If the Rebel commander didn't have much hope in success, why didn't he simply cancel the attack ? Instead, he ruthlessly sent his men forward in an insane, suicidal mission ! That Rebel commander is a butcher !
@@reynaldoflores4522 he followed the order given by Robert Lee who was general in command of the whole army. Lee believed they can take it. Longstreet didnt (at least as its shown here) in the movie also Longstreet tries to protest to Lee about it but Lee dismisses his protests and carries on with the attack. Though this might be what Longstreet claimed after the war, he took a lot of beating about the charge (they said he delayed enough to get his troops in line, and the position was even better defended.) who knows exactly?
@@reynaldoflores4522General Longstreet was against the charge but he had to follow Lee’s orders. Only Stonewall Jackson could have talked Lee out of it but Jackson had been killed at Chancellorsville. Napoleon repeated Lee’s mistake at Waterloo.
@@willthorson4543 No, this was a theatrical release in 1993, not the TV movie from 2010ish. It may have been the only movie that I ever saw in a theater that had an intermission. (it may even have had 2) as it was 4 1/2 hours long.
"He'll attack right up that rocky slope, and up that gorgeous field of fire. And we will charge valiantly...and be *butchered* valiantly! And afterwards men in tall hats and gold watch fobs will thump their chest and say what a brave charge it was. Devin, I've led a soldier's life, and I've never seen anything as brutally clear as this...the way you sometimes feel before an ill-considered attack, knowing it'll fail, but you cannot stop it. You must even take part, and help it fail." - General Buford, United States Army, three days earlier
He KNEW he had to stop Heath's division from taking the high ground, or we could be discussing Hancock's Charge. In a battle full of decisive moments and monumental incompetence, Buford's stand waiting for John Reynolds to come up is one of the most decisive of the battle.
Burford didn't really say it. But in the book, Killer Angels, he is thinking it. But for the movie, and for the audience to understand, it was best for the actor to say it outloud. And Sam Elliot was absolutely perfect for the role of the tough as nails cavalry commander, and did a splendid job in Buford's portrayal. Buford & his fight was often overlooked in the battle due to the larger, bloodier engagements, but thanks to this movie, many now get to see just how important & pivotal Burford's actions (that he practically called on his own) were for the battle and the ultimate outcome of it.
@@bobholly3843 Buford's holding action ended in a Confederate victory, but it gave the Union troops time to dig in on the high ground, and that was the important thing. In fact, Longstreet urged Lee to withdraw on the first night.
Great line, respect sadly is no more on the battlefield. I'm ashamed to admit I had a hatred for the Afghan muj and the Iraqis I fought against. It was only once I got home I realised I'd fought some brave men especially the Afghans
Many of the men of the Civil War fought in Mexico together. Reynolds, Pickett, Grant, Lee, Jackson, Longstreet, heck even Jefferson Davis all distinguished themselves fighting the Mexicans.
@@robdean704I fought against the afghanis 2. And had they have been part of an army, I would love their bravery to the heavens. But instead they fought out of uniform, as terrorists and partisans. Lower than low?
I believe a pilot beat you out, he fired his guns and dived, not paying attention as he overtook his own projectiles and shot himself down. 4 more times and he'd be a reverse ace. This movie couldn't have been made without the reenactors who brought it to life and made it as accurate as possible. Great Job!
Crazy to think there were 170k men on that battlefield. This movie was a noble effort but really doesn’t give the real sense of the scope. Also, the soldiers were mostly very young people rather than the middle aged (and well fed) re-enactors
not all of it was filmed in the Battlefield. Little Round top was certainly filmed in Adams county Pa along with some of the other pieces in the movie.
This scene gives me chills. Longstreet was the analyst of the confederate army; what he's truly asking Pickett is: "do you have the courage/spirits to command this charge?", and Pickett simply responds with a smile. When Longstreet does not return this smile, we're reminded of Buford's earlier words about having to take part in an attack you know will fail. This scene also helps us appreciate the significance of Longstreet's skepticism; his conversation with Pickett implies he understands the importance of the army's willpower and morale, and yet still has qualms concerning the battle.
I think it wasn’t about wether or not Pickett had the courage, that was obvious, I think it’s more that he hoped there would be doubt about the plan. Then he could bring in another General to Lee as weight to redeploy to the right instead.
Grant is often given credit of being one of the first modern generals, but in this case so was Longstreet. He got it. Longstreet appreciated the advances in technology and was responsible for the defensive placements at Fredericksburg. He designed them with the trust that the stone wall would serve as a trench for his forces and he was correct. When Lou Armistead explains to the Brit about how everybody making the charge was a veteran - well so were the guys they were attacking, and certainly the commanders who fought and survived battles like Fredericksburg (Hancock!). Lee had the same mentality on Day 3 that he had on Day 2, and it was only after learning that Pickett's division was wiped out did Lee realize that the rulebooks of war had been rewritten. What a waste.
@@jamesmarjan5481 I don't think that's it. At this point, Longstreet knew this was happening, that there was no changing Lee's mind, I think this is him feeling so distraught and helpless to stop what he saw coming that he desperately needed even just the slightest bit of assurance that this was gonna work so he had something to cling to and give him hope.
Longstreet and Hancock weren't roommates. Longstreet was two years ahead of Hancock -Longstreet was the class of 1842, while Hancock was the class of 1844.. However, they did know each other well. I believe the Longstreet knew Ulysses S. Grant better than he did Hancock. Most of the Civil War generals who came from the regular (I..e. prewar) Army had graduated from West Point during the early-mid 1840's; Longstreet, Grant, Pickett, Hancock, Sherman, Buford, Jackson had all graduated within five years of one another. So, they all were acquainted with one another even if they weren't close friends. On top of that, most of them had served in the Mexican-American War together so they had seen each other in battle. Longstreet knew Hancock's qualities and that he wouldn't let the line break.
I know it maybe way late to say this, but Hancock was also a Pennsylvanian. And during the civil war, most men fighting fought for their state more than the country. So, for Hancock, this was an invasion of his home. And if you look at the battle itself, a majority of the units on the union side are all Pennsylvanian units. A few others here and there like the 20th Maine and others, but a majority were Pennsylvanian units.
may be wrong but iirc, Hancock was in the ill fated advance on Mayre's Heights in Fredricksburg, just 6 months prior, against defenders under Longstreet. It was sort of the same situation, a stone wall to climb over, a sunken road to cross while under fire from guys dug in. If nothing else, Longstreet knew they werent gonna run while they had such a great chance to re-enact the same horrible scene against the same commander who butchered them at Fredricksburg
@@HDreamer oh I'm sure of it, I mean, I can't imagine General Longstreet would have had time to wax philosophically with a common soldier like Harrison right before the biggest charge of the war, but it does make for a great scene, which is another reason this is one of my all time favorite movies.
Richard Jordan's portrayal of General Armistead was gut wrenching. In the theatre a lot of people had tears in their eyes when Armistead realized all of his friends had been shot.
What's really sad is that his last request to see Hancock couldn't be granted because Hancock was wounded. And quite possible he never found out rather or not Hancock lived.
Yeah. It always has a special ... feeling ... watching a character in a movie die - when you now that that actors has died. Alan Rickman, who played Snape in the _Harry Potter_ films, died of cancer before I saw the movies - and knowing that - Snapes death scene in the movie is especially moving as was Richard Jordans death making Armistead's death so moving here. One of the things about the American Civil War that was haunting was how many people knew someone very well who was on the other side. .
They all moved as fast as they could walk from the nearest train stop. They all dug in where they could and waited till they thought they had an advantage in men or position . You know the rest , it's history. The generals rarely led the charge .@@fredpearson5204
Having seen what happened to the Union Army when they attacked Longstreet’s prepared positions while crossing open space at the Battle of Fredericksburg, Longstreet understood what would happen to Pickett’s Charge. Sadly, Lee either did not see the similarities between the two attacks, or discounted the reasons why the Union’s attack at Fredericksburg resulted both in failure and heavy losses.
@@gerikucinski2427 I think there was still a bit of arrogance left in Lee's mind and in the ANV as a whole which led to their belief that they could still prevail on July 3rd with a full frontal attack on Cemetery Ridge.
This was the moment that brought the film back full circle. At the start of the movie Sam Elliot as General John Buford gives, pretty much, the same speech.
Man, the way berenger delivered that quiet, incredulous, "......do you know what's gonna happen?" Conveying despair, anger, and frustration all in one line.
In Michael Shaara's (Pulitzer Prize winning) book "Killer Angels," Longstreet's reaction to Pickett's Charge is described as "...a bloody vacancy, like a room in which there has been a butchering..." We've been to Gettysburg twice and it's such a powerful feeling to stand where it all happened (all the different places)!
I went to Gettysburg in July 2001. It happened to be one of the dates of the battle..2d or 3d. I hiked up Little Round Top. I was the only person there. But I felt…watched. At one point I felt hostility..toward me. I got off that hill, quick. Gettysburg is, literally, a haunting place. It was mid day by the way.
Lee bought into the his men's experience and willpower. Longstreet understood something more than that, practicality. That's not a knock on Lee, he understood that willpower and morale were a huge part of warfare, but Longstreet's cold calculations were more appropriate for this specific situation.
BattlestarPegasus Longstreet knew it was a major disaster from the start but Lee's pride for quick victory clouded sounded judgment and people blame Longstreet for the defeat is unbelievable.
Ironically, Longstreet was sucsessful making a similar attack with about the same number of men broke the Union center at Chickamagua. Helped ruin the career of his West Point roomate, William Rosecrans.
It wasn't pride necesarily, it was just a belief that your soldiers who won again and again would come thru again. Blaming Longstreet has never made sense to me tho I agree.
I read that in the early 20th century, the veterans reunited at Gettysburg and did a re enactment of pickets charge. When the men got to the wall, they all hugged it out. Brought a tear to my eye reading about it
This happened July 1-4 1913- the 50th anniversary of the battle. They called it "The Great Reconciliation." A beautiful moment in our nation's history.
That is true, except for the horrible reality that the federal government actively prevented black Veterans of the battle from coming. Period incredibly shameful on our part
Longstreet shows his vast experience. He understands how weapons work in detail and he already played out the scenario in his mind. Lee is one to always abide by getting good feedback and advice from his troops and generals. He should have listened to Longstreet as he no longer had their star general Stonewall Jackson anymore for the Gettysburg campaign.
@@LarsCarlsen-or6kyTo be fair with you they didn't lost when they started the war. In fact they was winning. Every major invasion fail to break the South and the war dragged on. If the South still playing defensive more without the invasion then battle like Gettysburg . Then they would win. If time went on. Worst if they fight to last men turn to guerrillas warfare then what. Even i know the South wouldn't dare to prolong the war. Worst trying to keep order all over the South. A prolonged war isn't beneficial even if to crush the Rebels.
I've been to Gettysburg, it's one haunted battlefield. We were there very early in the morning, and the sun wasn't up yet. The hair was up on my neck, and stayed that way until we left.
If ghosts exist where more likely than Gettysburg? Many stories from disparate parties. All those young men wanting nothing more than to live to the next day…
@@RoadTripzz14 Say, l went to Gettysburg to participate in the145th reenactment in '08. But before l could make it, the daylight hours were fading as l crossed into Maryland from Charlestown W.V. I stopped in Sharpsburg and parked on the route of my journey.l couldn't get to sleep even being bone tired from driving. I would close my eyes, but sleep just wouldn't come. I recall several times looking out the drivers side window upwards into the dark, and seeing what l assumed were lightning bugs. But these weren't moving like any lightning bugs l've ever seen. The orbs or tiny dots of lights were falling from the height of about the top of a power pole, then dissipate into nothing maybe fifteen feet off the ground. I even got out of the car and walked to stretch my legs, but the occurrence only happened while l was inside my car. It was strange to say the least. If you respond back, l will go further with what l felt at Gettysburg and Dunkers Church back at Sharpsburg on my way back home.
Indeed. I've been taking trips to Gettysburg since 1993 and I always say, standing on that battlefield does not feel like standing in your backyard. There's an undeniable presence there.
