I have visited the battlefield more than 20 times and see something new seemingly every trip. It never ceases to amaze me how much of the battlefield has been preserved for history. Truly a national treasure.
I couldn't agree more! I had only been to the battlefield twice before when I made that original comment above but have spent years and hundreds of hours pouring over documents, books, accounts, et cetera and have always been fascinated by the details. My 1st 2 trips had been in midsummer, in other words, approximately the time that the battle took place. Never occurred to me what a difference it would make to see it earlier in the year with less foliage. It was stunning enough to imagine what it would have been like to fight through that type of terrain with the heavy foliage that I experienced on my 1st 2 trips. But I finally had a chance to visit in January of this year on a trip back to Saint Louis from New York City. As usual, I went to Little Round Top to pay my respects to Col. Chamberlain and the Boys of 20th Maine. It was then for the 1st time that I was able to locate the marker of the Company B position and I was amazed at how close it was to Chamberlain's main Line! It suddenly dawned on me the intensity of the battle that happened in such a confined space and was truly inspired by whar must have been terrifying to be pinned down as they were behind such a small rock wall with thousands of enemy combatants between them and their main line. It put my understanding of that battle into a whole new perspective. I strongly recommend visiting the battlefield in the Fall or the Winter without its summer foliage to get a true feel for the terrain.
@@steveogden3103 The small rock wall was more than likely put up after the battle by union soldiers preparing for another attack from the Confederates. From my understanding the union soldiers who fought there on the 2nd didn’t have time to build earth works.
@@jayhallman6666 Agreed, but they must have had Something to hide behind during the several hours of repeated Confederate assaults, and especially in such a confined space as I described. I don't know if the numbers are available; such as, How many men in the Co. B detachment? How many of the Berdan Sharpshooters fell back over Big Round Top after skirmishing with the Confederate right wing advance and fell in with Co. B? How many Confederates in the Alabama & Texas brigades were in that repeated attack on Chamberlain's position in such a constricted and confined space? It's hard to imagine what it must've been like for those detached and isolated men & what they felt when they saw Chamberlain's left wing wheel & charge down the slope. Still gives me chills!
It was the sheer amount of space occupied by both armies that astounded me upon visiting Gettysburg. The distance between Seminary Ridge and Cemetary Hill is not easily portrayed on the small screen but was frightening to see in person.
I don't know how anyone can look upon what happened those 3 days without some sense of awe and pride at how brave those Americans were on both sides. The tragedy was that it was Americans fighting Americans but both sides showed tremendous courage and bravery in the midst of untold horror. I have nothing but respect for both sides for all the Americans that fought there, died there, and ultimately healed a nation there. Just imagine what the outcome might have been had General Thomas J Jackson lived. This comment is not about right or wrong, it's just about that which really happened and what would maybe have been. Things turned out the way they did and that will never change no matter how many people tried to tear down statues and force people to accept a watered down truth to our history. Leave these things be and learn from them, not try to erase them or change them. God bless America.
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both sides ism again! hell, should we honor the Nazis for their courage in the support of absolute evil? no, the south committed treason, and it deserved total eradication and obliteration.
Nope, what the confederacy did was no different from the attacks on 9/11, or the Nazis and Japanese during WWII. All were enemies of the United States. Actually the Southern fighters and leaders that previously took an oath to the United States Constitution were actually worse than Germany, Japan and terrorists.
The 1st Minnesota made a furious charge to save the ridge and possibly the battle. All units on both sides demonstrated extraordinary courage that day.
@@troydeschane635 Their current Lefty Governor Walz will probably return the captured (defending against Pickett's Charge) Alabama colors too, that are in the Capitol building in St Paul. Every other Governor has refused to do that...even Jesse ("The Body") Ventura!
True, but there were so many ways that the Union could have lost the battle! The Union’s victory depended on the lowest ranks to the Generals; all had to execute decisively and with deadly accuracy. Lee acted typically by rolling the dice. The Union’s training, initiative, and planning provided the foundation for a close, but decisive victory!
1st Minnesota at Gettysburg: Pivotal bayonet charge against overwhelming odds [5 to 1] drove two confederate brigades back in confusion, out of the 262 men in the attack 215 were killed or wounded. The 1st Minnesota Battle-Flag hangs in honor at the state capital in St. Paul, MN.
PLUS after being utterly devastated on July 2 (82% casualties), the mauled remnants First Minnesota was pulled back to the "safest" place in the center of the Union lines to recover on July 3, along with reinforcements from their previously detached Company F. That would place them on Cemetery Ridge for Pickett's Charge in one of the few places where the Virginians actually (b)reached Union lines. The 1st Minnesota were forced to engage in yet *another* bayonet charge against desperate odds. They lost two more regimental commanders (and another ~15 casualties) and won two more medals of honor. So by the end of the three days of Gettysburg the regiment had been reduced to the size of an understrength company and went through something like 8 command ranks (Col, Lt. Col, Maj., Four Captains, and some Lt.s).
A heroic effort by men who knew that their charge was surely death. General Hancock called these men the bravest he had ever seen, stating: "I was fortunate to meet so grand a group as the 1st Minnesota. I knew that they would lose heavily when I gave the order, but had I thought that everyone of them would be killed, I still would have given it. It was a sacrifice that must be made." Great story teller ua-cam.com/video/PVzuOW0nGFM/v-deo.html
The 262 men of 1st MN didn't 'Drive' anybody anywhere, but atonishingly, they stalled 2 jaded brigades (Wilcox & Lang) long enuf for a bloody stalemate along Plum Run. Importantly, the next day, it was the same battered Wilcox & Lang who failed to protect Pickett's flank from Stannard's unopposed Vermont brigade.
Thanks for posting this. My Great Grandfather, James Robie Wood, was a member of the 2nd Georgia Battalion, Wright’s Brigade. I have a copy of a hand written account from him that describes his participation in that charge on the 2nd day. He was wounded by canister shot, captured by the Union Forces, and evacuated to a hospital in Baltimore. He later returned to his unit via prisoner exchange.
@improvagility5516 I'm currently researching personal stories from soldiers in Wright's Brigade for a possible book and would like to see if you would be open to discussing the story of your ancestor further? Please let me know. Thank you.
Always amazed that the story of the detachment of Co. B/20th Maine to the extreme left of the main position on Little Round top is never told. As I understand it, they were sent out along with a detachment of US Sharpshooters to protect Chamberlain's left as skirmishers and were cut off and isolated by the massed Confederate attack. They laid low during the repeated Confederate attacks and repulses, but when they saw Chamberlain's bayonet charge, they rose and added their fire into the unsuspecting Confederate right flank. While there is no doubt that the bayonet charge "saved the day", It's understandable that the Confederates would have been shaken by what may have been a "superior force" about to flank them on the right, thus adding to their retreat. Regardless, the defense of Little Round Top was legendary and I've always admired Josh Chamberlain as the classic example of the American "Citizen Soldier"; a college professor of Rhetoric with virtually no military experience but, when called to serve, he read as much as he could on strategy and tactics and, quite ably, rose to command.
You are right about the Sharpshooters. Using the breechloading Sharps, they sliced up the Confederate charge up the hill. Which was more important is irrelevant. Both were.
Chamberlain is also one of the last US Army Generals to be promoted via the brevet system as well as on the battlefield, then confirmed as a brigadier general in the regular Army .
General George Sears Greene, 1801-1899, a West Pointer and civil engineer before and after the war, had about 1,600 NYers to defend Culp's Hill after a greater number were sent down the pike toward Little Round Top's defense. Greene had his men build earthworks, felled trees to build redoubtss with firing holes so as to limit exposure. Greene's men repulsed charge after charge for virtually all three days of the battle. If the Confederates had overwhelmed Culp's Hill, they would have rolled over the Union's interior lines and likely would have routed the Army of the Potomac. George Greene is my unsung hero of the whole engagement. And, at 62, he was the oldest general present. Of either side's.
CH is shown in a really good documentary on the history channel. It would have been cool if the Minnesota charge had been shown in the movie gettysburg, but then there would have needed to be several characters devoted to it, but the the main battle portions are from Buford's Point of view, then little round top, from Chamberlain's pov, and then Pickett's Charge, from the pov of Pickett and Longstreet.. the movie is incredibly balanced in terms of screen time devoted to each side, but you have 2 battle parts shown from the north, and 1 (albeit the main sequence) Another battle portion shown from the North side would have disrupted the balance of the movie completely. Maybe in a 6 part, 6 hr mini series the second Minnesota can be shown, but not so in a 3 hr movie
The movie Gettysburg, as stated in this video, is based on the book “The Killer Angels” by Michael Shaara. The book did not cover those areas that are being proposed. This would have added additional characters, which would have added a lot more time to the movie to build the character(s). Not to mention the book would have blown up to be larger than Foote’s work. Michael’s son Jeff has continued this style, and to tell the stories of these battles, places, events, and people. It is about depth and quality of the story Shaara is wanting to tell, not quantity. Saying this should have been added is nice, but you also leave out other aspects of the battle that others could also think are important. Such as Culp’s Hill, the Jenny Wade Story, the Cavalry Battle, the fourth day, and the list goes on. A good compliment to this film is Gettysburg from History Channel Histories Special. Again, not everything can be covered.
I must support the comment about only so much could be fit into the movie. You're right in saying this aspect was over-looked...but others were as well. Twenty hours of film would still necessarily leave important parts out. The film did admirably tell the tale, in my opinion.
The key to the Union strenghth was fully in Bufords uniquely foresighted mind in seeing and choosing the high ground and his delaying action with outnumbered but we'll trained calvary.
Carl Wilson Good point, but there's many "keys" to this great battle on both sides! Indeed, having so many "keys" is likely the main reason of Gettysburg's never-ending fascination!
AS an Aussie civil war buff, I thought its almost the finest American movie I have ever seen, just about. very well acted, beautifully filmed, sad, poignant, courage, waste, showed war in all its horror, no glorification of war, very well made indeed.
