Reply #79: Aw, c'mon! [View All]

[MSchreader]

"poor performance at Gettysburg"?! That could be a few different CSA generals:

Stuart -- not staying in contact with Lee, letting the latter be engaged in an area in which he wasn't familiar and against a force of unknown size.

Heth -- not waiting to engage Buford's dismounted cavalry on the first day, and forcing Lee into a fight.

Ewell -- failing to take Culp's Hill on the first day, allowing the AoP to entrench and use it as its right flank.

Longstreet -- taking most of the day to get Hood's and McClaw's divisions in line for the assault on the Devil's Den and the Round Tops, allowing the Round Tops to be held.

Lee -- ordering Longstreet to send Pickett's division, and ordering A.P. Hill to send Pettigrew's and Trimble's divisions, across the open field to engage the AoP on Cemetary Ridge.

Longstreet (again!) -- procrastinating on getting his troops into line of battle for Pickett's Charge.

Garnett -- riding his horse forward toward Cemetary Ridge.

Kemper -- same.

Ewell (again!) -- failing to commit the troops necessary to take Culp's Hill, and thus keep the AoP from being able to reinforce Cemetary Ridge.

Stuart (again!) -- getting tangled in a cavalry battle far away from infantry support.

Lee (again!) -- ordering the assaults on Devil's Den, the Round Tops and Cemetary Ridge.

... but I'm guessing you mean Pickett. I think he did the best he could under the conditions. I don't blame him for the disaster at Gettysburg.

Martin