FiringallCylinders This is a fictional conversation between Longstreet and Harrison. What I admire about the scene is it's really a soliloquy. Longstreet externalizing his misgivings about an attack he fought to stop and knew would sound the start of the end of the CSA.
Longstreet never wanted to fight there. He was a defensive General. Unlike others he realized that the nature of warfare was changing. Thanks to the persuasion cap, the rifle and the Minnie ball infantry well dug in could not be easily pushed aside.
I must've seen his expression in a different light. I saw him get a glimmer of hope from the response George gave him, which was a grin of "you damn right we're going to take it". He had so much confidence in Pickett that he knew he would get an answer from him. Thats why he asked him in the first place. He was so desperate for any amount of hope that the charge might be succesful. What other better way to get that hope than to go straight to his right hand man himself?
And yet, and yet... "It was all a mathematical equation"; and of course Longstreet knew all too well the measure of his opponent in Hancock. There is also something far deeper at work here, Longstreet's sudden insight into Lee's fallibility. He, Longstreet, had not wanted to continue the fight at Gettysburg after the success of the first day. Remember two entire Union Corps the 1st and 11th had been routed and over 5,000 prisoners taken. At that point it was a greater victory than at 2nd Manassas and second only to Fredericksburg. To Lee it was incomprehensible NOT to complete the destruction of the Army of the Potomac, the essential goal of the campaign. Yet Longstreet realized that the failure to pursue the beaten Federals and take Culp's Hill had decisively shifted the terrain advantage to a fully deployed Union Army. The second day forcibly confirmed his assessment and Lee's all or nothing gamble on the third horrified him. Yes he looked to Pickett for hope, but he knew all to well the vanishingly small chance the attack had of success.
In reality Longstreet couldn't give the order. Pickett had to ask him three times before Longstreet gave him a nod. I think they should've gone with that.
Harrison wasn't much of a family man. After the war ended he took his wife and daughters to Mexico and dissapeared. He was declared dead eventually. 25 years later he is found alive in Cincinnati.
Been to every major battlefield. Gettysburg is my favorite, tons of great sweeping views, especially from Little Round Top (great sunsets!). The others that have stood out: Antietam, Fredericksburg, New Market, Chattanooga and Manassas. Stones River has the cleanest visitor center bathrooms.
This is what Meade meant when he said, "Let us hope this is good ground." Understanding the geography to give your troops the most advantageous position was vital during this campaign, and both sides knew it.
They always know that it is doomed but in every war that ever was the Generals send ordinary soldiers to there deaths by the hundred's of thousand's. Only an idiot with no imagination would ever be a soldier to be sent into the valley of death by an uncaring General that is given his orders by an uncaring President. After the fight win or lose both the General and the President get to go and sleep in a warm bed that night whilst hundreds of wounded men lay about the battle field in the frost screaming groaning and slowly dying. What they would not give for a warm bed and a caring hand.
Lee was always at his best when he forced Union commanders to make difficult decisions, but at Gettysburg he was the one who didn't have many good options. With Union troops commanding the high ground, the smart move would be to withdraw and fight another day but Lee knew he was deep in enemy country and his line of supply could not last. He felt the pressure of forcing the issue, and that was what led to defeat.
He also knew what many foreign leaders later in history would know, and that was American industrial capacity took time to spool up, but when it did it would be an unstoppable force. The longer the war dragged on, the more the Union could throw at them. He absolutely had to end the war as quickly as possible, and Gettysburg was that chance. He took that chance, and failed... but he HAD to take that chance.
Right. Genl Lee wanted the war to end with this battle done three all his chips on the table. I believe he should have redeployed and found better ground to fight on. By this time in the war the AOP had learned how to fight and was hitting in all cylinders. They had supplies and limitless manpower. Genl Lee had neither. He could have moved away and not lost so many of his valuable men that could not be replaced.
E. P. Alexander, Lee's artillery chief visited Gettysburg after the war and said that Lee should've waited on Seminary Ridge and forced Meade to attack (Lincoln, Stanton and Halleck would've been burning up the wires ordering it) OR to have attacked Cemetery Hill from three sides with enfilading fire available from N, NW, and W. He also noted that though Lee said they didn't have the means to wait it out, he stayed there for 3 more days without any problems. Meanwhile his men were stripping the Cumberland Valley of everything they could carry.
I disagree...he made a fatal miscalculation by not listening to his subordinate generals. IF they had made a forced march move to the right, they would have come up behind the Union left flank and taken them from the rear. At that point, the battle is over on the second day, Meade capitulates, and Lincoln must sue for peace. Lee had one flaw in an otherwise stellar career...he believed in his own rightness and the ability of his troops to do the hard thing a bit too much.
One must give some credit to the Union here too. Every move they made in this battle was the right one. (Except for Sickles moving ahead of the main line into the peach orchard.) Southerners always looking to point the blame for the loss, but the truth is that the USA fought a damn good battle.
Fredericksburg was worse. Franklin was worse to the point of murder. There were some battles where frontal attacks worked, Chattanooga for one, but the days that you could send infantry in formation across an open field were ending. Too bad that the European commanders of World War I had to learn the hard way.
What's not shown is that Jeb Stewart's calvary was in the process of doing an end round around the lines and was suppose to attack the union army on the back side and picket being the front side. CUSTER engaged stuart with a much smaller force and stopped stuart's clavary from hitting the union. Thus only picket did and we saw what happened. This was not even mentioned in this movie and many others never talk about it. Not everyone liked Custer, and a lot of people either believe it would take away from Picket or point out how truly stupid the north was and how truly lucky the union was that day
I've always thought he was looking for a possible out to get Hill assigned to lead the attack, or even possibly modify the plan of attack. Like he was asking Pickett if Pickett would go on the record with Lee as opposing it, so maybe they could talk some sense into him. And so i see Pickett's smile as another case of "Openly question my obligation to accept what is ordained from above? General, sir, HOW can i do that!?"
One of history's best opportunitirs to play Monday Morning Quarterback. "What if- - - Lee had-], Longstreet hadn't-, Ewell had-, Stewart hadn"t-, Mead had-. BUT THEY DID/DIDN'T! The rest is history.
One of the lovely aspects of this scene is that it parallels the earlier scene in the movie during the first day when John Buford is predicting a similar slaughter for the Army of the Potomac if the Confederates gain control of the high ground. "I've been a soldier all my life, Devin, and I've never seen anything as brutally clear as this. There's a hard, set... stony quality to it, as if it's already happened, already a memory. Knowing the attack will fail and there's nothing you can do about it. You must even participate, help it fail." Likewise, Longstreet also sees the coming slaughter with brutal clarity. "It's a mathematical equation."
But it never would've happened if they'd taken the high ground. Hancock would've never approved the site as worth fighting for and the survivors would've headed south for pipe creek.
@@indy_go_blue6048 Very likely. But Buford likely didn't know Meade very well, being new to command, and was too used to previous commanding generals of the Army of the Potomac acting in exactly the fashion he describes, particularly Ambrose Burnside at Fredricksburg. The memory of that debacle would still have been hot in the minds of the officers and men of the army then.
Fun historical fact: After hearing Longstreet's assessment, the fellow said, "Dang, I just forgot to pick up my cleaning. Tell you what general, I'll get back with ya'".
I rather suspect, sir, that there may be extensive difficulties with supply in the rear area that may need sorting-out as well. Going all the way back to Virginia, in fact to my home town and house.
Nice piece of acting here by Berenger. Longstreet knew even if the attack was successful the Confederates would suffer terrible casualties. Like depicted in the movie, and very well by Berenger, Longstreet was so overcome with emotion about what he knew was going to happen to thousands of his troops, he could not speak to give the order to attack, he simply nodded.
If Jeb Stuart didn't end up in Carlisle, PA, this war would of ended differently or at least the remaining battle would of had 4 highly experienced Calvary brigades. Of the 7 brigades under Stuart, George Pickett was given 3 of the Reserve Cavalry which were not as experienced.
Even if this charge worked and pierced the Union center, Sedgwick and 14k fresh men of the Union 6th Corps. stationed on the Baltimore Pike would have been sent to plug the gap against, at that point, 7k worn out, shot up southern troops.
These generals went to west point together. They were friends. Their families all knew each other. Yea they fought against each other but the respect was amazing.
From a cinematic point of view, the Longstreet character explained to the movie audience what the troops in the picket's Charge scene were going to face. Nicely done.
Two of my great, great uncles told my dad that those that made it past Emmitsburg road had really done something.The ones that reached the wall had done the impossible. Some made it to the stone wall and many did not. At close range the fire from union troops was concentrated and incredible. They got close, fought hard and when it was clear the battle was lost they along with many others walked back among the wounded,dead and dying, got into a defensive position for a counter attack that didn't happen.
A counterattack that should've happened, and would have happened if Meade had been any other general (other than perhaps MacClellan, who was even more cautious than Meade). The war would've been far shorter if Meade hadn't let the Army of Northern Virginia escape Gettysburg, but he did.
Most of these generals served together in the Mexican-American War, they knew each other and their tactics and tendencies. This might as well be called "Requiem for a Charge".
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Brilliant piece of acting and spine chilling foreshadowing of the fate of Picket's charge and how minuscule its chances of success were even before it set off.
I sometimes wish this movie had come out after Saving Private Ryan. The movie that forever ended war-movie tropes like cannon hits being portrayed as a dirt fountain going off behind perfectly intact men doing front flips onto off-camera mattresses.
Brutal hand on hand combat. Hitting each other with the barrel of the musket to the point where the soldiers heads were busted open and skulls were fractured. They said somewhere it was as brutal as warfare can get.
@@randomtraveler9854 "The Rebs were at once enveloped in a cloud of sufler, smoke....arms, heads, scarves, muskets, napsacks were tossed clean into the air...only then did a horrible symphony of moans rise above the settle of dark cloud like a rising storm." - Lt. Col Franklin Sawyer of the Union Army.
At Gettysburg, parts of the Army of Northern Virginia, advanced about a mile of open terrain. In the last Battle of the Army of Tennessee, they went past Two Miles of open terrain.... Both armies Lost their fights - helps when the Enemy has One Good Strong Point to Defend - a stone wall to make a Last Stand
I think what Gen. Longstreet is displaying is what the military calls "situational awareness". Those with military experience can correct me if I'm wrong.
You said it spot on. That's exactly what we call it and Gen. Longstreet was correct. People can hate him all they want, but he understood the situation and should've been listened to.
you just cant help but see how loyal in spite of visons under situations Longstreet was to General Lee even after taking a serious wound hard hit after Gettysburg Longstreet came back and was still if not thee most dependable General Lee could ever have .. Nice work Longstreet
There wasn't much Lee could have done differently at that point but retreat. Longstreet's suggestion of redeploying sounds good on paper but was in fact suicidally strategically asinine in context. Keep in mind the Confederate army was in enemy territory with no supply lines and no reinforcements to call upon, Meade had a robust and extensive supply line and had reinforcements on route which he could stay in near direct communication with thanks to battlefield telegraphs. Had Lee redployed to "better ground" Meade's reinforcements would be a day closer and Meade wouldn't have any reason to assault Lee's new position until his reinforcements arrived to cut off\flank Which would give Lee exactly one day to complete route Meade who would just as likely himself move to superior ground should Lee try to launch an assault because in another day his reinforcements will arrive to flank Lee's Army.
@@Terminalsanity ''Meade wouldn't have any reason to assault Lee's new position until his reinforcements arrived'' Meade would be forced to attack Lee if Lee would've disengaged and threatened Washington, which was Longstreet's idea.
@@jonathanallard2128 Nope. That wouldn't have forced Meade to attack at all, what it would do is force him to move his army between Lee and DC which would have put him two days closer to those aforementioned flanking reinforcements. Like Longstreet you're entirely misreading the tactical situation. Meade didn't need to gamble like the Confederates, he has a robust supply he has reinforcements on route and a communications and transportation system to put them in place to flank whatever new position Lee takes. In short Longstreet's suggestion would have made Pickett's charge look a masterstroke Lee ignored it with good reason. The thing to do was retreat on the 2nd day after the confederates failed to take the high ground.