Ellis Spear, at Gettysburg major of the 20th Maine, wrote memoirs from the diary he kept during the war. His work is a direct, concise, and humane treatment of events and people involved. He has a take on the "famous charge" that is different from Chamberlain's account and the movie. He was commanding on the left and did not hear an order to charge. He says it was a spontaneous movement of men downslope to protect their wounded fellows who had been unable to fall back with the rest.
Took a school group there last year. Plan to go back next year. Every American should go to this place! As a teacher, I cannot think of a more hallowed place in this great nation. Our students were able to see and stand where their ancestors from Georgia stood and fought. What a wonderful place. Great videos and channel
Thank you so much for putting up this video....I've seen the epic movie which (for and Englishman such as myself) in it's magnificence, conveyed the absolute passion and horror related to all sides of the Civil War. Your additional detailed information only compounds the thought of the incredible sacrifices made on all sides during the war...and to know the war lasted another 2 years following Gettysburg is very nearly impossible to believe.....such monumental losses.......until you study the First World War in Europe that is...where "Lions were led by Donkeys"
Sir if you come to America I would suggest you make the pilgrimage to Gettysburg. Sobering, somber, glorious, sad, and beautiful all at the same time. And in the end we will NEVER forget those that died for liberty, decency and freedom.
I must agree with R T/X...you have a valid point, but a battle of that scope needs a mini-series to cover such a piece of history...and I must say I love your work!
Yeah, agreed. That for sure, maybe a few other scenes in the peach orchard. Technically the second day of fighting in the peach orchard was the most viscous of the entire battle.
I’m an Australian and have watched this movie many times, it would appear that this battle, in what I believe to be the saddest war in history, was a much more close run thing than we see in the movie. Many thanks for the education.
@david edbrooke-coffin On the third day, while Pickett's Charge was taking place, Jeb Stuart attacked the Union Army from the rear. The attack was thrown off by Custer.
Really? In battles it's easy to say what might have happened. The cavalry 's attack didn't work. Are You are saying that the timing of their attack was off. Whose fault was that? Was it Lee' s? Was it Jeb's? How about the battle plan itself? After the the entire battle, Lee took responsibility for the loss at Gettysburg, and so he should have. 1. On the first day he saw the Union had the high ground. 2. Early chose not to remedy the problem by taking Little Round Top. Longstreet read the battlefield correctly, Lee should have redeployed.
@david edbrooke-coffin The same could be said about many of the battles fought in the south. When you fight on your own land the civilian population becomes a great source of intelligence and some of your troops can offer advice on terrain. Jeb Stuart was lost and didn't have any communications with Lee or more importantly Longstreet. It's called the fog of battle and there are a lot of would've/could've been moments. And if Sickles wasn't such a fool the 2 corps of the Union army wouldn't have been in the Peach Orchard and the Union position would have been almost impregnable. Longstreet who later was lambasted for the loss at Gettysburg, wanted to move around the Union army and not engage at Gettysburg, but Lee wouldn't listen.
@@saltinewarrior8192 Had Buford not set up the opening battle at Gettysburg more or less assuring the Union the high ground, Lee might have defeated the Union forces at Gettysburg.Buford was not given the accolades he deserved for his ability to read a battlefield and positioning Union troops to move to the best ground. Lee on the other hand took the position that re-deployment of his troops was not necessary. He was correct when he blamed himself for the loss of the battle.
@ The outcome of the war was never really in doubt. The North had the greatest Generals. It had Generals Materials, Numbers, Money, Technology and Public Support. Although the South had better public support. The North just bled them out, then attacked what little industry they had (Sherman's March). The South winning is a pipe dream. Even if Lee won Gettysburg, it was a long bloody way to Washington. The Union still had lots of reserves, and the Union troops could fight. You are right about Gallipoli mate, the Brits hung the Aussies out on the line to dry. Aussie's have always been as tough a troop as you ever want to fight.
There needs to be a pair of band of brothers type films/miniseries dedicated to the American and rebellion sides, showing the mental and physical struggles of both sides.
As good as the movie depiction was. I would like to see it remade and with today’s technical advantages, would be a lot better. It could be made in a series of sequels so it wouldn’t leave out important battles over that period of time. My biggest disappointment with the movie was the overall feel I got watching the battles felt more like groups of ceremonial re-enactors. It came off looking staged with some guys who never acted before, getting themselves in battle sequences to satisfy their own egos. This movie didn’t show the reality just how incredibly violent and bloody these battles were.
I just found your video and appreciate the content. I am from Delaware and my g-g-g-g-grandfather fought with Company C of the 2nd Delaware Regiment at Gettysburg. A portion of the battle which had always intrigued me, which heavily involved the Delaware volunteers was the fight for the Bliss farm. I have found limited, yet interesting, information on this critical portion of the battlefield that would play an important role to the fighting that took place on the south and center of the battlefield. I've been up to Gettysburg three times over the years and am always captivated by the history.
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I think the fight for Cups Hill and Cemetery Hill should have included as on the second day both came close to being taken by the Confederates under Ewell.
Ewell's conspicuous lack of initiative on the battle's first day was critical to the Federal's ability to hold Culps Hill and Cemetery Hill. As General Isaac Tremble said, "General Ewell, "Sir, give me one division and I will take that hill." And he said nothing at all, he stood there, he stared at me. I said, "General Ewell, give me one brigade, and I will take that hill." And General Ewell put his arms behind him and blinked. So I said, "General, give me one regiment, and I will take that hill!" And he said nothing! He just stood there! I threw down my sword in front of him! We could have done it, sir. A blind man should have seen it. And as Sandie Pendleton said that day, "Oh for the presence and inspiration of Old Jack."
Lee's Army was only in Gettysburg for shoes and were heading onto Harrisonburg PA where they thought the big decisive battle might take place. It was a meat grinder before and after Gettysburg. Only after the war could anyone know where the "high water mark" would take place.
@@ashleighelizabeth5916 you’re quoting from a novel that’s rather friendly to lost cause wishful thinking. The truth is that Ewell’s troops were exhausted and Cemetery Hill was a strong position. It’s highly probable that Ewell would have gotten creamed if he had attempted to take it.
I still say I wish the movie was never made. They tried, not to knock those who made it. My favorite book about Gettysburg was Killer Angels but when we read it we were advised to remember it was just a novel. A great starting point,but oh it misses soooo much.
The novel - and therefore the film - handles the cavalry aspect very poorly. If Stuart was authorised to go around the Union Army with his best 3 cavalry brigades, who in their right mind thinks that Lee was expecting couriers on Union Army movements directly from Stuart?! If Lee wants his right flank properly screened by cavalry, and we are to believe that there was otherwise nothing other than Longstreet's spy, Lee needed to order up some of Robertson's cavalry. Preferably the brigade of Grumble Jones. It's likely Stuart ordered this to happen, but Robertson did not bring his cavalry up quickly from the gaps. The Stuart raid, albeit not the undesirable delay, was part of the same tactic as keeping Lee's army widely dispersed for as long as possible and sending Early east to York and beyond? To bait the Union Army away from the Cumberland Valley, and Lee's line of retreat, and into a pitched battle somewhere east of the Cashtown gap. Where Lee can aggressively attack the advance elements of the Union Army before it all arrives. Unfortunately for Lee, Ewell does not seize the Cemetery Ridge and Culp's Hill on the evening of Day One, in the way Jackson undoubtedly would have done, and Gettysburg turns into a disaster for Lee. The cavalry battle on the 3rd day, after Stuart's exhausted brigades arrive, is omitted altogether. Much of the problem with Gettysburg is that the Confederate commanders, and especially Lee, have to be cagey, before the battle and especially after the disastrous battle, because what Lee intended and actually happened were arguably in breach of what Davis authorised him to do. There were only very limited circumstances under which Lee wanted a defensive battle in Pennsylvania, and which would have allowed the much bigger Union Army to mass and attack.
I want to thank you for this excellent analysis. I have never found a map showing the order of battle around the Peach Orchard the 2nd day. Yours was great! Along with your narritive it let me get a much better feel for what my ancestor's outfit went through that 2nd day. My G-G-grandfather served with his two brothers in the Florida 8th. I knew he was around the Peach Orchard on the 2nd day. He and his surviving brother were captured on the 3rd day after Pickett's men failed and fell back, leaving the 8th exposed on the right. Their other brother had recently been killed in battle at Chancellorsville. The Vermont boys who had been pushed out the day before got their revenge when they then counterattacked, overrunning the 8th, taking the Regimental Color and capturing my ancestor and his brothers. My G-G-grandfather was the only one of the three boys to make it back home to Florida as his last brother died from the horrible conditions and poor diet southern POWs received at Fort Delaware, PA. Of course all you ever hear about is Andersonville, but it was no picnic in northern POW camps either.
It doesn’t take too much digging to learn about other Confederate and Union prisons. ( Grew up near and learned about Elmira NY) Neither side was prepared for large numbers of POWs. Both anticipated exchanges. My GGGF was captured at Antietam but exchanged in time to hold the angle with the PA 69th, company E. And we all know why the exchanges ended, same as the cause beli. Slavery.
Huh, I did not know that, thank you. One story I would love to see told, a unit from New England (not sure which state), of green troops stationed just south of the crops of trees. During Pickets charge, they were ordered "into" the field single file, did a right face and fired on the right flank of the Confederates. While doing this, Confederate soldiers came up on their rear. Order was given for every other man to about face and continue firing. *None* of these brave men retreated. I read this story a couple of years back and on one of my trips to Gettysburg, I went to this location. There, just a bit in front of the Union line is a small stone, about 1 foot out of the ground, denoting their location. It doesn't do justice to their bravery.
lendir1 I know that the Irish Brigade had some skirmisher battalions sent out to fire into the right flank of Kemper’s line, (I was reading about the use of Enfield rifles and these skirmisher used them due to their better accuracy and to make up fo the fact that most of the Irish Brigade used smoothbore weapons with buck and ball). But on that flank during Pickett’s charge there were many New England regiments providing enfilade fire, so I’m not sure which it would be. Gettysburg is such unique battlefield because so many men stepped up to the plate when it really mattered, and it really made a difference in the outcome
The movie Gettysburg glazed over the real saviors of the North, the Iron Brigade which was decimated holding off Confederates so the rest of the Army of the Potomac could come up to engage. Without the First of the First of I Corps, and their actions by Whilloughby Run and the Railroad Cut, Lee gets Cemetery Ridge and gets the piecemeal battle he wanted by Harrisburg. Instead, they hung on for five hours until the Union lines collapsed from the Barlow's Knoll Salient northwest of town counterclockwise and then withdrew in a manner now called "leapfrogging" as they departed. The "Men of Iron" should have been more prominently portrayed in both book and movie.
