions Form
    91 TABLE 3 COMPARISON OF AERIAL RECONNAISSANCE MISSIONS, MOBILE VERSUS STATIC SITUATIONS, THIRD U.S. ~ FORM OF AERIAL RECONNAISSANCE SUCCESSFUL MISSIONS August September Tactical Reconnaissance 432 311 Photo Reconnaissance 81 223 a. Based on: Thl.rd U.S. Army, "After Actl.on Report, 1 Aug 4,4-9 May 45" (HQ Third Army, APO 403, l~ May 45), Vol. II, G2 Sec., p. 15. Tactical reconnaissance was now flown by area rather than route coverage. As shown in Figure 5 tactical reconnaissance extended well beyond the Rhine River to detect signs of Ger­ man rail and road movement to reinforce the Moselle defenses. Although bad weather hindered somewhat the execution of this plan, sufficient flights were made to detect heavy rail move­ ment west. Requests for air interdiction followed "immediately for the institution of a rail-cutting program to stop this flow of troops and supplies." Using both the P-38 and P-5l aircraft, the 10th Reconnaissance Group flew almost all oper­ ational planes at least one mission each day during the period 9-13 september. Many of these missions were also flown to screen Third Army's 400-mile exposed flank south of the Loire River. I 92' KOBLENZV ffP( R ~ \.. I FRANKFURT ~'t~V~ ~ ..~ .... '"'I"" ~ "" £2J LUXEMBOURG _NA~Y .F/SARREBOURG Fig. 5.--Third Army plan for area tactical recon­ naissance, September 1944.a aReproduced from: Third u.s. Army, "After Action Report, 1 Aug 44-9May 45" (HQ Third Army, APO 403, 15 May 45), Vol. II, G2 Sec., p. 15. Third Army Tac/R for October called for coverage of a lOO-mile front to a 'depth of 120 miles.
    [Show full text]
  • "4.+?$ Signature and Title of Certifying Official
    NPS Fonn 10-900-b OMB No. 10244018 (March 1992) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES MULTIPLE PROPERTY DOCUMENTATIONFORM This form is used for documenting multiple pmpcny pups relating to one or several historic wnvxe. Sainsrmctions in How lo Complele the Mul1,ple Property D~mmmlationFonn (National Register Bullnin 16B). Compleveach item by entering the requested information. For addillanal space. use wntinuation shau (Form 10-900-a). Use a rypwiter, word pmarror, or computer to complete dl ivms. A New Submission -Amended Submission A. Name of Multiple Property Llstlng The Civil War in Virginia, 1861-1865: Historic and Archaeological Resources - B. Associated Historic Contexts (Name each acsociated historic conk* identifying theme, gmgmphid al and chronological Mod foreach.) The Civil War in Virginia, 1861-1865: Historic and Archaeological Resources - - C. Form Prepared by -- - nameltitle lohn S. Salmon organization Virginia De~artmentof Historic Resourceg smet & number 2801 Kensineton Avenue telephone 804-367-2323 em. 117 city or town -state VA zip code222l As ~ ~ -~~ - ~ ~~~ -~~ An~~~ ~~ sr amended I the duimated authoriw unda the National Hislaic~.~~ R*urvlion of 1%6. ~ hmbv~ ~~ ccrtih. ha this docummfation form , ~ ,~~ mauthe Nhlond Regutn docummunon and xu forth requ~rnncnufor the Istmg of related pmpnia wns~svntw~thihc~mund Rcglster crivna Thu submiu~onmsm ihc prcce4unl ~d pmfes~onalrcqutmnu uc lath in 36 CFR Pan M) ~d the Scsmar) of the Intenoh Standar& Md Guidelina for Alshoology and Historic Revnation. LSa wntinuation shafor additi01w.I wmmmu.) "4.+?$ Signature and title of certifying official I hereby certify that this multiple property documentation form has been approved by the National Register as a basis for evaluating related properties for listing in the National Register.
    [Show full text]
  • World War II Participants and Contemporaries: Papers
    World War II Participants and Contemporaries: Papers Container List ACCETTA, DOMINICK Residence: Fort Lee, New Jersey Service: 355th Inf Regt, Europe Volume: -1" Papers (1)(2) [record of Cannon Co., 355th Inf. Regt., 89th Inf. Div., Jan.-July 1945; Ohrdruf Concentration Camp; clippings; maps; booklet ”The Story of the 89th Infantry Division;” orders; song; ship’s newspaper, Jan. 1946;map with route of 89th Div.] AENCHBACHER, A.E. "Gene" Residence: Wichita, Kansas Service: Pilot, 97th Bomber Group, Europe; flew DDE from Gibraltar to North Africa, November 1942 Volume: -1" Papers [letters; clippings] ALFORD, MARTIN Residence: Abilene, Kansas Service: 5th Inf Div, Europe Volume: -1" Papers [copy of unit newspaper for 5th Inf. Div., May 8, 1945; program for memorial service; statistics on service and casualties in wars and conflicts] ALLMON, WILLIAM B. Residence: Jefferson City, Missouri Service: historian Volume: -1” 104 Inf Div (1) (2) [after action report for November 1944, describing activities of division in southwest Holland; this is a copy of the original report at the National Archives] 1 AMERICAN LEGION NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS Residence: Indianapolis, Indiana Service: Veteran's organization Volume: 13" After the War 1943-45 [a monthly bulletin published by the Institute on Postwar Reconstruction, Aug. 1943-April 1945] American Legion Publications (1)-(11) [civil defense; rights and benefits of veterans; home front; citizenship; universal draft; national defense and security program; Americanism; employment manual; Boy Scouts-youth program; G. I. Bill of Rights; peace and foreign relations; disaster; natural resources; law and order; UMT-universal military training; national defense; veterans’ employment; 1946 survey of veterans; reprint of two pages from The National Legionnaire, June 1940; instructors manual for military drill; United Nations; junior baseball program] Army-Navy YMCA Bulletin, 1942-44 Atlas of World Battle Fronts [1943-45] China at War, 1939 [four issues published by the China Information Publishing Co.] Clippings [submarine war; Alaska; U.S.