@@Terminalsanity You think Meade would be able to stay in between Lee and DC? Also a retreat always hurts morale. It would be seen a defeat by the men, because they would leave the field and wounded to the enemy. Morale matters too, and that's what was Lee's concern with leaving the field.
@@jonathanallard2128 Why wouldn't Meade be able to so again? Lee had no way to move his army without Meade seeing it and Meade had more resources to redeploy his troops faster than Lee did. Face it Longstreet's suggestion was worse than a pig in a poke it was entirely tactically counter intuitive the situation and very nature of their campaign: namely a swift strike offensive into enemy territory followed by an equally withdrawal once the Union army engaged them Lee couldn't afford piss away a day or 2 in the vain hope that Meade would be a moron and attack a fortified position when he can just wait for reinforcements to flank and blindside the positin
Many "stupid" things ended up working surprisingly well. You can't judge the decisions by full knowledge of the outcome. Hitler expected his invasion of France to be stopped after two weeks.
It is the greatest american charge of a military unit based on the odds against them. Pickett reminds me of the forlorn hope during the war of 1812. 20 men on horseback charging at the enemy.
When I was in elementary school and a Civil War buff, my parents took me to Gettysburg for a tour..we stood at the oak grove (the High Water Mark) in the Union line and I looked across the fields to where the Confederates would have formed up....and even at that young age, I thought....this would be a slaughter...over a mile of open ground with every gun and cannon in the Union army aimed at the men.....I dont understand why Lee tried this.....to this day
On day two, a single regiment took part of the ridge, they made and had a breach with it only meant to be a diversion for the other attacks at the flanks. This gave the false sense that the middle was vulnerable, with the assumption the Union had massed most of their defenses at the flanks, which was correct on day 2. General Lee did not expect it to be a slaughter of his troops. There was a planned Calvary attack meant to circle around and hit the back of the Union lines at the same time the front was being hit, that Calvary attack was broken up by none other than George Armstrong Custer and his Calvary, doing a crazy charge in to an enemy force that outnumbered him. In this case it worked. Lee could not just leave, he knew that, he had the strength for another attack, and had to push on as a victory at Gettysburg would have left Washington DC wide open to him. He could not go against the flanks again as those attacks already failed and they were even more protected than the night before. Unlike his previous battles against the Army of the Potamac, was not facing General Burnside or General McDowell, but rather General Meade who had the strategic sense to view the battlefield from General Lee's perspective and decided Lee would attack the center based on how the 2nd day of fighting went. So he reinforced along with keeping units that were rotated off the front lines at the flanks for rest in close reserve to the center. (very high level summary of why he attacked of course)
@@lforrest14 Of course, even if the Union centre was weak (which would be unusual for the cautious commanders of the Union) they'd have had ample notice of the oncoming attack during the two hour artillery barrage..
Having Read Many Other's, Comment's of the Clip & about Gettysburg. Personally I Have Never Had the Privilege or Opportunity to Go there YET? But it's on My Bucket List, Along with Several Other's. Thank You Again.
I doubt even Stonewall could have prevented an ultimate Confederate defeat. The North has too much material and manufacturing superiority. Also the Union was learning. Even a southern victory at a Gettysburg would not have won them the war, not with the loss of Vicksburg, and the heavy casualties they would have taken at Gettysburg even in a winning effort.
JACKSON THERE NO GETTYSBURG. PLAIN AND SIMPLE. The ground south of town would have been swept of Yankees because Jackson would be much wiser than Ewell and known to take the high ground before Hancock arrived.
General Custer vs General Stuart; Stuart's last obstacle was Custer, with four hundred veteran troopers of the First Michigan Cavalry, directly in his path. Outnumbered but undaunted, Custer rode to the head of the regiment, "drew his saber, threw off his hat so they could see his long yellow hair" and shouted... "Come on, you Wolverines!" Custer formed his men in line of battle and charged. "So sudden was the collision that many of the horses were turned end over end and crushed their riders beneath them...." As the Confederate advance stopped, their right flank was struck by troopers of the Fifth, Sixth and Seventh Michigan. McIntosh was able to gather some of his men from the First New Jersey and Third Pennsylvania and charged the rebel left flank. "Seeing that the situation was becoming critical, I [Captain Miller] turned to [Lieutenant Brooke-Rawle] and said: "I have been ordered to hold this position, but, if you will back me up in case I am court-martialed for disobedience, I will order a charge." The rebel column disintegrated into individual saber and pistol fights. Within twenty minutes the combatants heard the sound of the Union artillery opening up on Pickett's men. Stuart knew that whatever chance he had of joining the Confederate assault was gone. He withdrew his men to Cress Ridge. Custer's brigade lost 257 men at Gettysburg, the highest loss of any Union cavalry brigade.["I challenge the annals of warfare to produce a more brilliant or successful charge of cavalry", Custer wrote in his report. "For Gallant And Meritorious Services", he was awarded a regular army brevet promotion to Major.
I'm still surprised at how few people know what was going on behind the Union lines at the same time. Stuart's unbloodied cavalry was circling around to hit the Union rear, to coincide with "Pickett's charge." A much smaller force of Union cavalry stopped Stuart (led by a very young general). I would imagine that as the Confederate officers watched the charge, they kept expecting the Union line to break up under assaults from both sides. It wasn't meant to be the suicide charge that it turned out to be. It would have been refreshing to see that aspect at least mentioned in this movie, but it kind of forgets about Stuart after the dressing-down by Lee.
That “young general” you mentioned was Armstrong Custer. The same one who became famous later in the Indian wars. And died in his last stand at Little Bighorn.
I'm happy with how this battle ended, with a Union victory it helped free my black brothers and sisters from slavery.... God Bless troops like Joshua Chamberlain and Robert Gould Shaw.
Late to the party here, but when Pickett gives Longstreet that big grin I always think to myself "Let him do it! Come on, just this once, let him do it!" And I'm a Yankee! That's good film making when it makes you forget what's going to happen, even for a moment!
@AZMike: He had been suffering from Heart Disease, but at that point in time, Medical Science(if it could be called that) had no idea what Heart Disease was.
He was an old man by then, he was due to retire before the war. Ironically the man who asked him to lead the Union armies, Winifred Scott was older tha him
Genl Lee had suffered a heart attack recently before the battle. He knew he couldn't last much longer and wanted to get the war over with. As much as I respect Genl Lee and his prowess as a leader and tactician, I do not believe he was on his best game during this battle. He should/could have allowed Genl Longstreet to command or at least taken his (Longstreet's) counsel.
@@stevestringer7351 Actually, Lee suffered an attack of dysentery at the outset of the Pennsylvania Campaign and was barely recovered from it as the battle opened. However, he was beginning to show the first symptoms of the heart condition that would kill him seven years later.
I figure it did to him what being president does to most of our presidents. At the inaugural they look like young men (not speaking of Trump or Biden but Clinton, Obama, Bush et al) who seem to age 10 years in 4 years. Lee's hair had only a sprinkling of grey in 1860; by 1862 it was white.
In the months before Gettysburg, Lee repeatedly wrote Confederate President Jefferson Davis that, in his opinion, due to the growing disparity between the Confederacies ability to re-supply its men and the Unions ability to do so,
"military victory" against the North was "no longer possible". The only hope he wrote was Propaganda. "If I can whip the North on its own soil, the Northern Peace Party would demand settlement on terms favorable to the Confederacy." "Under these circumstances, we should neglect no honorable means of dividing and weakening our enemies." wrote Lee to Davis. "We must give all the encouragement we can, consistently with the truth, to the rising peace party of the North." The obvious problem with that was that half of the "Peace Party" wanted the southern states to return the Union. To this, Lee wrote to Davis saying the South should not make "nice distinctions." "When peace is proposed to us it will be time enough to discuss its terms." Lee's plans for that Propaganda victory "on Northern soil" were completed by June 1863 and on the 3rd of June, Lee began to move his Army northward into Union territory. The War, the Confederates though in 1861, would not last more than a year, as such, they did not save up stores for a prolonged conflict and it had been showing since early 1862. Lee was constantly dealing with shortages of supplies and food and men. In March of 1862, less than a year since the war began, Lee wrote James Seddon, the Secretary of War "Let the State authorities take the matter in hand, and see that no man able to bear arms be allowed to evade his duty." "Let every effort be made, every means be employed, to fill and maintain the ranks of our armies, until God, in His mercy, shall bless us with the establishment of our independence." Whatever you may think of Lee, he endured the same sufferings as his men. He refused luxuries and ate nearly as little as his men did. While his tent was an ordinary Offices tent, drafty and wet. As he had to few men to grant furloughs to his Army, he never took one. He even refused a new uniform, even the new sash his wife sent him. "My old blue will serve me yet awhile." he wrote back to his wife Mary. Lee did not believe that he would survive the war, and he did not want the papers saying he was found dead in a high style. He was he said, "just a soldier". He would lead by example, and in response, Mary, like her husband, did as well. By late March 1862, Lee was almost yelling in his letters to Seddon. "My soldier's daily ration is only 18 ounces of flour, 4 ounces of bacon, of indifferent quality, with occasionally supplies of rice, sugar, or molasses." Scurvy had become a problem as well and there was no medicine nor lemons to combat it. Scrounging for food was the Armies #1 activity and there was never enough food when they could find it. The north, on the other hand, suffered a wealth of supplies. The North had fully reordered its great manufacturing sectors to supplying war goods. The Union's soldiers had an embarrassment of riches. So much so that soldiers literally toss away any weight that they did not think was absolutely essential. Come the Spring, Winter coats littered the roadsides on which they marched. They knew come the fall they would get new ones. Fry pans, tin plates? "Away with you." They used their canteen halves for pan and plate. This while some Confederate soldiers were without boots. In the Western Theatre, which did not get the attention of the treasury that Lee's forces did, it was even worse. Some Southern soldiers in the Army of Tennessee were fighting with old style Flintlocks rather than modern percussion cap rifles. These were useless when it rained as the pan got wet and soaked their powder. More important to the Army itself was, Lee could see that his army was growing smaller while the North's army was growing larger. As he laid out his plans for his second invasion of the North, Lee knew he would never be able to front an army of this size again, while the North would never have an army this small again. This whipping on Northern soil he knew he needed to inflict, was going to be the last truly large fighting force Lee would ever have. 176 cannon were gathered up by Lee. When they opened up on the center of the Union line on July 3rd (day 3, Pickets charge), it was the largest artillery barrage of the war. But a shortage of powder and cannonball helped to defeat its intended effect. That, and the Devil's own idea that came to General Hunt, head of the Union's Artillery. Gen.s Meade, and Hunt, suspected the attack on the center after the failed attacks on the flanks on day 2. Gen. Hunt, clever devil that he was, ordered his cannon to remain silent for the first 15 minutes of the barrage. Then he only ordered a third of his guns to fire back. This lead Lee into thinking that his artillery barrage had knocked out the majority of Hunt's guns. It was a brilliant feint which had the proper effect upon Lee's mind. Thinking that most of the Union's guns were destroyed Lee ordered Picket's men forward. As we know, most of the Confederate's men never got close to the Union’s lines that afternoon. Only at the bend in the Union's line known as "The Angle", did Gen Armistead's Corps engage the Union at close quarters fighting, but Northern re-enforcement quickly arrived. Seconds after Armistead ordered his men to turn the union cannon, they had just taken, around to use on the Union itself, he was to find that they were all empty. All the canister shot had already been fired into his men.