Yes, General Reynolds was killed immediately to the rear of the 2nd Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, the most experienced regiment in the Iron Brigade. Most likely from a soldier of either the 7th or 14th Tennessee shooting "over" the slightly uphill 2nd WVI. Having walked the site, unless they did serious land moving since the battle, it's easy to see how he was struck by a bullet that missed the 2nd WVI, it wouldn't have had to been a Marksman, Bubba J, Jeff Dunham's Dummy could have hit Reynolds from the distances the area allows and Reynolds would have been in line with the upper bodies/heads of the soldiers of the 2nd WVI.
I also have to point out that of the 1,883 strong Iron Brigade who marched into Gettysburg on July 1, 1,153 were casualties because after the first day they were sent to the left, lower flank of Culp's Hill... Not that they had much to fight with. IIRC, Co. B, 2nd Wisconsin had 6 soldiers and an officer for roll call the evening of the 1st.
I was 8 when this movie came out. My dad let me watch it with him. The music in the film grabbed me and still hasn't let go and with that was the start of my obsession at a young age with the Civil War. I would give anything to be able to go back in time and witness those times.
Great Presentation. I have done a lot of research on my Grandmothers Grandfather whose 15th Alabama under William Oats charged UP Little Round Top into the line of Joshua Chamberlin’s 20th Maine. I personally feel like to little credit is given to the Alabama’s courageous attempts with depleted resources and a bit too much deification of Chamberlain in this encounter. Oat’s troops had already trekked up and down a Big around Top under constant fire from the Division of US Sharpshooters, also under credited I think, and attacked uphill against fortified forces I believe of greater number. I feel fortunate enough to have the direct connection of my grandmother telling me the stories of how the family had to use lineament rubs on her grandfathers legs in his old age from wounds he received by a Yankee shotgun. Also, I have the service validation letter written by William Oats, who like Joshua Chamberlain later becoming Governor of Maine, become Governor of Alabama, for my grandmothers grandfather to receive a Veterans pension from the state of Texas. When I first read this letter, handwritten by Oats as he is said to have done for hundreds of his men, I thought, what terrible penmanship, until I got to the part when Oats lost his writing arm in a later battle. I have since collected several books on Oats including his autobiography, and I am amazed at the detail he provides of the action and character of hundreds of his individual soldiers including my grandmothers grandfather and his brother. I wish that Oats and the 15th Alabama were portrayed less of an overwhelming force that got their butts kicked by a greater gallantry and more of the honor portrayed on the 20th Maine. Thanks for letting me post my thoughts.
In 1942 the German 6th Army captured nearly 97% of Stalingrad, all but a small area next to the Volga River. Seems the losers don't get nearly as much credit in these cases as the winners do. Agree with you about the near deification of Chamberlain. According to some of the GNPS videos, prior to the release of "Gettysburg" no one gave a fuck about Chamberlain- there wasn't even a path to the 20th ME monument- but since Burns and Maxwell he's not just the man whose brigade helped hold LRT, he's the man who saved the left flank, the Union army and by proxy the entire United States of America. (Yet it's Warren, Vincent and O'Rourke with the statues.)
@@indy_go_blue6048 For what it's worth, in 1986 while stationed at an I&I in Wyoming PA, I along with some fellow Marines went on a Gettysburg tour. We had an official tour guide and Chamberlain "was" a big deal. We went to LRT and the guide spoke at length about the importance of that part of the battle. I remember it very well because of the terrain, it gives you a real perspective when you stand there. I agree with your comments about winners writing the history though. That's the way it goes.
I have been to Gettysburg. So much tragedy & so many what ifs. It made my heart ache. I love this video. I only wish they were longer. As a history nerd & lover i could listen to you for hours.
Thank you for posting this video, I can understand now what motivated General Lee to attempt to replicate what the Georgia elements accomplished on the previous day.
This is great. It was new to me, and I think it adds a great deal of insight as to why Lee thought Pickett's charge might work. Wright's attack might have been more significant if Posey had gone with him. I'm from Minnesota, and the First Minnesota also attacked to hold the line with 50% casualties. That seemed to me the marker of bravery, beyond the last full measure. Thank you for your excellent and generous scholarship, sir.
Thank you so much for the kind words. I have a sequel to this video that details a personal account of a union soldier during Pickett's charge. ua-cam.com/video/tYxi2twXXjA/v-deo.html
Posey got held up but his right flank moved with Wright's Brigade the 48th Georgia to be exact. The one who should have been court Marshalled was General Mahone he never moved his Brigade forward. After many request from Wright to Anderson. My 2 cents
The movie Gettysburg was amazing in it's accuracy and clarity but inevitably, important events had to be left out. Another important occurrence was the charge of the 1st Minnesota which was in effect a suicide charge to buy a few minutes for Union reinforcements to arrive to prevent a confederate breakthrough which would have rolled up the Union line.
The Charge of the 1st Minnesota was the very event I thought of when I saw the title of this video. Perhaps the most compelling of the many “in the nick of time” moments that permitted the Union forces to prevail in this battle. That said, a movie can only show so much, and “Gettysburg” did a great job of capturing the essence of the battle from several points of view.
The film wasn't really about the battle it was based on "The Killer Angels." It was not a documentary. Hence no Culp's Hill, cavalry battle on the third day. etc. Still it was amazing that the film was made.
Ron Dion .well said! You have ended this debate. By the way, my 13 year old daughter wanted to see this movie. I took her to see it she was riveted to all 4 hrs of it. I was so proud of her☺️
David Corbett This is the key point that far too many here are overlooking. The movie was based those parts of the battle described in the book, not on the total battle itself.
I've always wondered how much of a role Wright's succes on Day 2 played in calling Meade's attention to the weakness of his center. There is no doubt that he reinforced that center in anticipation of the assault on that very point on Day 3.
Excellent video and commentary. Gettysburg is by far one of my favorite military movies I ever seen. I agree 100% that the movie was missing key parts of the battle in the movie but again it is difficult to have everything squeezed into a 3-4 hour movie. Killer Angels was also one of my favorite books that this movie was based on.
Thank you for posting this video. My gggrandfather, Robert Bird Thompson, was a member of the 48th Ga under Wright. His brother, Asa, was mortally wounded and died a couple weeks later in a union hospital. Their brother in law was killed near the codori farm
...and this is why it is important to memorialize ALL the troops who participated in the battles. Because ALL were Americans. The dumb lefties who want to take down statues or commemoratives just don't get it: This is history, and the forefathers of living Americans were killed on both sides. The American Civil War has its own dynamic and its own special meaning to our history. It is unlike any conflict ever in the world.
@@sportsmediaamerica those statues you so love weren't put up for history. They were BUILT during jim crow era and during the civil rights movement. Are you aware of Lee's 5 year ownership of several hundred slaves ? The will left by his father in law said they were to be set free. He had them whipped when they asked for their legal freedom. Not to mention the youth at his college formed a chapter of the kkk with his consent. So yea fuck lee for causing the deaths of hundreds of thousands. Even James Longstreet and Nathan Forest changed for the better after the war. Lee didn't. Hood expressed his hatred of blacks frequently. He eventually killed his wife, daughter and himself. Yes let's honor men like him.
I understand the reasoning that the described events should have been included in the movie. If Wright's penetration and advance to the summit of the ridge had been supported by additional units the CSA forces might have been able to roll up the Union line and possibly won the battle right there. In the event Wright had to fall back due to losses and lack of support, thus only gaining a temporary triumph. I wonder if Lee, seeing how Wright succeeded the day before and how spirited his troops were in pressing the attack, ordered Longstreet to attack the center with a greater force with hopes of repeating that success. Of course, the situation was different in that Wright advanced through Union forces that did not hold the high ground.
The same scenario would be played out, only in reverse, in 1864 at Spotsylvania when Grant saw the success of one brigade's vigorous attack. The next day he attacked in a similar fashion with several brigades hoping to break Lee at the Bloody Angle.
The key to the second day I believe has been discovered by one of the Park Rangers at Gettysburg, his name is Trey Harman and he wrote a book titled Lee’s Real Plan at Gettysburg, something Sharra, who wrote Killer Angles didn’t know. I have studied the battle for many years, been to Gettysburg many times, every year in fact for over 20 years. I own land on Marsh Creek Road which is south of Round Top and off the Emmittsburg Road. Harman tells that Lee actually wanted Longstreet to move along the Emmittsburg Road and strike Cemetery Hill from the south while Hills Corp struck from the west. Lee did not know that the Union had occupied Cemetery Ridge or Little Round Top. His engineer who had reconnoitered that morning did not see any Union troops in those positions. Of course that brings up the whole problem about Longstreet taking all morning and into the afternoon to get into position. What I have seen is a little known monument on the far right of where the Confederates attack begins, what is now Confederate Avenue south of the Emmittsburg Road. The monument is to several companies of Vermont sharpshooters who were being used as reconnaissance by Meade. They occupied the far left of the Union position saw the Confederates moving towards Round top and took up a position just in front of a farmhouse , that is where the monument stands. I am guessing that Oates Regiment was the far right of the attack, he saw the sharpshooters and knew he couldn’t allow them to get behind the moving formation so he went after them. The sharpshooters were a small unit , not even regimental size and so withdrew as Oates men came at them. They first withdrew up Big Round Top, Oates followed, they went down the side of the hill just to the south of Little Round Top where they met up with the company that Chamberlain had posted on the far left of his line along a trail that if followed through the woods takes you to Taneytown Road, where all of the reserve artillery was that day. Oates following the retreating sharpshooters runs into Chamberlain and the 16th Maine and that’s where Sharra’s story starts.