    [Show full text]
  • A Brookfield Soldier's Report: the Civil War Recollections of Edwin C
    The ~~ ~ Proceedings ojthe ~ Vermont Historical Society HISTORY FALL 1989 VOL. 57. NO·4 197 A Brookfield Soldier's Report: The Civil War Recollections of Edwin C. Hall - On the 7th ... there was a truce and men of both armies sprang over their works to see the bloody work that had been done. Enemies met as friends. Edited by NORBERT A. KUNTZ he Wilderness; Spotsylvania; ColdHarbor. These names arepart ofthe litany ofCivil War battlesfamiliar to students ofAmerican T history. Recollections, memoirs, and letters abound concern­ ing these and other military activities ofthe 1861-65 war period. Yet, we continue to uncover vital and fascinating material. Fewparticipants in Civil War battles were able to compose their thoughts until sometime after the event. How much could be recalled and in what detail explains some ofthe differences between authors. Where was the author when the event tookplace? There was a substantial difference in perspective ifone was in the commandpostrather than on thefiring line. Historians' narratives too often have assumed theperspective ofthe com­ mander and failed to communicate the foot soldier's view of the war. What causes a young person, age seventeen, to enlist in the army? Edwin C. Hall was born in Brookfield, Vermont, in 1845. The evidence indicates that he camefrom a loving family. His father, Silas Hall, had sixchildren overthe course oftwo marriages. Edwin's letters to hisfather and to his brothers andsisters reflect his closeness to them. In particular, there was a special relationship between Edwin and his younger brother, George. Whatever the reason, Edwin enlisted in the 15th Vermont Regiment in September 1862.
    [Show full text]
  • Battle of Gettysburg
    Staff Ride Introduction Battle of Gettysburg In December of 1862, a major fatality incident occurred in the City of Fredericksburg Virginia, destroying the City infrastructure and displacing over 5,000 residents looking for shelter in the surrounding forests and villages. Nearly 2,000 people were killed with 15,000 wounded. The Area Command team and Incident Commanders (Robert E. Lee, Thomas Jackson, and J.E.B. Stuart) responding to this incident were nearly entrapped by a significant flare-up in the spring of 1863 at Chancellorsville, but were able to skillfully turn the tide of battle. In late June of 1863, indications and warnings were everywhere about a major incident about to occur near another American city of refuge -- perhaps Philadelphia, or Baltimore, or even Washington D.C. As you’ll read on the following page, the people of Pennsylvania and New Jersey bore a great deal of anxiety over this very real threat. The President of the United States lost confidence in the assigned Area Commander (Joseph Hooker), and replaced him with a new commander (George Gordon Meade) on June 28th 1863. Given command over the combined resources of nearly 100,000 responders on-the- move, George Meade and his key leaders and managers communicate as receivers by sensing the reports and conditions, understand the desperate situation they are in, decide what to do, and communicate those decisions in order to take action. The Battle of Gettysburg began on Wednesday the 1st of July 1863, and lasted 3 full days in the hills and fields surrounding Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. By the 4th of July, the threat to Pennsylvania and New Jersey had been removed; and 10,000 people lay dead around Gettysburg, with 30,000 more wounded.
    [Show full text]
  • A Study in Command: Hancock at Gettysburg, June 20-23, 2012
    BGES Presents: A Study in Command: Hancock at Gettysburg, June 20-23, 2012 Perhaps the best way to describe Winfield Scott Hancock is to quote Ed Bearss from his and Parker Hills’ masterful work, Receding Tide. What better way to get the flavor of this program? “Hancock has gained the nom de guerre of ‘Hancock the Superb’ from Major General George McClellan at Williamsburg. Now, Hancock is one of those men with a commanding presence. He is 6’ 2” tall; is a resident of Norristown, Pennsylvania; and is a West Pointer, class of 1844. He graduated 18th in his class of 44, so he is an infantryman. Hancock uses profanity like an artist uses oils, but he still looks every bit the part of a soldier. It’s said that men feel confident when they are around him, and this will be very important on the afternoon of July 1st at Cemetery Hill, and again on July 2nd and 3rd at Cemetery Ridge. At the age of 39, Hancock is losing the “battle of the bulge,” so he always wears a long frock coat. His other trademark is his ever-present, clean, starched, white shirt.” Bearss describes Hancock on the first day at Gettysburg: “Ewell’s and Hancock’s methods of command couldn’t be more different. Hancock is not a vacillating old man. Ewell is only seven years older than Hancock, but Ewell is evidently far beyond his physical peak. Hancock then makes probably the most important order of the day. He sees nobody on Culp’s Hill, 800 yards to the east, and he says to Doubleday, ‘General Doubleday, I want you to send Wadsworth and the Iron Brigade over to that hill.’ Doubleday replies, ‘But, General, those men are tired and out of ammunition.’ Hancock says, sharply, and probably with an oral oil painting of obscenity, “General, I want you to understand that I am in command here.
    [Show full text]