Of the first volley fired by the newly arrived Union re-enforcements to The Angle, three musket balls found the General's chest and Armistead fell dead and with him the dreams of the Confederacy. The War was now effectively over. It was only a matter of the South facing up to the fact. Many, including myself, would say the turning point, the beginning of the end, occurred the previous spring of 1862 at Malvern Hill on July 1st, the last day of the Seven Days Campaign. Lee began the battle with 52,000 men but left more than 22,000 dead on the battlefield when it was over. Southern newspapers shocked at the number of the dead called Lee a "butcher" and "incompetent". So did General Hill, who lost his entire Corps that day, just as Picket will in a years time at Gettysburg lose his Division. Both Generals died hating R.E. Lee. Of the Battle, which Gen. Hill had forcefully urged Lee not to make, Hill publicly called it not war but "murder". Lee's failure at Gettysburg was in part a well-played feint by Gen. Hunt, but regardless, this battle Lee knew, was the last hope. He had to attack. Too many men had already died, men he knew he would never replace. Lee's back was against the wall, Lee had to fight, so he gambled, and lost.
Sir, with your permission, I'll get myself that musket sir, despite just having heard how much danger the charge could be, Harrison is still willing to walk into the gates of hell
Lee was drunk on his 'Legendry Status' and reputation. Longstreet; like any field general, was concerned about his men/troops lives. Longstreet KNEW from day one that fighting in Gettysburg would be a disaster. Yet, he could not sobber up Lee before it was too late. All those men died for no other reason then wake Lee up from his drunkeness!
A chance had to be taken. Its easy to see with hindsight. It was pretty much now or never for The CSA. They were overmatched. Its amazing they put up the fight they did. Reverse the roles and War would have lasted about a month or two
That’s a pretty ignorant viewpoint to be blunt. Lee had ordered not to engage in heavy fighting until the army was together. He didn’t want to fight at Gettysburg. The army was drug into it as skirmishes divulged into full engagements. Pickett’s charge was a last ditch effort and something routinely preformed by both sides (Fredericksburg for example). Stuart’s absence for days left Lee blind which was uncharacteristic for Stuart. Heath failure to recognize he could easily overwhelm Buford and take the high ground also was costly. Did Lee make mistakes? Yes. But did Lee believe he could just hammer away and win? Surely not. I truly believe if Jackson had been there then it would have been different. Even if Stuart hadn’t been absent it could’ve been a different out comes (cavalry scouting was everything). Both sides were pretty beat up. Even if Meade was more aggressive, I doubt he would’ve crossed the field on the 4th day.
@@jacksongrissop9257 He had zero choice. Gettysburg happened wether he liked it or not, it was out of his control. But now it was their only chance at stopping Vicksburg from falling and matching on Washington. It wasn’t a good chance, but it was ALL that they had.
Longstreet pleaded with Lee not to do this attack cuz he knew it wouldnt work. But he listened to his Commander. And after the retreat and the guys are around Lee telling him let us go again we know we can take it. Lee then understood that he made a mistake and told his guys no they did enough. That's why general Lee is one other most respected generals in history. Lincoln actually sat with Lee and wanted him to be the general of the North's army. But Lee said he couldn't go against his home state of Virginia. Oh and for those that don't know Lee opposed slavery.
It was Francis P. Blair Lee met with prior to the war, not Lincoln. And Lee's "opposition" to slavery was tepid at best, a myth at worst. He wrote the slave-catching order that the Army of Northern Virginia was carrying out during its Pennsylvania campaign, and he freed the slaves he inherited from his cousin Custis only by court order enforcing that cousin's will, after petitions to extend the deadline stipulated were denied.
Imagine the feeling when an officer says....I don't think my boys are going to make it.....the somme, gallipoli, the old guard at waterloo, arnhem, dieppe comes to mind.
I know there's a huge debate going on about honoring confederate soldiers, but after all, they were only soldiers, doing their duty, they weren't the ones doing politics. I'd say give them their honors, don't remember them for the politics they fought for, but for the sacrifice they made. A soldier isn't a smart bomb. A soldier is a sword. The one who wields it is in charge. The soldier follows orders, even if it means certain death. And that kind of loyalty, regardless of politics, is what makes these soldiers worthy of having monuments built to their memory. And although I do absolutely believe in the equality of every person on this planet and noone should be discriminated against, because of the color of their skin, their religion, their sexual orientation or anything else that makes them different, I think these soldiers deserve to be honored.
@@shrapnel77 they didn't fight for a cause, they mostly fought for their homes and their commanders. The internet wasn't a thing back then. People didn't get the kind of information that we get today. People had to rely on people telling them what was going on. And that's the thing about that entire war. It was people against people. If we now build monuments remembering those who died on the union side, and never remember those on the confederate side, we discriminate against people and we're doing the exact thing that the union soldiers fought against. I find it disturbing that people don't realize that what soldiers were told back then was what they believed. Remember: No internet, no free press, just propaganda on both sides. These soldiers didn't fight for a terrible cause. They fought for something they believed to be a just cause and their homes. Soldiers back then didn't get to know what this was all about. They only got to know that there was an enemy that tried to invade their country. Propaganda is a terrible thing. If someone nowadays kills another person with a kitchen knife, what do you blame? The person or the knife? Of course you blame the person, the knife is only a tool. It was the exact same thing. Blame politicians and generals, but don't blame the soldiers. Soldiers were following orders (and in many, many countries they still are) They don't get the luxury to know the intricacies of politics. Today, they know. Today, information is readily available for everyone. Today, even a private gets to know the bigger picture. But even today, most privates don't get to choose, and I'm absolutely grateful that I do, serving as a lieutenant in the military of one of the closest allies of the United States of America.
I definitely believe that SOME confederate soldiers were truly fighting for their homes, but at the same time, there are records of confederate soldiers who DO live up to the modern image of the racist, slavery-aspiring southerner. In my mind, you can't erect monuments to confederate soldiers, even if the purpose is to honour their courage. Because there is always the risk of those monuments becoming shrines for neo-confederates and white supremacists. Maybe we should acknowledge their courage, but I don't think statues are the right way to do it.
"Do you know what's going to happen?" Always give me chills.
Nothing like it
If the Rebel commander didn't have much hope in success, why didn't he simply cancel the attack ?
Instead, he ruthlessly sent his men forward in an insane, suicidal mission !
That Rebel commander is a butcher !
@@reynaldoflores4522 he followed the order given by Robert Lee who was general in command of the whole army.
Lee believed they can take it. Longstreet didnt (at least as its shown here)
in the movie also Longstreet tries to protest to Lee about it but Lee dismisses his protests and carries on with the attack.
Though this might be what Longstreet claimed after the war, he took a lot of beating about the charge (they said he delayed enough to get his troops in line, and the position was even better defended.)
who knows exactly?
@@reynaldoflores4522General Longstreet was against the charge but he had to follow Lee’s orders. Only Stonewall Jackson could have talked Lee out of it but Jackson had been killed at Chancellorsville. Napoleon repeated Lee’s mistake at Waterloo.
How? Gettysburg was 48 years after Waterloo! You tried to sound smart and just ended up proving you're not that bright.
Tom's acting in this movie...............should have got an Oscar...........very,very believable fella!
I agree, indeed. I thought his performance in this great movie was outstanding.
@Mark Solarz - I completely agree.
Couldn't, it was a made for TV movie.
@@willthorson4543 No, this was a theatrical release in 1993, not the TV movie from 2010ish. It may have been the only movie that I ever saw in a theater that had an intermission. (it may even have had 2) as it was 4 1/2 hours long.
I believe it was a TV movie but still, it’s underrated and TB was fantastic... and I don’t mean the disease
"He'll attack right up that rocky slope, and up that gorgeous field of fire. And we will charge valiantly...and be *butchered* valiantly! And afterwards men in tall hats and gold watch fobs will thump their chest and say what a brave charge it was. Devin, I've led a soldier's life, and I've never seen anything as brutally clear as this...the way you sometimes feel before an ill-considered attack, knowing it'll fail, but you cannot stop it. You must even take part, and help it fail."
- General Buford, United States Army, three days earlier
If this man said that, what profound wisdom.
He KNEW he had to stop Heath's division from taking the high ground, or we could be discussing Hancock's Charge. In a battle full of decisive moments and monumental incompetence, Buford's stand waiting for John Reynolds to come up is one of the most decisive of the battle.
Some things never change
Burford didn't really say it. But in the book, Killer Angels, he is thinking it. But for the movie, and for the audience to understand, it was best for the actor to say it outloud.
And Sam Elliot was absolutely perfect for the role of the tough as nails cavalry commander, and did a splendid job in Buford's portrayal.
Buford & his fight was often overlooked in the battle due to the larger, bloodier engagements, but thanks to this movie, many now get to see just how important & pivotal Burford's actions (that he practically called on his own) were for the battle and the ultimate outcome of it.
@@bobholly3843 Buford's holding action ended in a Confederate victory, but it gave the Union troops time to dig in on the high ground, and that was the important thing. In fact, Longstreet urged Lee to withdraw on the first night.
"That's Hancock out there and he ain't gonna run.." wow just powerful
Great line, respect sadly is no more on the battlefield. I'm ashamed to admit I had a hatred for the Afghan muj and the Iraqis I fought against. It was only once I got home I realised I'd fought some brave men especially the Afghans
Many of the men of the Civil War fought in Mexico together. Reynolds, Pickett, Grant, Lee, Jackson, Longstreet, heck even Jefferson Davis all distinguished themselves fighting the Mexicans.
It's like if you had to fight your school classmates.
@@robdean704I fought against the afghanis 2. And had they have been part of an army, I would love their bravery to the heavens. But instead they fought out of uniform, as terrorists and partisans. Lower than low?
shoulders slump in resignation before those words uttered great acting
"...I don't believe my boys will reach that wall..."
...hats off right there.
about 150 did, but they were all killed and captured.
@@shrapnel77 150 compared to a division...they might as well have gone in unarmed.
As a "Gettysburg" background actor I portrayed both a Rebel and a Yankee in Pickett's Charge. Who says you can't shoot at yourself?
You obviously missed both times.
@@atharvakulkarni3189 are you kidding? most of the extras are reenactors that brought their own guns and cannons
I believe a pilot beat you out, he fired his guns and dived, not paying attention as he overtook his own projectiles and shot himself down. 4 more times and he'd be a reverse ace. This movie couldn't have been made without the reenactors who brought it to life and made it as accurate as possible. Great Job!
Well suh, I guess it's true then you can have things both ways.
Crazy to think there were 170k men on that battlefield. This movie was a noble effort but really doesn’t give the real sense of the scope. Also, the soldiers were mostly very young people rather than the middle aged (and well fed) re-enactors
ONE, of the BEST damned War movies ever! They even went so far as to film it in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
On the actual field of battle, all three days. Never before and more than likely never again will filming be on such sacred ground.
My two all time favorite war movies and both are in director's cuts..
Apocalypse Now - Final Cut & Gettysburg - Director's Cut
not all of it was filmed in the Battlefield. Little Round top was certainly filmed in Adams county Pa along with some of the other pieces in the movie.
"George, can you take that ridge?"
*smile*
Both men knew he couldn't.
But by God and Dixie, he tried.
@@onetwo-ow9kf That's all that can be asked of a soldier.
what is the OST or the backgroundmusic during all this scene. This is very eerie
Pickett actually believed he could-of course his division had not even fought yet.
Just from this clip it felt like Pickett took it as an order/request while Longstreet meant it as a question.
This scene gives me chills. Longstreet was the analyst of the confederate army; what he's truly asking Pickett is: "do you have the courage/spirits to command this charge?", and Pickett simply responds with a smile. When Longstreet does not return this smile, we're reminded of Buford's earlier words about having to take part in an attack you know will fail. This scene also helps us appreciate the significance of Longstreet's skepticism; his conversation with Pickett implies he understands the importance of the army's willpower and morale, and yet still has qualms concerning the battle.
I think it wasn’t about wether or not Pickett had the courage, that was obvious, I think it’s more that he hoped there would be doubt about the plan. Then he could bring in another General to Lee as weight to redeploy to the right instead.
Grant is often given credit of being one of the first modern generals, but in this case so was Longstreet. He got it. Longstreet appreciated the advances in technology and was responsible for the defensive placements at Fredericksburg. He designed them with the trust that the stone wall would serve as a trench for his forces and he was correct. When Lou Armistead explains to the Brit about how everybody making the charge was a veteran - well so were the guys they were attacking, and certainly the commanders who fought and survived battles like Fredericksburg (Hancock!). Lee had the same mentality on Day 3 that he had on Day 2, and it was only after learning that Pickett's division was wiped out did Lee realize that the rulebooks of war had been rewritten. What a waste.