Lee’s engineer probably wasn’t anywhere near the Round Tops or Cemetery Ridge, so Lee’s whole plan was flawed from the beginning. The fact that Longstreet came as close as he did to breaking the Union line is a testament to his leadership and to the utter incompetence of Daniel Sickles.
@@mjfleming319 right, supposedly there were troops on Little Round Top that morning so it appears the engineer was mistaken but it’s hard to see how he could be since there are no other hills around as high as Round Top.
@@matthewmiller9526 If I recall the information correctly, it was very early morning, there was heavy fog, and the engineer was an inexperienced and low-level major. He likely didn’t know what hill he was on and took a wild guess. I believe I read about this in Allen Guelzo’s book The Last Invasion.
Totally fascinated with Gettysburg I've no idea why as I'm a Scots man & we've had our share of Civil & National wars inside not only Scotland but through into England as well. I've watched various movies & short stories about it & enjoy (not really the word) the Gettysburg movie. Glad you have pointed out the missing pieces
Possibly the most amazing oversight of all was the case of Brev Lt. Col. Alonzo Cushing, the 22-year-old commander of Battery A, 4th U.S. Artillery, stationed on Cemetary Ridge during Pickett's Charge. During the assault, one shell fragment went through his shoulder, and a second disemboweled him. Yet despite being ordered to the rear, he stood his ground and held his intestines in with his good arm while continuing to command the battery until he was killed by a bullet through his mouth. He's buried next to Gen. Buford at the cemetery at West Point. Incredibly, he wasn't awarded the Medal of Honor until 2013!
Lee lost the battle on the first day when the confederates failed to occupy Culp's Hill and their not being able to take the hill the next day. Not to take away the heroic defense of Little Round Top but Culp's Hill was far more important. It was mentioned but not by name.
Robert E. Waters on UA-cam, some one has recorded a clip of a park ranger describing the moving story of the 22 year old Cushing, an extreme patriot and brave man. What a tragic waste of life and resources, the Civil War. Can it happen again in America? We are becoming more polarized. People on both sides have very strong feelings.
Excellent job. I appreciate your work. I've subscribed. It seems the Gettysburg movie was more of a story-line than a documentary, so therefore, so much was left out. I did appreciate seeing how Longstreet disagreed with Lee all 3 days, especially Pickets Charge. I admired how the actors portrayed the subtilties and etiquette between the two generals.
The movie "Gettysburg" really needed to be a mini series to cover all that went on. George A. Custer (of Little Big Horn fame) played an important part also for saving the battle for the union.
Fun fact: Gettysburg was originally filmed to be a tv mini series, but the studio liked what they saw so much that they demanded it be edited into 3 hours for theatrical release.
You can't really understand the "uphill battle" the Confederates almost pulled off in Gettysburg until you stand on the real Culp's hill and Little Round Top and see how impossible crossing or climbing both those fields of battle would of been.
Well done! I certainly didn't expect it to be in the movie but I wish more people realized the importance of the actions taken by the 1st MN on the second day. My feeling is that it is simply over shadowed by the larger battles that day, however, if the AL regiments broke through it could've been a disastrous day for the union. I suppose during filming some actions from the battle were not filmed because of time constraints. Again, very good video.
Irony: The name of that Confederate division commander was Richard Anderson. In the movie, the role of Union General George Meade is played by an actor named "Richard Anderson".
I live in the area where the 3rd Georgia infantry was organized. After reading their history during the war it reads like a journal of General Lee. They organized in the spring of 1861 and surrendered at Appamattox. They fought in or were at the scene of nearly every major battle of the east, including Antietam (Sharpsburg), Gettysburg, and Petersburg among them. They were IN the sunken road at Antietam, they broke thru and had to pull back from the crest of Cemetery Ridge at Gettysburg, and were in the middle of the Crater fiasco at Petersburg. I think I remember reading that they acted as a part of the rear guard at Appamattox. My mother's great grandfather was in the 3rd and wounded at Petersburg. There are 2 young men who both were early enlistees of the 3rd, buried in our local municipal cemetery less than a mile from where I'm sitting right now. I can't support slavery, but I honor these men who fought for their beliefs. It just makes me proud to be a Georgian.
My great great great grandfather served 3 years in the 22nd Georgian Infantry. If you want to know what it was like, a man named Judkins kept a diary of a year of their travails that is available on line. Daniel Lafayette Beaty was drafted toward the end of the first year. First draft ever I am told, in USA. Census shows he owned a 500 acre farm in Alpharetta, GA. No slaves. His father, Moses Beaty was next door with 300 acres. No slaves. Alpharetta was a Methodist community, hence no slaves. After the war they had nothing. But am getting ahead of myself. Research the history of the 22nd Georgian Infantry. They were in almost every major battle in the eastern area. Pvt. Daniel L. Beaty was in a hospital several times with dysentery, but always out during battles and marching campaigns, I cross checked. I have a photo somewhere of a small monument to Wright's Brigade supposedly the highest up the hill at Gettysburg, I have never been there. RH Anderson was commander. AP Hill was famous for more than his jacket. 22nd Georgian was also the unit that did the shooting at The Crater. Under different commanders. I think my great grand daddy had enough after that. Records show he collected his last pay on retreat toward Appomattox, then went AWOL! 33 years old when drafted, he is now 36. 7 kids and a wife, Margaret. No farm. Burnt out. Same for Moses and Cassandra Beaty, his father and mother. Moses dies a few years later, and Margaret years later in a old folks home, alone, for her family was in Benton, Arkansas. I have the deed to 3 acres he bought not far from here in 1870. Several years later he owned the whole section south down to Hiway 67. The north end of Beggs Rd was his, the top of the highest hill around here. He must have been one tough son of a gun. He is buried at the top of the hill at Graham Cemetary, his grave marked as a veteran of the 22nd Georgian. Thank you the Daughters of the Confederacy! That was my starting point. Growing up I never knew it was there, my branch of the family had lost its history, and it is only a tenth of a mile from where I sit now. We drove past his grave hundreds of times never knowing it was there, and many other old Beaty graves. His headstone says he died in 1880, but it is wrong. He was a Justice of the Peace and married many couples around here that have descendents here as well up until 1892. He had very fine handwriting, and made his own little notary public seals hand drawn on deeds, and marriage documents. But still was only a simple dirt farmer. Many of the old Beaty graves have only shards of rock as headstones. They never escaped the poverty caused by the Civil War. The Beatys are originally from southern Scotland, and were Border Reivers, who ran with the Armstrongs and Elliots, famous names nowadays.They were called Beattisons, back then. My first American ancestor John Beaty arrived in SC in 1750. Beatys fought in all wars since then of USA. Even the obscure ones. Some of my line were amoung the first into Kentucky. I went to Centre College in Danville Ky , the oldest four year school west of the mountains, and there was a Beaty street close by, and a Beaty was a founder of the school. One of Daniel L. Beaty's brothers died in the Civil War, but I forget his name at the moment. When I see the movie Cold Mountain, I think of my great grand pa trekking back home over the mountains to Alpharetta and his family, exactly the same way, and hopefully with similar adventures! And he and my family's pilgrimage from Georgia to central Arkansas five years later. Leaving his father and mother, Moses and Cassandra behind. Did they walk with wagons, mules, oxen, etc.??? We have no record. Part of the family ended up with most of his land here after one brother murdered another, and moved back to Atlanta, went to med school and law school. My branch remained dirt farmers. I think the ones that moved back to Atlanta area have the family Bible. I know it must exist, but no one here has it, but there are tales of its size and age. Must be some records there I will never recover. I went and visited Alpharetta several years back. I found the old Beaty farm sites. Still undeveloped 20 years ago, but subdivisions were close by, and a golf course. Next time I will try to find some Beatys, and see if they have the Bible. Over and out.
A great film about the one of the major battles of the Civil War. You're right in pointing out that there are aspects of the battle that the film missed, but I don't think any one film could fully capture the tragic nature or the catastrophic death toll at the battle of Gettysburg. I also admire your video because it focuses on the facts on the war, and does not try to villify or villanize either side. As Americans, we need to continue to objectively study this war.
What I find peculiar is no mention of the cavalry battles on the third day, one of which included Custer. I know, I know, length of the movie, things had to be cut. No one understands this better than I, worked as a manager in the projection booth when this movie was released. It took up two platters for the film instead of one, requiring an intermission to re-thread the projector.
How fascinating! I have been looking for detailed information about General Wrights action for some time. I did not realize he made it so far. Only if he had the support required to hold it. Wonderful presentation with the animated maps it sure does give a better understanding of a particular battle action. Sad thing, Meade now knew to re-enforce it. Lee underestimating Meades's efforts to do so.
I really wanted to see the unions battle retreat through the city. What an epic cinematic scene that could have been. I suppose it could have also built more of a back and forth picture of those 3days. What I'm trying to say is, from what I remember about the movie (from what I recall), the script time line sort of went like this: first contact, jump right to the fish hook, defend the bottom flank, third day assault. In conclusion, knowing 2 of my ancestors fought in the "missing" cinematic parts and forgetting my bias, I wanted to see that retreat through town in which the fish hook was formed.
Not really suitable from dramatic standpoint. Lots of confusion, traffic jams, and individual acts of heroism and cowardice, but no structure. Further, the costs of taking even one street of Gettysburg out of business for a couple of weeks would have been prohibitive -- take down liight poles, power lines, possibly parking meters, covering the streets with dirt, removing house numbers and business signs, rerouting traffic, all at the height of the tourist season.
