American Civil War Mr. Contipodero

 “Yesterday we rode on the pinnacle of success – today absolute ruin seems to be our portion.”  Josiah Gorgas, Confederate Ordinance Chief, July 28, 1863

 Confederates foraging parties in PA  Claiming blacks and sending to the South  Hooker wanted to get Richmond  Wanted more support from Washington  Lincoln presumed he was afraid to fight Lee again  McClellan?

 Lee intended on getting between Harrisburg and Lancaster  General Stuart’s Cavalry was on another mission  Lee did not know Union army location  Lee intended to go to Cashtown (8 miles from Gettysburg)  July 1 st, 1863  Confederate infantry clashed with 2 Union brigades at Gettysburg  John Buford (Union cavalry) saw significance

 Confederates closer on first day  25,000 to 19,000 (Union)  Ewell’s troops (Jackson’s corps) defeated Union 11 th Corps  Union north and west positions of Gettysburg collapse  Take position at Cemetery Hill

 Lee arrived in the afternoon on July 1 st  Told Ewell to attack Cemetery Hill “if practicable”  Lee still doesn’t have cavalry  Ewell hesitated to attack

 Most of remaining troops reached battlefield  Union position resembled a fishhook  Defensive approach  Southern position was twice as long  Tough for communication purposes

 General Longstreet (CSA)  Union position was too strong to attack  Suggested flanking movement – go south between Union army and DC  Lee  Why did Lee not take Longstreet’s advice?

 Longstreet disagreed but obeyed Lee’s orders  Primary assault on Union left  Ewell attacks Cemetery and Culp’s Hills  Engaged in artillery battle instead of sending troops  Union reinforcements drove Rebels off Cemetery Hill  Daniel Sickles, Commanded Union 3 rd Corps  Advanced to higher ground at Emmitsburg Road  Left Little Round Top undefended  20 th Maine holds the hill and the entire Union left flank

 Famous fighting spots:  The Peach Orchard  Wheat Field  Devil’s Den  Union forces fought with fierce determination  Timely command decisions  Shifting reinforcements

 A.P. Hill’s corps crippled and Longstreet’s divisions were mangled  Longstreet pleaded Lee to move around the Federal left  Lee believed Union morale was down  Mass together 3 divisions led by Pickett to attack Union center  Winfield Scott Hancock’s 2 nd Corps were waiting for Lee

 Stuart’s cavalry wanted to swing east to the Union’s rear flank  Met by Union cavalry – 3-hour clash led by General George Armstrong Custer  Heavy artillery duel at 1pm  Rebel artillery sunk in ground – forcing shots high  Union conserved artillery fire – deception  13,000 rebels approached Union lines  All 13 of Pickett’s colonels killed – 2 brigade commanders