All true, the fact that any members of Pickett's division even made it to the wall was, and still is, unbelievable and a testament to their courage.
@@merikano2985 do you know the book that covers the grin because some one said that was real and i wanted to know the book and chapter etc
@@jamesmarjan5481 I don't think that's it. At this point, Longstreet knew this was happening, that there was no changing Lee's mind, I think this is him feeling so distraught and helpless to stop what he saw coming that he desperately needed even just the slightest bit of assurance that this was gonna work so he had something to cling to and give him hope.
the respect that the generals had for eachother is unparalleled, "and that's Hancock out there, and he aint gonna run" He respected the man.
Longstreet and Hancock weren't roommates. Longstreet was two years ahead of Hancock -Longstreet was the class of 1842, while Hancock was the class of 1844.. However, they did know each other well. I believe the Longstreet knew Ulysses S. Grant better than he did Hancock.
Most of the Civil War generals who came from the regular (I..e. prewar) Army had graduated from West Point during the early-mid 1840's; Longstreet, Grant, Pickett, Hancock, Sherman, Buford, Jackson had all graduated within five years of one another. So, they all were acquainted with one another even if they weren't close friends. On top of that, most of them had served in the Mexican-American War together so they had seen each other in battle. Longstreet knew Hancock's qualities and that he wouldn't let the line break.
I know it maybe way late to say this, but Hancock was also a Pennsylvanian. And during the civil war, most men fighting fought for their state more than the country. So, for Hancock, this was an invasion of his home. And if you look at the battle itself, a majority of the units on the union side are all Pennsylvanian units. A few others here and there like the 20th Maine and others, but a majority were Pennsylvanian units.
may be wrong but iirc, Hancock was in the ill fated advance on Mayre's Heights in Fredricksburg, just 6 months prior, against defenders under Longstreet. It was sort of the same situation, a stone wall to climb over, a sunken road to cross while under fire from guys dug in.
If nothing else, Longstreet knew they werent gonna run while they had such a great chance to re-enact the same horrible scene against the same commander who butchered them at Fredricksburg
shades1718 nobody respected general George Gordan meade the winning general of gettysberg, most don't even know who he was.
Chris Whitbread Meade and Lee were also at west piont.
I respect how, even after General Longstreet just laid out the terrible odds of survival, Harrison still wants a musket so he can join the charge.
He survived and went back to the stage. I'm surprised he was forgiven.
It's possible he was still convinced it would work. If that's the case he probably wanted to be able to say he did his part and fought.
tbf this feels like a talk that got invented for the movie, to make clear to the audience why Longstreet thought this whole thing was a bad idea.
@@HDreamer oh I'm sure of it, I mean, I can't imagine General Longstreet would have had time to wax philosophically with a common soldier like Harrison right before the biggest charge of the war, but it does make for a great scene, which is another reason this is one of my all time favorite movies.
HDreamer Yeah, in the book this was a monologue in Longstreet’s head. In the movie, he had to say it out loud to someone.
Have to wonder if Pickett knew his Roman history.
Death smiles at us all. All a man can do is smile back.
Richard Jordan's portrayal of General Armistead was gut wrenching. In the theatre a lot of people had tears in their eyes when Armistead realized all of his friends had been shot.
Chris Tennant Made even more so when you realize the man was literally dying of cancer when the film was made.
"Could you please take me to see General Hancock?"
"I'm sorry, sir. General Hancock is down."
"NO! Not... both of us! Not... ALL of us! PLEASE!"
@@brandoncargill9837 yeah, he had brain cancer I think. He died even before the movie was released. Very sad.
What's really sad is that his last request to see Hancock couldn't be granted because Hancock was wounded. And quite possible he never found out rather or not Hancock lived.
Yeah. It always has a special ... feeling ... watching a character in a movie die - when you now that that actors has died. Alan Rickman, who played Snape in the _Harry Potter_ films, died of cancer before I saw the movies - and knowing that - Snapes death scene in the movie is especially moving as was Richard Jordans death making Armistead's death so moving here.
One of the things about the American Civil War that was haunting was how many people knew someone very well who was on the other side.
.
Every one should walk that field and get to know what a bad decision Lee made .
They all moved as fast as they could walk from the nearest train stop. They all dug in where they could and waited till they thought they had an advantage in men or position . You know the rest , it's history. The generals rarely led the charge .@@fredpearson5204
and it's a marshy soft field to walk also
Steven M I walked it many times in my visits there. I could feel the horror that took place there. Strangest feeling I’ve ever had in my life time.
Having seen what happened to the Union Army when they attacked Longstreet’s prepared positions while crossing open space at the Battle of Fredericksburg, Longstreet understood what would happen to Pickett’s Charge. Sadly, Lee either did not see the similarities between the two attacks, or discounted the reasons why the Union’s attack at Fredericksburg resulted both in failure and heavy losses.
@@gerikucinski2427 I think there was still a bit of arrogance left in Lee's mind and in the ANV as a whole which led to their belief that they could still prevail on July 3rd with a full frontal attack on Cemetery Ridge.
This was the moment that brought the film back full circle. At the start of the movie Sam Elliot as General John Buford gives, pretty much, the same speech.
Also Longstreet even says earlier to Lee "it's like Fredericksburg but this time they have the stone wall"
Man, the way berenger delivered that quiet, incredulous, "......do you know what's gonna happen?" Conveying despair, anger, and frustration all in one line.
That’s Hancock out their and he ain’t gonna Run
Harrison: "I think I'd like to join the attack." Longstreet looks at him like, Are you out of your f'n mind???
REMF
Stephen Lang is one hell of an actor.
That's right lawdog, Savvy? Law just don't go around here!
After all this, Harrison, the actor/spy asking to join the charge, still joins the charge. And survives.
Powerful scene indeed! Makes you have some human respect for the adversary. Great writing, acting & directing! I love this film.
Matthew Morris No respect for traitors here.
Absolutely, Mr. Morris💯 It was an incredibly moving film❤👍
WHY PICKETTS CHARGE FAILED? George Pickett: "I believe Meades Army had something to do about that".......Stephen Sears - Gettysburg
In Michael Shaara's (Pulitzer Prize winning) book "Killer Angels," Longstreet's reaction to Pickett's Charge is described as "...a bloody vacancy, like a room in which there has been a butchering..." We've been to Gettysburg twice and it's such a powerful feeling to stand where it all happened (all the different places)!
I went to Gettysburg in July 2001. It happened to be one of the dates of the battle..2d or 3d. I hiked up Little Round Top. I was the only person there. But I felt…watched. At one point I felt hostility..toward me. I got off that hill, quick. Gettysburg is, literally, a haunting place. It was mid day by the way.
@@jimreilly917 I've had that feeling many times, at Antietam and Gettysburg and several other battle sites. It is real, I'm sure of that.
@@amain325 it was palpable….like you know how a person’s really truly angry at you just by looking at them….but I saw no one. Eerie.
Lee bought into the his men's experience and willpower. Longstreet understood something more than that, practicality. That's not a knock on Lee, he understood that willpower and morale were a huge part of warfare, but Longstreet's cold calculations were more appropriate for this specific situation.
general lee should have marched on washington when he had the chance a golden oppertunity lost and so the war was lost there not at gettysburg
BattlestarPegasus Longstreet knew it was a major disaster from the start but Lee's pride for quick victory clouded sounded judgment and people blame Longstreet for the defeat is unbelievable.
Ironically, Longstreet was sucsessful making a similar attack with about the same number of men broke the Union center at Chickamagua. Helped ruin the career of his West Point roomate, William Rosecrans.
It wasn't pride necesarily, it was just a belief that your soldiers who won again and again would come thru again. Blaming Longstreet has never made sense to me tho I agree.
ironically the prussians states made sense of Longstreet remarks when they fought the Austrians. in 1866....
I read that in the early 20th century, the veterans reunited at Gettysburg and did a re enactment of pickets charge. When the men got to the wall, they all hugged it out. Brought a tear to my eye reading about it
I don't think the rebs got any were near the wall they got cut down long before it
This happened July 1-4 1913- the 50th anniversary of the battle. They called it "The Great Reconciliation." A beautiful moment in our nation's history.
That is true, except for the horrible reality that the federal government actively prevented black Veterans of the battle from coming. Period incredibly shameful on our part
@@mikeggg5671 took 100 years too long from emancipation to civil rights
Family
0:08 That grin Pickett gets when Longstreet Ask " George can you take that Ridge" Is the same grin my girlfriend gets when I open my wallet
Stay single.
Your pockets will jingle.
true love.
@@lumox7 Hey, I like that. I'll be using it.
Still never understood why Pickett didn't bother to charge at Pickett's charge. Well I do--see the rest of his war record...
😂😂😂😂
Longstreet shows his vast experience. He understands how weapons work in detail and he already played out the scenario in his mind. Lee is one to always abide by getting good feedback and advice from his troops and generals. He should have listened to Longstreet as he no longer had their star general Stonewall Jackson anymore for the Gettysburg campaign.
The Rebels lost once they started the war. Lost it and their slaves. ...
@@LarsCarlsen-or6kyTo be fair with you they didn't lost when they started the war. In fact they was winning. Every major invasion fail to break the South and the war dragged on.
If the South still playing defensive more without the invasion then battle like Gettysburg . Then they would win. If time went on.
Worst if they fight to last men turn to guerrillas warfare then what.
Even i know the South wouldn't dare to prolong the war. Worst trying to keep order all over the South.
A prolonged war isn't beneficial even if to crush the Rebels.
Stonewall would have taken Cemetery Hill day one.
@@LarsCarlsen-or6ky It's half time.
correct! and Lee would've let him do it! the greatest maneuver commander to ever fight. @@marknewton6984
I've been to Gettysburg, it's one haunted battlefield. We were there very early in the morning, and the sun wasn't up yet. The hair was up on my neck, and stayed that way until we left.
If ghosts exist where more likely than Gettysburg? Many stories from disparate parties. All those young men wanting nothing more than to live to the next day…
@@RoadTripzz14 Say, l went to Gettysburg to participate in the145th reenactment in '08.
But before l could make it, the daylight hours were fading as l crossed into Maryland from Charlestown W.V.
I stopped in Sharpsburg and parked on the route of my journey.l couldn't get to sleep even being bone tired from driving. I would close my eyes, but sleep just wouldn't come.
I recall several times looking out the drivers side window upwards into the dark, and seeing what l assumed were lightning bugs.
But these weren't moving like any lightning bugs l've ever seen. The orbs or tiny dots of lights were falling from the height of about the top of a power pole, then dissipate into nothing maybe fifteen feet off the ground.
I even got out of the car and walked to stretch my legs, but the occurrence only happened while l was inside my car.
It was strange to say the least. If you respond back, l will go further with what l felt at Gettysburg and Dunkers Church back at Sharpsburg on my way back home.
Indeed. I've been taking trips to Gettysburg since 1993 and I always say, standing on that battlefield does not feel like standing in your backyard. There's an undeniable presence there.
I've been there a number of times and I know that feeling. It's haunted ground.
The look on Longstreet's face 0:17 he knew it was going to be a slaughter
FiringallCylinders This is a fictional conversation between Longstreet and Harrison. What I admire about the scene is it's really a soliloquy. Longstreet externalizing his misgivings about an attack he fought to stop and knew would sound the start of the end of the CSA.
Longstreet never wanted to fight there. He was a defensive General. Unlike others he realized that the nature of warfare was changing. Thanks to the persuasion cap, the rifle and the Minnie ball infantry well dug in could not be easily pushed aside.
I must've seen his expression in a different light. I saw him get a glimmer of hope from the response George gave him, which was a grin of "you damn right we're going to take it". He had so much confidence in Pickett that he knew he would get an answer from him. Thats why he asked him in the first place. He was so desperate for any amount of hope that the charge might be succesful. What other better way to get that hope than to go straight to his right hand man himself?