1st Minnesota buying time with 80% casualties should not have been left out. Also, showing the Confederates nearly taking Cemetery Ridge on day 2 would have been a great narrative tool for setting up why Lee thought Pickett's Charge would work.
it's simple really!make a movie worthy of the conflict no matter how many hours that it needs to be to have it protrayed correctly and fully!that damned andy warholl made the "frankenstein" movie 48 hours long!surely this much heralded american epic battle deserves at the very least equal temporal advantage to the subject matter!the deleted scene with the mayor of gettysburg with the excellent actor sam elliot did however seem a little trite and uncharacteristically pedestrian!if there is more footage from the cutting room floors by all means re-edit the whole! Custer's dismounted skirmish fight behind meade's lines in particular would be quite stirring in turning away mounted COURAGEOUS CONFEDERATE cavalry and cannon from deploying
Yes, the movie led to me reading probably upwards of thirty books on the battle, and visiting the sight three times, and many other sights. I’ve forgotten much of it by now, but is what you described the nighttime battle on cemetery ridge? I seem to remember a battle that took place at night that was critical, and there was nothing on Culps hill, wasn’t the day 2 battle important? The movie was excellent, but instead of gods and generals, they should have divided gettysburg into 2 movies. I personally thought there was too much chamberlain in the movie, but I could be wrong.
Sadly many great Americans on both sides gave their all and fell during this conflict. And even if one survived such an engagement a part of one's self is left behind with the fallen. It is right to remember what they did and what they sacrificed.
@@ohioexpax1592 100% People wonder why there is so much hatred still in the US, when we refuse to teach that the South were the bad guys. They were the bad guys. Until the people of the South can stop their denial and revisionism, there will always be a divide. You CANNOT fly the confederate flag next to the US flag. Just like you cannot fly the Japanese Empire flag, or the Nazi flag. We wiped out what the Confederate stood for. Please stop trying to keep the war alive, and accept that the Confederate South is no more, that that is GOOD.
This happened a lot during the civil war. There are many stories of actions by battalions or divisions that were brave or extraordinary, that could have, but eventually did not effect the battles outcome. If there was a particular tactic, or metric that could be used in further battles it would be more significant than a lone brigade's valor, simply because. 1. it could not be repeated on a large scale, and 2. it is not something you can train regular troops to do and may in fact be situational. While the bravery of men doing this kind of thing (like Custer in the peach orchard) were significant to the situation. The overall battle was still defined by a few struggles outside these acts.
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I spent 9 days as a “background artist “ (extra) for this movie, they used reenactors . We camped on site and they fed us like hogs. Turner and “her” were there on our last day of filming, of course all the veterans ignored “her”.
Lang fell back because his left was exposed by the Georgians falling back. It is noted in his report that Wright was some 100 or 150 yards to his rear. Lang asked for reinforcements from Anderson after capturing a NY battery and Anderson never responded to Lang's request. Unsupported, with no reinforcements coming, and in danger of being cut off the small Florida Brigade had no choice but to fallback. Anderson should of been brought up on charges for not supporting both Wright and Lang on what would of been a major breakthrough.
I do not think this video is very accurate. Levy, I think you are right about the Georgians though. All other accounts I have read was the Florida Brigade under Lang advanced the farthest of any other Confederate unit. From what I gather was if the Floridians had advanced another 200 to 300 meters they would of captured the entire union headquarters.
I have visited the battlefield many many times. Every time I go, I learn something new. And every time I find myself tearing up thinking of the sacrifice and the heroic deeds done there. If you have never been there, I urge you to go.
Very nice commentary! Id watch any and all that pertains to this subject matter. Thumbs Up from North Carolina!!! They should've included many more important moments from that great clash!. I would've enjoyed seeing more of a Confederate veiwpoint from the 1st days fighting, i.e. 26th NC's assault across the run. Great work!
I mean at 4.4 hours long ( the extended edition) there wasn't much else they could fit into an actual movie to be released in theatres. But If we're going with a mini series. Culps hill on the second day was a HUGE thing to put in. The back and forth on that side of the battlefield was as important as the Defense of Little round top. The Movement of Sickles out to the wheatfield and Peach Orchard and the delay that it actually caused as longstreets columns had to re deploy because they were sighted. Warren getting to the top of little round top and the immediate decision that he made to call for help. Strong Vincent intercepting Warrens runner and taking it upon himself to deploy the MI, NY and ME. Regiments to the hill not knowing he was literally minutes away from the confederates overwhelming Sykes and Sickles and charging the hill. The other bayonet charges by one of the NY regiments to counter a probable confederate breakthrough at the base of little round top to the right of the 20th maine. The Lost company of the 20th Maine. A HUGE part of Chamberlains battle tactics during the fight was him thinking he'd lost all of Company B and how they rejoined into the fight as the Bayonet charge occured. I could go on with this list for a long time. There were tons of great stories that were written that day. Acts of Heroism that got left out of the movie.
Too right, there just isn't enough time in a movie to explore all the stories of Gettysburg. I've read entire books about the battle that didn't cover all of the facets of the battle. Suffice it to say whoever tries to tell the story of this battle always has to pick and choose what part of the story to tell. The movie Gettysburg did it better than most...
Fantastic depiction of a battle that was staggering in its historical depiction ,the only other film i think is on a par with Gettysburg is Waterloo starring Rod Steiger as Napoleon Bonaparte and Christopher Plummer as the Duke of Wellington
They made some awful gaffs with uniforms and equipment. For instance, the soldiers had white enameled drinking cups. In 1815??? Tin, yes. Pewter was too expensive. The story line was accurate though and both Rod Steiger and Plumber really looked like the original characters.
I LOVED that movie.... Finally found it on UA-cam about a month ago to watch it again. However, the narrator said that despite being based on a novel, "Gettysburg" is historically accurate. You have to hand it to the Shaaras. Their books are better than reading "history" and they are probably more "accurate" than any "text" you can find when it comes to American military history.
I concur with what you are saying. I felt part 2 of the movie spent to much time building a lengthy sideline history of interpersonal relationships though certainly important that could have been used to give more battle facts. Still a great movie that I have watched many times.
The movie Gettysburg is amazing. Unfortunately, even with a runtime of 4 hours and 14 minutes, there are several key events that it fails to cover. It is still a remarkably detailed and historically accurate film.
First I am very happy to run across this discussion and humbled because I had read and studied the Civil War since I was 10, 54 years ago. The level of knowledge here is intimidating but I have a couple thoughts. Most wars are based on some derivation of financial gain or loss; in short, money. The North was industrialized and produced higher value products for trading w other markets; more money. The South was an agrarian economy with good products but their financial success depended upon inexpensive production of their goods; lower value and less money. They needed some form of very cheap labor because their products were labor intensive. The North had begun mechanization, producing a higher value product w less reliance on "free" labor. Second, a lesson from WWII is that the nation that can produce the greatest quantity of materials wins. The South did not have a manufacturing base to continue producing the materials for war. Somewhere I read or saw a documentary that said later in the war the South had only 1 factory producing cannon; that can't sustain or fulfill the need. That also coincides w why the blockade was so lethal to Lee and Davis. The South relied on buying munitions because they couldn't produce enough themselves. I suggest the North would have eventually won because it could product more implements of war. There is also a discussion around the military technology in use; rifled muskets versus smooth bore early on, repeating rifles for the cavalry (prominent at Gettysburg), Colt pistols and not LeMatte, etc, etc. If I may, I'd like to diverge from the what may have, what did, what could have and look at what was. This war of civil strife killed more American soldiers than any prior or since. We fought ourselves and it was devastating to all involved. The bravery, sacrifice, heroics and loss to both sides was both inspiring and terrifying. I am a Boston boy but I am furious at what is being done to deface the Southern memorials to their soldiers, their great leaders and the places of sacrifice. We shouldn't glorify this war but it must be remembered, the dead honored and the places preserved; lest we forget and somehow do it again. We are a Union today because of that war and stronger as a people. I'm tired of the political correctness. Robert E Lee's and all the other statues are not about slavery, they are about recognition of a great man, the men who put their beliefs and protection of their homeland into practice. Honor deeds, sacrifice and remember all the dead that gave so freely of their blood; don't defame them. I've sat at Gettysburg 4 times and it is a place and has a feeling that I've experienced nowhere else. I've stood at the stone wall up the hill in Fredericksburg where no Union soldier reached despite wave after wave fighting uphill against entrenched troops and commanded by an idiot that wasn't even in the fray. The silence in these places is deafening despite being in city or surrounded by tour buses or deluges of mother nature. Thanks for listening to the rants of an old man; I am still confounded by the shear bravery and loss of all involved in the face of those weapons, tactics and frequently inadequate officers. May God Bless them all and the United States.
Mark Stevens Sir, you do me honor w your comment. I love this country and believe all the members of our military; fallen, retired and serving, deserve far better then they've gotten. I always thank any service man i see, it should be required of everyone. Again, just the ramblings of an old man. Thank you
Those monuments you think so highly of are of traitors who murdered American (US) soldiers; however, they were not put up to honor those people specifically. They were set up to help spur and support the reintroduction of near slavery and the destruction of any rights for black people in the South. No one has said to take the Confederacy out of museums or other places where those items can be seen in context, only where they were set up to dominate the public spaces and show that the whites have power of life and death over their black subjects. Those monuments were set up to the tune of the mass murders of blacks throughout the South and those murders are what they represent. They should be torn down NOW.
That's the Great thing about this country; everyone is entitled to their opinion. What we need to do is respect all of them; whether we think the same or not.
I've thought about this a great deal as I was somewhat taken aback by your response. I ask if you've seen the movie/stage play 1776? There is a heated discussion w one of the Southern delegates about slavery and the Northern delegates immediately took the high ground, holy'er than thou; right up to the point that the oratory of "Slaves to Molasses to Rum". That Southern delegate could not agree but he put the new nation ahead of his feelings; he left the Continental Congress and took up arms as a common soldier against the British. The North was no less guilty for having let this happen; they profited from it. Our hated mother country abolished slavery long before America. The North profited handsomely by ignoring the "evil it helped foster". Your attitude perpetuates the division of thought in this country; live and let live, heal those hurt, reach out to understand your fellow man and don't be an ass that you're right and they're wrong. As for terrorists; September 11, 2001 my office was on the 25th floor of World Trade 1. December 7th, 1941 when a surprise attack killed over 3000 Americans. Those were terrorists; the South was fighting to preserve it's livelihood, it's financial relevance in the world marketplace. Yes, slavery was wrong, terrible, cruel,.....now go tell that to every civilization since man stood upright and while you're at it please take your message to those country's, organizations, terrorists and drug cartels that do it right now. You sound like a northern, white, privileged man that voted for Hillary or Bernie, would give everything to the "poor" illegal immigrants and have no grasp on reality. Now, I will apologize for that statement but I am sick and tired of taking care of everybody else when we have veterans, homeless, low income folks struggling to survive day to day and American children that don't have enough to eat.