And yet, and yet... "It was all a mathematical equation"; and of course Longstreet knew all too well the measure of his opponent in Hancock. There is also something far deeper at work here, Longstreet's sudden insight into Lee's fallibility. He, Longstreet, had not wanted to continue the fight at Gettysburg after the success of the first day. Remember two entire Union Corps the 1st and 11th had been routed and over 5,000 prisoners taken. At that point it was a greater victory than at 2nd Manassas and second only to Fredericksburg. To Lee it was incomprehensible NOT to complete the destruction of the Army of the Potomac, the essential goal of the campaign. Yet Longstreet realized that the failure to pursue the beaten Federals and take Culp's Hill had decisively shifted the terrain advantage to a fully deployed Union Army. The second day forcibly confirmed his assessment and Lee's all or nothing gamble on the third horrified him. Yes he looked to Pickett for hope, but he knew all to well the vanishingly small chance the attack had of success.
It's fucking heartbreaking
That smile will always stick with me. “You goddamn right I’ll take that ridge, this is my day.” 😩
In reality Longstreet couldn't give the order. Pickett had to ask him three times before Longstreet gave him a nod. I think they should've gone with that.
They did that scene later "message from Alexander hurry up or the artillery can't help anymore. General Longstreet, should I commence the attack?"
Even after Harrison hears about the essential bloodbath that is gonna occur, he still wants to participate.
He certainly got guts.
As Lee said about Gen. Hood: "He's all lion and no fox."
And he survived and returned to acting. I wonder if Old Pete got the chance to see him.
Harrison wasn't much of a family man.
After the war ended he took his wife and daughters to Mexico and dissapeared.
He was declared dead eventually.
25 years later he is found alive in Cincinnati.
or hes just stupid
Guts indeed, he's gonna see a lot of literal Guts.
Have to visit the actual battlefield to appreciate what happened there...
Been to every major battlefield. Gettysburg is my favorite, tons of great sweeping views, especially from Little Round Top (great sunsets!). The others that have stood out: Antietam, Fredericksburg, New Market, Chattanooga and Manassas. Stones River has the cleanest visitor center bathrooms.
I honestly cried when I walked across that field myself.
Been to Gettysburg on more than one occasion
Been there twice
Visit every year. One week and a few weekends. Would love to live there.
This is what Meade meant when he said, "Let us hope this is good ground." Understanding the geography to give your troops the most advantageous position was vital during this campaign, and both sides knew it.
I guess that's what happens when you send leaders of both sides to the same school?
Lincoln was able to force him to attack, he was also under pressure
The look on Longstreet's face when Harrison asks to join the attack...
roman legionhare He’s like you fucking kidding me boy??
Longstreet knew the charge was doomed, forget the confidence of the field commanders.
They always know that it is doomed but in every war that ever was the Generals send ordinary soldiers to there deaths by the hundred's of thousand's. Only an idiot with no imagination would ever be a soldier to be sent into the valley of death by an uncaring General that is given his orders by an uncaring President. After the fight win or lose both the General and the President get to go and sleep in a warm bed that night whilst hundreds of wounded men lay about the battle field in the frost screaming groaning and slowly dying. What they would not give for a warm bed and a caring hand.
“That’s Hancock out there and he ain’t gon’ run."
"So it's mathematical after all."
Lee was always at his best when he forced Union commanders to make difficult decisions, but at Gettysburg he was the one who didn't have many good options. With Union troops commanding the high ground, the smart move would be to withdraw and fight another day but Lee knew he was deep in enemy country and his line of supply could not last. He felt the pressure of forcing the issue, and that was what led to defeat.
He also knew what many foreign leaders later in history would know, and that was American industrial capacity took time to spool up, but when it did it would be an unstoppable force. The longer the war dragged on, the more the Union could throw at them. He absolutely had to end the war as quickly as possible, and Gettysburg was that chance.
He took that chance, and failed... but he HAD to take that chance.
Right. Genl Lee wanted the war to end with this battle done three all his chips on the table. I believe he should have redeployed and found better ground to fight on. By this time in the war the AOP had learned how to fight and was hitting in all cylinders. They had supplies and limitless manpower. Genl Lee had neither. He could have moved away and not lost so many of his valuable men that could not be replaced.
E. P. Alexander, Lee's artillery chief visited Gettysburg after the war and said that Lee should've waited on Seminary Ridge and forced Meade to attack (Lincoln, Stanton and Halleck would've been burning up the wires ordering it) OR to have attacked Cemetery Hill from three sides with enfilading fire available from N, NW, and W. He also noted that though Lee said they didn't have the means to wait it out, he stayed there for 3 more days without any problems. Meanwhile his men were stripping the Cumberland Valley of everything they could carry.
I disagree...he made a fatal miscalculation by not listening to his subordinate generals. IF they had made a forced march move to the right, they would have come up behind the Union left flank and taken them from the rear. At that point, the battle is over on the second day, Meade capitulates, and Lincoln must sue for peace. Lee had one flaw in an otherwise stellar career...he believed in his own rightness and the ability of his troops to do the hard thing a bit too much.
One must give some credit to the Union here too. Every move they made in this battle was the right one. (Except for Sickles moving ahead of the main line into the peach orchard.) Southerners always looking to point the blame for the loss, but the truth is that the USA fought a damn good battle.
"You know what's gonna happen? One of the most asinine frontal attacks in military history.
And Ulysses Grant repeated the same asinine assault a year later at Cold Harbor, Virginia
Fredericksburg was worse. Franklin was worse to the point of murder. There were some battles where frontal attacks worked, Chattanooga for one, but the days that you could send infantry in formation across an open field were ending. Too bad that the European commanders of World War I had to learn the hard way.
What's not shown is that Jeb Stewart's calvary was in the process of doing an end round around the lines and was suppose to attack the union army on the back side and picket being the front side. CUSTER engaged stuart with a much smaller force and stopped stuart's clavary from hitting the union. Thus only picket did and we saw what happened. This was not even mentioned in this movie and many others never talk about it. Not everyone liked Custer, and a lot of people either believe it would take away from Picket or point out how truly stupid the north was and how truly lucky the union was that day
The British at the Battle of the Somme in World War I.
@@christopherweber9464 Don't forget Franklin TN
Gen Longstreet knew this was a disaster and a suicidal charge that would end in utter destruction and defeat... Lee should've listened to him!
Love the face Longstreet makes after talking to Pickett.
Longstreet, looking for a ray of hope, asks "George, can you take that ridge?"
I've always thought he was looking for a possible out to get Hill assigned to lead the attack, or even possibly modify the plan of attack. Like he was asking Pickett if Pickett would go on the record with Lee as opposing it, so maybe they could talk some sense into him. And so i see Pickett's smile as another case of "Openly question my obligation to accept what is ordained from above? General, sir, HOW can i do that!?"
@@no_rubbernecking that's exactly as I read it too. Longstreet almost pleading him to protest and maybe give another out. But Pickett never would.
George did not know what was going to happen. Look at his face at the end, almost crying
One of history's best opportunitirs to play Monday Morning Quarterback. "What if- - - Lee had-], Longstreet hadn't-, Ewell had-, Stewart hadn"t-, Mead had-. BUT THEY DID/DIDN'T! The rest is history.
What if... Stonewall Jackson had been there? Alas...
One of the lovely aspects of this scene is that it parallels the earlier scene in the movie during the first day when John Buford is predicting a similar slaughter for the Army of the Potomac if the Confederates gain control of the high ground. "I've been a soldier all my life, Devin, and I've never seen anything as brutally clear as this. There's a hard, set... stony quality to it, as if it's already happened, already a memory. Knowing the attack will fail and there's nothing you can do about it. You must even participate, help it fail." Likewise, Longstreet also sees the coming slaughter with brutal clarity. "It's a mathematical equation."
But it never would've happened if they'd taken the high ground. Hancock would've never approved the site as worth fighting for and the survivors would've headed south for pipe creek.
@@indy_go_blue6048 Very likely. But Buford likely didn't know Meade very well, being new to command, and was too used to previous commanding generals of the Army of the Potomac acting in exactly the fashion he describes, particularly Ambrose Burnside at Fredricksburg. The memory of that debacle would still have been hot in the minds of the officers and men of the army then.
Fun historical fact: After hearing Longstreet's assessment, the fellow said, "Dang, I just forgot to pick up my cleaning. Tell you what general, I'll get back with ya'".
I rather suspect, sir, that there may be extensive difficulties with supply in the rear area that may need sorting-out as well. Going all the way back to Virginia, in fact to my home town and house.
Nice piece of acting here by Berenger. Longstreet knew even if the attack was successful the Confederates would suffer terrible casualties. Like depicted in the movie, and very well by Berenger, Longstreet was so overcome with emotion about what he knew was going to happen to thousands of his troops, he could not speak to give the order to attack, he simply nodded.
If Jeb Stuart didn't end up in Carlisle, PA, this war would of ended differently or at least the remaining battle would of had 4 highly experienced Calvary brigades. Of the 7 brigades under Stuart, George Pickett was given 3 of the Reserve Cavalry which were not as experienced.
Even if this charge worked and pierced the Union center, Sedgwick and 14k fresh men of the Union 6th Corps. stationed on the Baltimore Pike would have been sent to plug the gap against, at that point, 7k worn out, shot up southern troops.
@@Bart12349 I like Jeb but he had a tendency to cowboy and lost to Custer at Gettysburg. Much later Custer played cowboy too...
These generals went to west point together. They were friends. Their families all knew each other. Yea they fought against each other but the respect was amazing.
From a cinematic point of view, the Longstreet character explained to the movie audience what the troops in the picket's Charge scene were going to face. Nicely done.
Two of my great, great uncles told my dad that those that made it past Emmitsburg road had really done something.The ones that reached the wall had done the impossible. Some made it to the stone wall and many did not. At close range the fire from union troops was concentrated and incredible. They got close, fought hard and when it was clear the battle was lost they along with many others walked back among the wounded,dead and dying, got into a defensive position for a counter attack that didn't happen.
A counterattack that should've happened, and would have happened if Meade had been any other general (other than perhaps MacClellan, who was even more cautious than Meade). The war would've been far shorter if Meade hadn't let the Army of Northern Virginia escape Gettysburg, but he did.
When the after Harris asked for a musket longstreet looked at him like everyone has lost their damn minds lol gotta be the heat
Most of these generals served together in the Mexican-American War, they knew each other and their tactics and tendencies. This might as well be called "Requiem for a Charge".
GOD BLESS MY AWESOME FRIEND MOCTESUMA ESPARZA. I AM SO VERY PROUD OF YOU AND SO VERY HAPPY FOR YOU. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH MY FRIEND! I CANNOT THANK GOD ENOUGH!😊
By far the best War between the States movie, should be 2 hours longer or so. So many extra details to explain and show!
Humbly disagree. That honor goes to Glory by a hairs breadth
Longstreet - "George, can you take that ridge?", Pickett - "I'll see you in hell bruh"
Grasshopper And they all went there!
GREAT SCENE THIS SCENE CAN BE USED IN LIFE TO EXPLAIN A LOT OF PROBLEMS
Like marriage...
Brilliant piece of acting and spine chilling foreshadowing of the fate of Picket's charge and how minuscule its chances of success were even before it set off.
Pickets charge is one of the best made attacks in a warmovie ever. Much better filmed than the guard in waterloo.
Incidentally, Harrison survived the attack, and had a long career on the stage.
did he even take part?
@@SantomPh yes, he did.
I saw the re-enactment of Pickett’s charge last summer at Gettysburg. Amazing to watch. I can only imagine how horrible the real thing must have been.
Field was drowned in blood.
I sometimes wish this movie had come out after Saving Private Ryan. The movie that forever ended war-movie tropes like cannon hits being portrayed as a dirt fountain going off behind perfectly intact men doing front flips onto off-camera mattresses.
Brutal hand on hand combat. Hitting each other with the barrel of the musket to the point where the soldiers heads were busted open and skulls were fractured. They said somewhere it was as brutal as warfare can get.
@@randomtraveler9854 "The Rebs were at once enveloped in a cloud of sufler, smoke....arms, heads, scarves, muskets, napsacks were tossed clean into the air...only then did a horrible symphony of moans rise above the settle of dark cloud like a rising storm." - Lt. Col Franklin Sawyer of the Union Army.
like the british going over the top at the somme
At Gettysburg, parts of the Army of Northern Virginia, advanced about a mile of open terrain. In the last Battle of the Army of Tennessee, they went past Two Miles of open terrain.... Both armies Lost their fights - helps when the Enemy has One Good Strong Point to Defend - a stone wall to make a Last Stand
Greatest war movie ever made... Everyone and everything was just perfect
The greatest collection of fake facial hair ever assembled in one film... Ever!
Jeb Stuart's beard was an atrocity; Harrison's was only slightly better...
William Anthony a lot of novelty stores made out like bandits
Enough hair to shame a mammoth
I think some of the beards were actually living squirrels.
Gettysbeard
I think what Gen. Longstreet is displaying is what the military calls "situational awareness". Those with military experience can correct me if I'm wrong.
You are correct sir...
You said it spot on. That's exactly what we call it and Gen. Longstreet was correct. People can hate him all they want, but he understood the situation and should've been listened to.
@@donnelljones8697- how could anyone hate on that man (putting aside that he fought on the side of the traitors)?
Affirmative!
오늘도 잘 보고 갑니다. 좋은 영상 고맙습니다.
you just cant help but see how loyal in spite of visons under situations Longstreet was to General Lee even after taking a serious wound hard hit after Gettysburg Longstreet came back and was still if not thee most dependable General Lee could ever have .. Nice work Longstreet
Many brave men fell due to Lee's poor leadership on that day, including his turning a deaf ear to his generals.
There wasn't much Lee could have done differently at that point but retreat. Longstreet's suggestion of redeploying sounds good on paper but was in fact suicidally strategically asinine in context. Keep in mind the Confederate army was in enemy territory with no supply lines and no reinforcements to call upon, Meade had a robust and extensive supply line and had reinforcements on route which he could stay in near direct communication with thanks to battlefield telegraphs. Had Lee redployed to "better ground" Meade's reinforcements would be a day closer and Meade wouldn't have any reason to assault Lee's new position until his reinforcements arrived to cut off\flank Which would give Lee exactly one day to complete route Meade who would just as likely himself move to superior ground should Lee try to launch an assault because in another day his reinforcements will arrive to flank Lee's Army.
@@Terminalsanity ''Meade wouldn't have any reason to assault Lee's new position until his reinforcements arrived''
Meade would be forced to attack Lee if Lee would've disengaged and threatened Washington, which was Longstreet's idea.
@@jonathanallard2128 Nope. That wouldn't have forced Meade to attack at all, what it would do is force him to move his army between Lee and DC which would have put him two days closer to those aforementioned flanking reinforcements. Like Longstreet you're entirely misreading the tactical situation. Meade didn't need to gamble like the Confederates, he has a robust supply he has reinforcements on route and a communications and transportation system to put them in place to flank whatever new position Lee takes. In short Longstreet's suggestion would have made Pickett's charge look a masterstroke Lee ignored it with good reason. The thing to do was retreat on the 2nd day after the confederates failed to take the high ground.
@@Terminalsanity You think Meade would be able to stay in between Lee and DC?
Also a retreat always hurts morale. It would be seen a defeat by the men, because they would leave the field and wounded to the enemy. Morale matters too, and that's what was Lee's concern with leaving the field.
@@jonathanallard2128 Why wouldn't Meade be able to so again? Lee had no way to move his army without Meade seeing it and Meade had more resources to redeploy his troops faster than Lee did. Face it Longstreet's suggestion was worse than a pig in a poke it was entirely tactically counter intuitive the situation and very nature of their campaign: namely a swift strike offensive into enemy territory followed by an equally withdrawal once the Union army engaged them Lee couldn't afford piss away a day or 2 in the vain hope that Meade would be a moron and attack a fortified position when he can just wait for reinforcements to flank and blindside the positin
I'm not a historian, but this might be most courageous charge in history of modern warfare...
"Courageous" is a word. So is "Stupid."
They were dummies 😂😂😂
Many "stupid" things ended up working surprisingly well. You can't judge the decisions by full knowledge of the outcome. Hitler expected his invasion of France to be stopped after two weeks.
It is the greatest american charge of a military unit based on the odds against them. Pickett reminds me of the forlorn hope during the war of 1812. 20 men on horseback charging at the enemy.
It's up there, but don't forget Fredericksburg, Malvern Hill, The Somme, or Omaha Beach.
That music at the start when he starts smiling...Like if somebody just opened the gates of hell my gosh!
When they mention the "special" people who participated in Pickett's charge, they didn't realize General George Patton's great uncle was among them.
When I was in elementary school and a Civil War buff, my parents took me to Gettysburg for a tour..we stood at the oak grove (the High Water Mark) in the Union line and I looked across the fields to where the Confederates would have formed up....and even at that young age, I thought....this would be a slaughter...over a mile of open ground with every gun and cannon in the Union army aimed at the men.....I dont understand why Lee tried this.....to this day
On day two, a single regiment took part of the ridge, they made and had a breach with it only meant to be a diversion for the other attacks at the flanks. This gave the false sense that the middle was vulnerable, with the assumption the Union had massed most of their defenses at the flanks, which was correct on day 2. General Lee did not expect it to be a slaughter of his troops. There was a planned Calvary attack meant to circle around and hit the back of the Union lines at the same time the front was being hit, that Calvary attack was broken up by none other than George Armstrong Custer and his Calvary, doing a crazy charge in to an enemy force that outnumbered him. In this case it worked.
Lee could not just leave, he knew that, he had the strength for another attack, and had to push on as a victory at Gettysburg would have left Washington DC wide open to him. He could not go against the flanks again as those attacks already failed and they were even more protected than the night before. Unlike his previous battles against the Army of the Potamac, was not facing General Burnside or General McDowell, but rather General Meade who had the strategic sense to view the battlefield from General Lee's perspective and decided Lee would attack the center based on how the 2nd day of fighting went. So he reinforced along with keeping units that were rotated off the front lines at the flanks for rest in close reserve to the center. (very high level summary of why he attacked of course)
@@lforrest14 Of course, even if the Union centre was weak (which would be unusual for the cautious commanders of the Union) they'd have had ample notice of the oncoming attack during the two hour artillery barrage..
This scene leaves you feeling bad for Longstreet. He knew exactly what was going to happen.
We're still here God bless All Americans Lest We Forget
Having Read Many Other's, Comment's of the Clip & about Gettysburg. Personally I Have Never Had the Privilege or Opportunity to Go there YET? But it's on My Bucket List, Along with Several Other's. Thank You Again.
Losing Stonewall Jackson to friendly fire really had its aftershocks displayed at Gettysburg in terms of battle strategy
The Real turning point of the War...
I doubt even Stonewall could have prevented an ultimate Confederate defeat. The North has too much material and manufacturing superiority. Also the Union was learning. Even a southern victory at a Gettysburg would not have won them the war, not with the loss of Vicksburg, and the heavy casualties they would have taken at Gettysburg even in a winning effort.
JACKSON THERE NO GETTYSBURG. PLAIN AND SIMPLE. The ground south of town would have been swept of Yankees because Jackson would be much wiser than Ewell and known to take the high ground before Hancock arrived.
General Custer vs General Stuart;
Stuart's last obstacle was Custer, with four hundred veteran troopers of the First Michigan Cavalry, directly in his path. Outnumbered but undaunted, Custer rode to the head of the regiment, "drew his saber, threw off his hat so they could see his long yellow hair" and shouted... "Come on, you Wolverines!" Custer formed his men in line of battle and charged. "So sudden was the collision that many of the horses were turned end over end and crushed their riders beneath them...." As the Confederate advance stopped, their right flank was struck by troopers of the Fifth, Sixth and Seventh Michigan. McIntosh was able to gather some of his men from the First New Jersey and Third Pennsylvania and charged the rebel left flank. "Seeing that the situation was becoming critical, I [Captain Miller] turned to [Lieutenant Brooke-Rawle] and said: "I have been ordered to hold this position, but, if you will back me up in case I am court-martialed for disobedience, I will order a charge." The rebel column disintegrated into individual saber and pistol fights.
Within twenty minutes the combatants heard the sound of the Union artillery opening up on Pickett's men. Stuart knew that whatever chance he had of joining the Confederate assault was gone. He withdrew his men to Cress Ridge.
Custer's brigade lost 257 men at Gettysburg, the highest loss of any Union cavalry brigade.["I challenge the annals of warfare to produce a more brilliant or successful charge of cavalry", Custer wrote in his report. "For Gallant And Meritorious Services", he was awarded a regular army brevet promotion to Major.
Custer was a POS butcher who got what he deserved in 1876
Such a great movie. Wild to think this was America 160 years ago. A lot of these actors played in Tombstone
I'm still surprised at how few people know what was going on behind the Union lines at the same time. Stuart's unbloodied cavalry was circling around to hit the Union rear, to coincide with "Pickett's charge." A much smaller force of Union cavalry stopped Stuart (led by a very young general). I would imagine that as the Confederate officers watched the charge, they kept expecting the Union line to break up under assaults from both sides. It wasn't meant to be the suicide charge that it turned out to be. It would have been refreshing to see that aspect at least mentioned in this movie, but it kind of forgets about Stuart after the dressing-down by Lee.
In the film, Stuart disappears once again after he is reprimanded by Lee.
That “young general” you mentioned was Armstrong Custer. The same one who became famous later in the Indian wars. And died in his last stand at Little Bighorn.
Every time I see this movie I manage to trick myself into thinking it will be different this time.
Russell Berry Same
Naw, it’s always ends the same, the lost cause was put to rest on that field in Pennsylvania.
Strange to think that I kinda routed for the Confederates in this movie.
William Faulkner wrote a passage expressing much the same thought about Pickett’s charge.
I'm happy with how this battle ended, with a Union victory it helped free my black brothers and sisters from slavery.... God Bless troops like Joshua Chamberlain and Robert Gould Shaw.
l loved the portrayal of Longstreet in this film,I just couldn't get over the fake beards...
Late to the party here, but when Pickett gives Longstreet that big grin I always think to myself "Let him do it! Come on, just this once, let him do it!" And I'm a Yankee!
That's good film making when it makes you forget what's going to happen, even for a moment!
Gen. Longstreet is a tactical genius. A true soldier and leader. Lee was lucky to have him on his senior staff.
Longstreet also had a habit of being in the thick of action with his men and was wounded
But would not listen to him when it really counted!
@@michellekinder3051 He did Great at Chickamauga.
“So...... you’re saying there is a chance” !!
Lee didn't live long after the war, dying in 1870. Must've taken a lot out of him.
@AZMike: He had been suffering from Heart Disease, but at that point in time, Medical Science(if it could be called that) had no idea what Heart Disease was.
He was an old man by then, he was due to retire before the war. Ironically the man who asked him to lead the Union armies, Winifred Scott was older tha him
Genl Lee had suffered a heart attack recently before the battle. He knew he couldn't last much longer and wanted to get the war over with. As much as I respect Genl Lee and his prowess as a leader and tactician, I do not believe he was on his best game during this battle. He should/could have allowed Genl Longstreet to command or at least taken his (Longstreet's) counsel.
@@stevestringer7351 Actually, Lee suffered an attack of dysentery at the outset of the Pennsylvania Campaign and was barely recovered from it as the battle opened. However, he was beginning to show the first symptoms of the heart condition that would kill him seven years later.
I figure it did to him what being president does to most of our presidents. At the inaugural they look like young men (not speaking of Trump or Biden but Clinton, Obama, Bush et al) who seem to age 10 years in 4 years. Lee's hair had only a sprinkling of grey in 1860; by 1862 it was white.
Thank you!
My favorite movie
Especially the directors cut 4 hours 45 minutes.