Reading Gettysburgs Peach Orchard by Hessler and Isenberg. Great analysis of that fateful second day of battle at Gettysburg. General Sickles pushing his Corps forward of Meades main line may have been a blessing in disguise and may have saved the union's left flank. The ferocity of the fighting in and around the peach orchard was some of the worst during the Civil War.
What Sickles did was not a “blessing in disguise”, it was a terrible blunder that almost cost the Union the battle. His line was far too thin and his left, which could have been firmly anchored on Little Round Top, was instead left up in the air. Besides being spread too thin, his line was too far forward to be efficiently reinforced, leading to gaps opening up as described in the video. Warren, Hancock, and other officers scrambled for hours to plug the awful gaps, and the ferocious fighting of units like the 1st Minnesota saved the day.
Could you do a video on the 3rd Arkansas infantry? They were assigned to the Texas Brigade. A relative is wondering about company H (the orphan company). John Allen Wilkerson is the relatives name we are searching for. They fought at Gettysburg with Hood and also at 7 pines etc. I left a Transcribed copy of his written letter telling his experiences during the battle at Devils Den at the Gettysburg information center for their collection. Thank You so very much for this video.
@@royfairchild6895 Lee never intended for the attack to move forward under the conditions it did. Had he realized the lack of results from the preparatory artillery bombardment and Longstreet's abdication of tactical command of the troops engaged he likely would have called it off. Lee expected Longstreet to exert some manner of control over the attacking force which he manifestly refused to do. He even went so far as to try to place responsibility for the movement forward on E Porter Alexander. The Federal army would never have left the Army of North Va. alone as it disengaged and moved towards Washington. Lee would have found himself pinned between the fortifications of Washington and the Army of the Potomac without the supplies he needed to wage a battle or a siege.
Wonderful video! This is another heroic story that would have enhanced Gettysburg. I also wish they could have devoted some time to the charge of the 1st Minnesota, and the cavalry battle on day 3.
Pickett's charge involved 15,000 confederate troops counting reserves on the flanks. Pickett's charge directly involved 12,000 troops who made the assault, not the 10,000 as the moderator claims. Half of the 12,000 became casualties. A "casualty" means killed, wounded, captured, missing. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain's 20th Maine was not really close to the charge on the 3rd day. This is pure fiction. However, Chamberlain went on from Gettysburg to equally heroic deeds until the end of the war. He finished the war as a Major General and was hand picked by Grant to receive the Confederate surrender at Appomattox. And he did that with typical class, having the Union troops come to attention and salute the Confederates as they marched by. This single act of Chamberlain's is said to have started the healing of the torn nation. Confederate General John Gordon, many times wounded, returned the salute on horseback. armyhistory.org/honor-answering-honor-bloody-chamberlain-and-the-surrender-at-appomattox/
My ancestor, SA Corker led the 3rd Ga in this charge. He was captured. I wrote a book about his letters. Above the High Water Mark. After capture from prison he wrote the following letter. Johnson’s Island Prisoner Port near Saundusky City Ohio August 2nd, 1863 My Dear Wife, I wrote you a note from Fort Delaware, but as the postage was not paid, I fear you did not get it, and I have suffered much because, powerless to relieve your anxiety, I know your distress of mind must have been great. I know not what news may have reached you in regard to me, if I was taken prisoner in advance of the time, and even my own men do not know whether I was killed, wounded or a prisoner. God in his Mercy, & wisdom carried me safely thro that terrible battle (Gettysburg), and I am still spared to you, my dear son, and aged mother. Bad Gen’lship lost us the day. My dear wife, apprise my dear mother of my safety as quick as you get this and Kiss my noble boy. Tell him I will bring him a nice Pr. shoes when I am exchanged if allowed. Don’t allow his hair to be cut until I come home & begin to learn him his letters. You will be allowed (I hope) to send me a letter through the lines saying that you are well etc. Mr Nott - Walter’s brother- upon my apprising him of my situation, has kindly furnished me $50, which has afforded me comfortable under clothing, etc. & I am now as comfortable as my unpleasant position will allow of. The Post here is as well arranged as it can be. Plenty of good water from the lake. I have me a good wash pan, towel, soap, & use them freely. A nice under change; & ½ doz. good socks is the life of me. J. Anthony Lane from Wilkes, Jud Heargroves, Henry Attaway, and McCathran are prisoners with me. Love to all. Your devoted husband. Fes
My Ancestors fought in the Co H 48th Georgia Lt. Dennis L Durden my 4th Great Uncle and Private Elisha Coleman my 3rd Great Grandfather. I have Carswell ancestors in the 3rd Ga. My 2nd Great Grandfather Sgt Charles Monroe Modesett of Wofford's Brigade captured the Flag of the 11th US Regular Infantry at the Peach Orchard on the 2nd day. Good bless their Souls.
The movie left out the calvary engagement east of the town of Gettysburg. George Custer make a name for himself that day as his unit repulsed Confederate calvary several times.
That's easily the most dispensable part of the battle, as the results there had little to no effect on the rest of the field. It's unlikely that Stuart had enough men or firepower to seriously disrupt the Army of the Potomac from that vantage point even had he been able to get the jump on the Federal cavalry that day. Custer might have turned a few heads but for all that little was accomplished by either cavalry force. So much the better if Custer had remained an unheralded junior officer. His last stand may have created a legend but he didn't seem to be a particularly good officer in my opinion.
In a talk at the army war college steve knott pointed out that a personal feud between Stuart and 2 other officers in the cavalry units Stuart left these 2 units of Stuarts best fighters behind and assigned 2 reserve units to accompany Lee into Pennsylvania.Lee didn't use reserve units as he didn't trust them.Thus not only did Stuart get held up by a moving army,he left Lee totally blind to Union movements
My great great great grandfather fought there at only 16 years old his name is on the wall there and I was born just north of there going there this summer
Been there twice. 1st time I was a child in a basement in former life .and i could hear canon fire and smelt the death of it all. By god l swear by this. Life is a true mystery.
My cousin is a college professor who is FLOORED by the number of new students Every Year who think they can substitute a Hollyweard facsimile for the literary or historical publication upon which to submit a book report.
Daniel Mocsny Wow... that was irrelevant. Stop using every opportunity you have to shove your political and religious/anti-religious views down our throats.
True reading is a lost skill . Plus history isn't encourage , doesn't peak most young people's interest. Shame there I are more stories in books than in movies . Guess television started the decline after 1967
No surprise at all. A great number of these students are near functionally illiterate, have no interest in bettering themselves, have almost zero knowledge of history, or just about anything else. The term student shouldn't even be applied to them because that implies that they actually want to learn something. They should instead be re-named, PT's. Passing-Through.
There were plenty of BF episodes that could have been included-Custer’s charge repulsing Southern cavalry during the final day might have made for dramatic action too, because if Stuart’s troopers had broken through, they could have assailed the Union troops from behind. But it wasn’t in the novel, any more than Wright’s assault was. Good thoughtful piece though.
@@hemihead001 Second Pa. Vol Cav. fought in 16 major engagements including the clash at East Cavalry Field. I visited Gettysburg once, many years ago, but missed that battle site.
Meade who fearlessly rode the battlefield and Hunt, who in my opinion really was key to the victory were not shown even though he was at the angle during Pickett's charge ...had his horse shot and was laying under it during the breakthrough. Culps hill was also key and their use of fortifacations was key as well preventing Lee from getting into their rear. But then it would have neen a 6 hour movie. Great job here and still a fine movie I thought.
I have visited the battlefield more than 20 times and see something new seemingly every trip. It never ceases to amaze me how much of the battlefield has been preserved for history. Truly a national treasure.
I couldn't agree more! I had only been to the battlefield twice before when I made that original comment above but have spent years and hundreds of hours pouring over documents, books, accounts, et cetera and have always been fascinated by the details. My 1st 2 trips had been in midsummer, in other words, approximately the time that the battle took place. Never occurred to me what a difference it would make to see it earlier in the year with less foliage. It was stunning enough to imagine what it would have been like to fight through that type of terrain with the heavy foliage that I experienced on my 1st 2 trips. But I finally had a chance to visit in January of this year on a trip back to Saint Louis from New York City. As usual, I went to Little Round Top to pay my respects to Col. Chamberlain and the Boys of 20th Maine. It was then for the 1st time that I was able to locate the marker of the Company B position and I was amazed at how close it was to Chamberlain's main Line! It suddenly dawned on me the intensity of the battle that happened in such a confined space and was truly inspired by whar must have been terrifying to be pinned down as they were behind such a small rock wall with thousands of enemy combatants between them and their main line. It put my understanding of that battle into a whole new perspective. I strongly recommend visiting the battlefield in the Fall or the Winter without its summer foliage to get a true feel for the terrain.
@@steveogden3103 The small rock wall was more than likely put up after the battle by union soldiers preparing for another attack from the Confederates. From my understanding the union soldiers who fought there on the 2nd didn’t have time to build earth works.
@@jayhallman6666 Agreed, but they must have had Something to hide behind during the several hours of repeated Confederate assaults, and especially in such a confined space as I described. I don't know if the numbers are available; such as, How many men in the Co. B detachment? How many of the Berdan Sharpshooters fell back over Big Round Top after skirmishing with the Confederate right wing advance and fell in with Co. B? How many Confederates in the Alabama & Texas brigades were in that repeated attack on Chamberlain's position in such a constricted and confined space? It's hard to imagine what it must've been like for those detached and isolated men & what they felt when they saw Chamberlain's left wing wheel & charge down the slope. Still gives me chills!
It was the sheer amount of space occupied by both armies that astounded me upon visiting Gettysburg. The distance between Seminary Ridge and Cemetary Hill is not easily portrayed on the small screen but was frightening to see in person.