In the months before Gettysburg, Lee repeatedly wrote Confederate President Jefferson Davis that, in his opinion, due to the growing disparity between the Confederacies ability to re-supply its men and the Unions ability to do so,
"military victory" against the North was
"no longer possible".
The only hope he wrote was Propaganda.
"If I can whip the North on its own soil, the Northern Peace Party would demand settlement on terms favorable to the Confederacy."
"Under these circumstances, we should neglect no honorable means of dividing and weakening our enemies."
wrote Lee to Davis.
"We must give all the encouragement we can, consistently with the truth, to the rising peace party of the North."
The obvious problem with that was that half of the "Peace Party" wanted the southern states to return the Union. To this, Lee wrote to Davis saying the South should not make
"nice distinctions."
"When peace is proposed to us it will be time enough to discuss its terms."
Lee's plans for that Propaganda victory "on Northern soil" were completed by June 1863 and on the 3rd of June, Lee began to move his Army northward into Union territory.
The War, the Confederates though in 1861, would not last more than a year, as such, they did not save up stores for a prolonged conflict and it had been showing since early 1862.
Lee was constantly dealing with shortages of supplies and food and men. In March of 1862, less than a year since the war began, Lee wrote James Seddon, the Secretary of War
"Let the State authorities take the matter in hand, and see that no man able to bear arms be allowed to evade his duty."
"Let every effort be made, every means be employed, to fill and maintain the ranks of our armies, until God, in His mercy, shall bless us with the establishment of our independence."
Whatever you may think of Lee, he endured the same sufferings as his men. He refused luxuries and ate nearly as little as his men did. While his tent was an ordinary Offices tent, drafty and wet. As he had to few men to grant furloughs to his Army, he never took one. He even refused a new uniform, even the new sash his wife sent him.
"My old blue will serve me yet awhile." he wrote back to his wife Mary.
Lee did not believe that he would survive the war, and he did not want the papers saying he was found dead in a high style. He was he said, "just a soldier". He would lead by example, and in response, Mary, like her husband, did as well.
By late March 1862, Lee was almost yelling in his letters to Seddon.
"My soldier's daily ration is only 18 ounces of flour, 4 ounces of bacon, of indifferent quality, with occasionally supplies of rice, sugar, or molasses."
Scurvy had become a problem as well and there was no medicine nor lemons to combat it. Scrounging for food was the Armies #1 activity and there was never enough food when they could find it. The north, on the other hand, suffered a wealth of supplies.
The North had fully reordered its great manufacturing sectors to supplying war goods. The Union's soldiers had an embarrassment of riches. So much so that soldiers literally toss away any weight that they did not think was absolutely essential.
Come the Spring, Winter coats littered the roadsides on which they marched. They knew come the fall they would get new ones.
Fry pans, tin plates? "Away with you." They used their canteen halves for pan and plate.
This while some Confederate soldiers were without boots.
In the Western Theatre, which did not get the attention of the treasury that Lee's forces did, it was even worse. Some Southern soldiers in the Army of Tennessee were fighting with old style Flintlocks rather than modern percussion cap rifles. These were useless when it rained as the pan got wet and soaked their powder.
More important to the Army itself was, Lee could see that his army was growing smaller while the North's army was growing larger. As he laid out his plans for his second invasion of the North, Lee knew he would never be able to front an army of this size again, while the North would never have an army this small again.
This whipping on Northern soil he knew he needed to inflict, was going to be the last truly large fighting force Lee would ever have.
176 cannon were gathered up by Lee. When they opened up on the center of the Union line on July 3rd (day 3, Pickets charge), it was the largest artillery barrage of the war. But a shortage of powder and cannonball helped to defeat its intended effect.
That, and the Devil's own idea that came to General Hunt, head of the Union's Artillery.
Gen.s Meade, and Hunt, suspected the attack on the center after the failed attacks on the flanks on day 2. Gen. Hunt, clever devil that he was, ordered his cannon to remain silent for the first 15 minutes of the barrage. Then he only ordered a third of his guns to fire back. This lead Lee into thinking that his artillery barrage had knocked out the majority of Hunt's guns.
It was a brilliant feint which had the proper effect upon Lee's mind. Thinking that most of the Union's guns were destroyed Lee ordered Picket's men forward.
As we know, most of the Confederate's men never got close to the Union’s lines that afternoon. Only at the bend in the Union's line known as "The Angle", did Gen Armistead's Corps engage the Union at close quarters fighting, but Northern re-enforcement quickly arrived.
Seconds after Armistead ordered his men to turn the union cannon, they had just taken, around to use on the Union itself, he was to find that they were all empty. All the canister shot had already been fired into his men.
Of the first volley fired by the newly arrived Union re-enforcements to The Angle, three musket balls found the General's chest and Armistead fell dead and with him the dreams of the Confederacy. The War was now effectively over. It was only a matter of the South facing up to the fact.
Many, including myself, would say the turning point, the beginning of the end, occurred the previous spring of 1862 at Malvern Hill on July 1st, the last day of the Seven Days Campaign.
Lee began the battle with 52,000 men but left more than 22,000 dead on the battlefield when it was over. Southern newspapers shocked at the number of the dead called Lee a "butcher" and "incompetent".
So did General Hill, who lost his entire Corps that day, just as Picket will in a years time at Gettysburg lose his Division. Both Generals died hating R.E. Lee.
Of the Battle, which Gen. Hill had forcefully urged Lee not to make, Hill publicly called it not war but "murder".
Lee's failure at Gettysburg was in part a well-played feint by Gen. Hunt, but regardless, this battle Lee knew, was the last hope. He had to attack. Too many men had already died, men he knew he would never replace. Lee's back was against the wall, Lee had to fight, so he gambled, and lost.
4 years ago! Great comment. The feint! You have I imagine read Sun Tzu: "The Art of war is the art of deception."
Sir, with your permission, I'll get myself that musket sir, despite just having heard how much danger the charge could be, Harrison is still willing to walk into the gates of hell
I've stood at that wall and looked out across that mile of open ground and wondered, "What the hell was Lee thinking?"
He knew but was powerless to stop it. It was destined to end that way
Lee was drunk on his 'Legendry Status' and reputation. Longstreet; like any field general, was concerned about his men/troops lives. Longstreet KNEW from day one that fighting in Gettysburg would be a disaster. Yet, he could not sobber up Lee before it was too late. All those men died for no other reason then wake Lee up from his drunkeness!
Our overall co
Lee was also full of confidence from his previous wins as well
A chance had to be taken. Its easy to see with hindsight. It was pretty much now or never for The CSA. They were overmatched. Its amazing they put up the fight they did. Reverse the roles and War would have lasted about a month or two
That’s a pretty ignorant viewpoint to be blunt. Lee had ordered not to engage in heavy fighting until the army was together. He didn’t want to fight at Gettysburg. The army was drug into it as skirmishes divulged into full engagements. Pickett’s charge was a last ditch effort and something routinely preformed by both sides (Fredericksburg for example). Stuart’s absence for days left Lee blind which was uncharacteristic for Stuart. Heath failure to recognize he could easily overwhelm Buford and take the high ground also was costly. Did Lee make mistakes? Yes. But did Lee believe he could just hammer away and win? Surely not. I truly believe if Jackson had been there then it would have been different. Even if Stuart hadn’t been absent it could’ve been a different out comes (cavalry scouting was everything). Both sides were pretty beat up. Even if Meade was more aggressive, I doubt he would’ve crossed the field on the 4th day.
@@jacksongrissop9257 He had zero choice. Gettysburg happened wether he liked it or not, it was out of his control. But now it was their only chance at stopping Vicksburg from falling and matching on Washington. It wasn’t a good chance, but it was ALL that they had.
Poor Longstreet. Had to send his men to slaughter
Longstreet pleaded with Lee not to do this attack cuz he knew it wouldnt work. But he listened to his Commander. And after the retreat and the guys are around Lee telling him let us go again we know we can take it. Lee then understood that he made a mistake and told his guys no they did enough. That's why general Lee is one other most respected generals in history. Lincoln actually sat with Lee and wanted him to be the general of the North's army. But Lee said he couldn't go against his home state of Virginia. Oh and for those that don't know Lee opposed slavery.
It was Francis P. Blair Lee met with prior to the war, not Lincoln. And Lee's "opposition" to slavery was tepid at best, a myth at worst. He wrote the slave-catching order that the Army of Northern Virginia was carrying out during its Pennsylvania campaign, and he freed the slaves he inherited from his cousin Custis only by court order enforcing that cousin's will, after petitions to extend the deadline stipulated were denied.
And Grant owned slaves. 41 out of 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence owned slaves. Look it up.
@@marknewton6984 Grant inherited some slaves by marriage and then freed them. Not a valid comparison to Lee.
Sorry but Grant used slave labor to build his barn. Historical fact.
American Civil War had a tragic romance you find in the Greek stories.
Imagine the feeling when an officer says....I don't think my boys are going to make it.....the somme, gallipoli, the old guard at waterloo, arnhem, dieppe comes to mind.
jan.6 ?
@@timmullens9479 Nope. The leader of those boys has said, "Those aren't my boys."
@@SarahB1863 Jerrys kids? (Nadler)
Grant at Cold Harbor?!
‘ Harrison I don’t believe my boys will reach that wall ‘ so sad.
and his men proved him wrong on that part
It's not often talked about but Pickett was the last group in the fight and it had been lost before he and the brave men ever entered the field.
Such great acting all around.
I know there's a huge debate going on about honoring confederate soldiers, but after all, they were only soldiers, doing their duty, they weren't the ones doing politics.
I'd say give them their honors, don't remember them for the politics they fought for, but for the sacrifice they made. A soldier isn't a smart bomb. A soldier is a sword. The one who wields it is in charge. The soldier follows orders, even if it means certain death. And that kind of loyalty, regardless of politics, is what makes these soldiers worthy of having monuments built to their memory. And although I do absolutely believe in the equality of every person on this planet and noone should be discriminated against, because of the color of their skin, their religion, their sexual orientation or anything else that makes them different, I think these soldiers deserve to be honored.
Although they fought for a terrible cause, they had more guts than the cowards of today.
@@shrapnel77 they didn't fight for a cause, they mostly fought for their homes and their commanders. The internet wasn't a thing back then. People didn't get the kind of information that we get today. People had to rely on people telling them what was going on. And that's the thing about that entire war. It was people against people. If we now build monuments remembering those who died on the union side, and never remember those on the confederate side, we discriminate against people and we're doing the exact thing that the union soldiers fought against. I find it disturbing that people don't realize that what soldiers were told back then was what they believed. Remember: No internet, no free press, just propaganda on both sides. These soldiers didn't fight for a terrible cause. They fought for something they believed to be a just cause and their homes. Soldiers back then didn't get to know what this was all about. They only got to know that there was an enemy that tried to invade their country. Propaganda is a terrible thing. If someone nowadays kills another person with a kitchen knife, what do you blame? The person or the knife? Of course you blame the person, the knife is only a tool. It was the exact same thing. Blame politicians and generals, but don't blame the soldiers. Soldiers were following orders (and in many, many countries they still are) They don't get the luxury to know the intricacies of politics. Today, they know. Today, information is readily available for everyone. Today, even a private gets to know the bigger picture. But even today, most privates don't get to choose, and I'm absolutely grateful that I do, serving as a lieutenant in the military of one of the closest allies of the United States of America.
I definitely believe that SOME confederate soldiers were truly fighting for their homes, but at the same time, there are records of confederate soldiers who DO live up to the modern image of the racist, slavery-aspiring southerner.
In my mind, you can't erect monuments to confederate soldiers, even if the purpose is to honour their courage. Because there is always the risk of those monuments becoming shrines for neo-confederates and white supremacists. Maybe we should acknowledge their courage, but I don't think statues are the right way to do it.
Ha, the infamous Gettysbeard!
LOL my beard is more famous then teh "Gettysbeard"
My favourite scene. Usually the best scene in any movie is just two people talking.
Really wish this music was included in the soundtrack releases.