@@steveogden3103 what is great is discovering new things thru reading or video and coming back to the battlefield with that knowledge
I don't know how anyone can look upon what happened those 3 days without some sense of awe and pride at how brave those Americans were on both sides. The tragedy was that it was Americans fighting Americans but both sides showed tremendous courage and bravery in the midst of untold horror. I have nothing but respect for both sides for all the Americans that fought there, died there, and ultimately healed a nation there. Just imagine what the outcome might have been had General Thomas J Jackson lived. This comment is not about right or wrong, it's just about that which really happened and what would maybe have been. Things turned out the way they did and that will never change no matter how many people tried to tear down statues and force people to accept a watered down truth to our history. Leave these things be and learn from them, not try to erase them or change them. God bless America.
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both sides ism again! hell, should we honor the Nazis for their courage in the support of absolute evil? no, the south committed treason, and it deserved total eradication and obliteration.
Nope, what the confederacy did was no different from the attacks on 9/11, or the Nazis and Japanese during WWII. All were enemies of the United States. Actually the Southern fighters and leaders that previously took an oath to the United States Constitution were actually worse than Germany, Japan and terrorists.
"healed the nation ", I disagree, President Johnson, a southerner,quelled reconstruction, which continues to this day.
Very very brave men we don’t make them like they use to
The 1st Minnesota made a furious charge to save the ridge and possibly the battle. All units on both sides demonstrated extraordinary courage that day.
There was talk of replacing the picture depicting that battle in the Capitol in St Paul with something that was " more diverse ". Pathetic
@@troydeschane635 Their current Lefty Governor Walz will probably return the captured (defending against Pickett's Charge) Alabama colors too, that are in the Capitol building in St Paul. Every other Governor has refused to do that...even Jesse ("The Body") Ventura!
@@kayakdan48 I heard they wanted them back and the National Guard said come get them.
True, but there were so many ways that the Union could have lost the battle! The Union’s victory depended on the lowest ranks to the Generals; all had to execute decisively and with deadly accuracy. Lee acted typically by rolling the dice. The Union’s training, initiative, and planning provided the foundation for a close, but decisive victory!
@@kayakdan48
Grow up liddle girly boy. It’s the GQP that glorifies the treasonous acts of the confederacy.
1st Minnesota at Gettysburg: Pivotal bayonet charge against overwhelming odds [5 to 1] drove two confederate brigades back in confusion, out of the 262 men in the attack 215 were killed or wounded. The 1st Minnesota Battle-Flag hangs in honor at the state capital in St. Paul, MN.
PLUS after being utterly devastated on July 2 (82% casualties), the mauled remnants First Minnesota was pulled back to the "safest" place in the center of the Union lines to recover on July 3, along with reinforcements from their previously detached Company F.
That would place them on Cemetery Ridge for Pickett's Charge in one of the few places where the Virginians actually (b)reached Union lines. The 1st Minnesota were forced to engage in yet *another* bayonet charge against desperate odds. They lost two more regimental commanders (and another ~15 casualties) and won two more medals of honor.
So by the end of the three days of Gettysburg the regiment had been reduced to the size of an understrength company and went through something like 8 command ranks (Col, Lt. Col, Maj., Four Captains, and some Lt.s).
A heroic effort by men who knew that their charge was surely death. General Hancock called these men the bravest he had ever seen, stating: "I was fortunate to meet so grand a group as the 1st Minnesota. I knew that they would lose heavily when I gave the order, but had I thought that everyone of them would be killed, I still would have given it. It was a sacrifice that must be made."
Great story teller ua-cam.com/video/PVzuOW0nGFM/v-deo.html
Phil Runge,
Yes! Storyteller Syd Lieberman's presentation was poignant and mesmerizing. Gen Hancock, one hell of a soldier.
My great great great grandfather survived the
Charge. Hardly ever mentioned 85 percent
Casualties
Minnesota cold Minnesota
Tough.
The 262 men of 1st MN didn't 'Drive' anybody anywhere, but atonishingly, they stalled 2 jaded brigades (Wilcox & Lang) long enuf for a bloody stalemate along Plum Run. Importantly, the next day, it was the same battered Wilcox & Lang who failed to protect Pickett's flank from Stannard's unopposed Vermont brigade.
Thanks for posting this. My Great Grandfather, James Robie Wood, was a member of the 2nd Georgia Battalion, Wright’s Brigade. I have a copy of a hand written account from him that describes his participation in that charge on the 2nd day. He was wounded by canister shot, captured by the Union Forces, and evacuated to a hospital in Baltimore. He later returned to his unit via prisoner exchange.
have you seen Judkins' diary?
That's about as cool as it gets!!!
@improvagility5516
I'm currently researching personal stories from soldiers in Wright's Brigade for a possible book and would like to see if you would be open to discussing the story of your ancestor further? Please let me know. Thank you.
Always amazed that the story of the detachment of Co. B/20th Maine to the extreme left of the main position on Little Round top is never told. As I understand it, they were sent out along with a detachment of US Sharpshooters to protect Chamberlain's left as skirmishers and were cut off and isolated by the massed Confederate attack. They laid low during the repeated Confederate attacks and repulses, but when they saw Chamberlain's bayonet charge, they rose and added their fire into the unsuspecting Confederate right flank. While there is no doubt that the bayonet charge "saved the day", It's understandable that the Confederates would have been shaken by what may have been a "superior force" about to flank them on the right, thus adding to their retreat. Regardless, the defense of Little Round Top was legendary and I've always admired Josh Chamberlain as the classic example of the American "Citizen Soldier"; a college professor of Rhetoric with virtually no military experience but, when called to serve, he read as much as he could on strategy and tactics and, quite ably, rose to command.
You are right about the Sharpshooters. Using the breechloading Sharps, they sliced up the Confederate charge up the hill. Which was more important is irrelevant. Both were.
Chamberlain is also one of the last US Army Generals to be promoted via the brevet system as well as on the battlefield, then confirmed as a brigadier general in the regular Army .
@@SantomPh I hear he finished the war as a Major General commanding a division
The battle for Culp's Hill was one of the key turning points of the battle, but seems always to be overlooked.
Yes, Culp's Hill is overlooked but the whole battle was precarious and a very near thing. It shook this little nation to its core.
The Generals on that end of the battlefield were not the prolific writers (and self promoter?) that Chamberlain was.
General George Sears Greene, 1801-1899, a West Pointer and civil engineer before and after the war, had about 1,600 NYers to defend Culp's Hill after a greater number were sent down the pike toward Little Round Top's defense.
Greene had his men build earthworks, felled trees to build redoubtss with firing holes so as to limit exposure. Greene's men repulsed charge after charge for virtually all three days of the battle. If the Confederates had overwhelmed Culp's Hill, they would have rolled over the Union's interior lines and likely would have routed the Army of the Potomac.
George Greene is my unsung hero of the whole engagement.
And, at 62, he was the oldest general present. Of either side's.
CH is shown in a really good documentary on the history channel. It would have been cool if the Minnesota charge had been shown in the movie gettysburg, but then there would have needed to be several characters devoted to it, but the the main battle portions are from Buford's Point of view, then little round top, from Chamberlain's pov, and then Pickett's Charge, from the pov of Pickett and Longstreet.. the movie is incredibly balanced in terms of screen time devoted to each side, but you have 2 battle parts shown from the north, and 1 (albeit the main sequence) Another battle portion shown from the North side would have disrupted the balance of the movie completely.
Maybe in a 6 part, 6 hr mini series the second Minnesota can be shown, but not so in a 3 hr movie
The movie Gettysburg, as stated in this video, is based on the book “The Killer Angels” by Michael Shaara. The book did not cover those areas that are being proposed. This would have added additional characters, which would have added a lot more time to the movie to build the character(s). Not to mention the book would have blown up to be larger than Foote’s work. Michael’s son Jeff has continued this style, and to tell the stories of these battles, places, events, and people. It is about depth and quality of the story Shaara is wanting to tell, not quantity.
Saying this should have been added is nice, but you also leave out other aspects of the battle that others could also think are important. Such as Culp’s Hill, the Jenny Wade Story, the Cavalry Battle, the fourth day, and the list goes on.
A good compliment to this film is Gettysburg from History Channel Histories Special. Again, not everything can be covered.
I must support the comment about only so much could be fit into the movie. You're right in saying this aspect was over-looked...but others were as well. Twenty hours of film would still necessarily leave important parts out. The film did admirably tell the tale, in my opinion.
Matthew Hamersly They should have gone the way of Band of Brothers and did a ten hour minnie series. It would have been very complex though.
The key to the Union strenghth was fully in Bufords uniquely foresighted mind in seeing and choosing the high ground and his delaying action with outnumbered but we'll trained calvary.
Carl Wilson Good point, but there's many "keys" to this great battle on both sides! Indeed, having so many "keys" is likely the main reason of Gettysburg's never-ending fascination!
That's a great reply; many keys and an extremely fluid battle.
@@Justin_is_a_Martyr What are you on about
AS an Aussie civil war buff, I thought its almost the finest American movie I have ever seen, just about. very well acted, beautifully filmed, sad, poignant, courage, waste, showed war in all its horror, no glorification of war, very well made indeed.
Ellis Spear, at Gettysburg major of the 20th Maine, wrote memoirs from the diary he kept during the war. His work is a direct, concise, and humane treatment of events and people involved. He has a take on the "famous charge" that is different from Chamberlain's account and the movie. He was commanding on the left and did not hear an order to charge. He says it was a spontaneous movement of men downslope to protect their wounded fellows who had been unable to fall back with the rest.
The great enemy of truth is not the lie; it is the myth!
Took a school group there last year. Plan to go back next year. Every American should go to this place! As a teacher, I cannot think of a more hallowed place in this great nation. Our students were able to see and stand where their ancestors from Georgia stood and fought. What a wonderful place. Great videos and channel
Thank you so much. Stay tuned more content drops every Tuesday and Friday at 7pm.
Thank you so much for putting up this video....I've seen the epic movie which (for and Englishman such as myself) in it's magnificence, conveyed the absolute passion and horror related to all sides of the Civil War.
Your additional detailed information only compounds the thought of the incredible sacrifices made on all sides during the war...and to know the war lasted another 2 years following Gettysburg is very nearly impossible to believe.....such monumental losses.......until you study the First World War in Europe that is...where "Lions were led by Donkeys"
Sir if you come to America I would suggest you make the pilgrimage to Gettysburg. Sobering, somber, glorious, sad, and beautiful all at the same time. And in the end we will NEVER forget those that died for liberty, decency and freedom.
I must agree with R T/X...you have a valid point, but a battle of that scope needs a mini-series to cover such a piece of history...and I must say I love your work!
Thank you so much for watching and supporting the channel. I've got three videos coming out this week.
1st Minnesota would be a good moment to highlight
Yeah, agreed. That for sure, maybe a few other scenes in the peach orchard. Technically the second day of fighting in the peach orchard was the most viscous of the entire battle.
The problem is that it's only one regiment. The focus has to be on the large actions.
@@sweynforkbeard8857 20th Maine was one regiment. Plus the 1st MN saved the entire union position
@@hossahunter22 I visited William Colvill's grave in Cannon Falls MN. It's pretty cool. Has the stacked cannon balls and everything.
@@hossahunter22 And saved our Republic.
I’m an Australian and have watched this movie many times, it would appear that this battle, in what I believe to be the saddest war in history, was a much more close run thing than we see in the movie.
Many thanks for the education.
@david edbrooke-coffin
On the third day, while Pickett's Charge was taking place, Jeb Stuart attacked the Union Army from the rear. The attack was thrown off by Custer.
Really? In battles it's easy to say what might have happened. The cavalry 's attack didn't work. Are You are saying that the timing of their attack was off. Whose fault was that? Was it Lee' s? Was it Jeb's? How about the battle plan itself? After the the entire battle, Lee took responsibility for the loss at Gettysburg, and so he should have. 1. On the first day he saw the Union had the high ground. 2. Early chose not to remedy the problem by taking Little Round Top. Longstreet read the battlefield correctly, Lee should have redeployed.
@david edbrooke-coffin The same could be said about many of the battles fought in the south. When you fight on your own land the civilian population becomes a great source of intelligence and some of your troops can offer advice on terrain. Jeb Stuart was lost and didn't have any communications with Lee or more importantly Longstreet. It's called the fog of battle and there are a lot of would've/could've been moments. And if Sickles wasn't such a fool the 2 corps of the Union army wouldn't have been in the Peach Orchard and the Union position would have been almost impregnable. Longstreet who later was lambasted for the loss at Gettysburg, wanted to move around the Union army and not engage at Gettysburg, but Lee wouldn't listen.
@@saltinewarrior8192
Had Buford not set up the opening battle at Gettysburg more or less assuring the Union the high ground, Lee might have defeated the Union forces at Gettysburg.Buford was not given the accolades he deserved for his ability to read a battlefield and positioning Union troops to move to the best ground. Lee on the other hand took the position that re-deployment of his troops was not necessary. He was correct when he blamed himself for the loss of the battle.
@ The outcome of the war was never really in doubt. The North had the greatest Generals. It had Generals Materials, Numbers, Money, Technology and Public Support. Although the South had better public support. The North just bled them out, then attacked what little industry they had (Sherman's March). The South winning is a pipe dream. Even if Lee won Gettysburg, it was a long bloody way to Washington. The Union still had lots of reserves, and the Union troops could fight.
You are right about Gallipoli mate, the Brits hung the Aussies out on the line to dry. Aussie's have always been as tough a troop as you ever want to fight.
Gettysburg was supposed to have been a miniseries like “Band of Brothers” I think that even as a movie it could have been longer and succeeded.
Gods and Generals would have worked better as a made for TV series featuring around Stonewall Jackson.
@@mikesuggs1642 GG was overtly Lost Cause apologetics though, where Gettysburg was not.
It was to be a trilogy but after the pushback against Gods and Generals the third movie was scrapped.
There needs to be a pair of band of brothers type films/miniseries dedicated to the American and rebellion sides, showing the mental and physical struggles of both sides.
As good as the movie depiction was. I would like to see it remade and with today’s technical advantages, would be a lot better. It could be made in a series of sequels so it wouldn’t leave out important battles over that period of time. My biggest disappointment with the movie was the overall feel I got watching the battles felt more like groups of ceremonial re-enactors. It came off looking staged with some guys who never acted before, getting themselves in battle sequences to satisfy their own egos. This movie didn’t show the reality just how incredibly violent and bloody these battles were.
I just found your video and appreciate the content.
I am from Delaware and my g-g-g-g-grandfather fought with Company C of the 2nd Delaware Regiment at Gettysburg.
A portion of the battle which had always intrigued me, which heavily involved the Delaware volunteers was the fight for the Bliss farm. I have found limited, yet interesting, information on this critical portion of the battlefield that would play an important role to the fighting that took place on the south and center of the battlefield.
I've been up to Gettysburg three times over the years and am always captivated by the history.
Thank you so much for watching and supporting the channel. Please check out and share my videos. They are full of less known accounts and aspects of battles.
Thank you for your most sensitive overview of this aspect of this battle.
Thank you so much. If you like this video check out my sequel ua-cam.com/video/tYxi2twXXjA/v-deo.html
I think the fight for Cups Hill and Cemetery Hill should have included as on the second day both came close to being taken by the Confederates under Ewell.
Ewell's conspicuous lack of initiative on the battle's first day was critical to the Federal's ability to hold Culps Hill and Cemetery Hill. As General Isaac Tremble said, "General Ewell, "Sir, give me one division and I will take that hill." And he said nothing at all, he stood there, he stared at me. I said, "General Ewell, give me one brigade, and I will take that hill." And General Ewell put his arms behind him and blinked. So I said, "General, give me one regiment, and I will take that hill!" And he said nothing! He just stood there! I threw down my sword in front of him! We could have done it, sir. A blind man should have seen it. And as Sandie Pendleton said that day, "Oh for the presence and inspiration of Old Jack."
@@ashleighelizabeth5916 that’s been debated. I’ve read that after the battle they were legitimately spent.
Lee's Army was only in Gettysburg for shoes and were heading onto Harrisonburg PA where they thought the big decisive battle might take place. It was a meat grinder before and after Gettysburg. Only after the war could anyone know where the "high water mark" would take place.
Ewell regret it.
@@ashleighelizabeth5916 you’re quoting from a novel that’s rather friendly to lost cause wishful thinking. The truth is that Ewell’s troops were exhausted and Cemetery Hill was a strong position. It’s highly probable that Ewell would have gotten creamed if he had attempted to take it.
I still say I wish the movie was never made. They tried, not to knock those who made it. My favorite book about Gettysburg was Killer Angels but when we read it we were advised to remember it was just a novel. A great starting point,but oh it misses soooo much.
The novel - and therefore the film - handles the cavalry aspect very poorly. If Stuart was authorised to go around the Union Army with his best 3 cavalry brigades, who in their right mind thinks that Lee was expecting couriers on Union Army movements directly from Stuart?! If Lee wants his right flank properly screened by cavalry, and we are to believe that there was otherwise nothing other than Longstreet's spy, Lee needed to order up some of Robertson's cavalry. Preferably the brigade of Grumble Jones. It's likely Stuart ordered this to happen, but Robertson did not bring his cavalry up quickly from the gaps. The Stuart raid, albeit not the undesirable delay, was part of the same tactic as keeping Lee's army widely dispersed for as long as possible and sending Early east to York and beyond? To bait the Union Army away from the Cumberland Valley, and Lee's line of retreat, and into a pitched battle somewhere east of the Cashtown gap. Where Lee can aggressively attack the advance elements of the Union Army before it all arrives. Unfortunately for Lee, Ewell does not seize the Cemetery Ridge and Culp's Hill on the evening of Day One, in the way Jackson undoubtedly would have done, and Gettysburg turns into a disaster for Lee. The cavalry battle on the 3rd day, after Stuart's exhausted brigades arrive, is omitted altogether. Much of the problem with Gettysburg is that the Confederate commanders, and especially Lee, have to be cagey, before the battle and especially after the disastrous battle, because what Lee intended and actually happened were arguably in breach of what Davis authorised him to do. There were only very limited circumstances under which Lee wanted a defensive battle in Pennsylvania, and which would have allowed the much bigger Union Army to mass and attack.
I want to thank you for this excellent analysis. I have never found a map showing the order of battle around the Peach Orchard the 2nd day. Yours was great! Along with your narritive it let me get a much better feel for what my ancestor's outfit went through that 2nd day. My G-G-grandfather served with his two brothers in the Florida 8th. I knew he was around the Peach Orchard on the 2nd day. He and his surviving brother were captured on the 3rd day after Pickett's men failed and fell back, leaving the 8th exposed on the right. Their other brother had recently been killed in battle at Chancellorsville. The Vermont boys who had been pushed out the day before got their revenge when they then counterattacked, overrunning the 8th, taking the Regimental Color and capturing my ancestor and his brothers. My G-G-grandfather was the only one of the three boys to make it back home to Florida as his last brother died from the horrible conditions and poor diet southern POWs received at Fort Delaware, PA. Of course all you ever hear about is Andersonville, but it was no picnic in northern POW camps either.
I'm happy that you could learn more about your ancestors actions. Please check out my other videos for more history.
It doesn’t take too much digging to learn about other Confederate and Union prisons. ( Grew up near and learned about Elmira NY)
Neither side was prepared for large numbers of POWs.
Both anticipated exchanges. My GGGF was captured at Antietam but exchanged in time to hold the angle with the PA 69th, company E.
And we all know why the exchanges ended, same as the cause beli. Slavery.
There are too many events to be covered by just one movie, it would have to be a series.
lendir1 originally it was a series when it was released on television
Huh, I did not know that, thank you.
One story I would love to see told, a unit from New England (not sure which state), of green troops stationed just south of the crops of trees. During Pickets charge, they were ordered "into" the field single file, did a right face and fired on the right flank of the Confederates.
While doing this, Confederate soldiers came up on their rear. Order was given for every other man to about face and continue firing. *None* of these brave men retreated.
I read this story a couple of years back and on one of my trips to Gettysburg, I went to this location. There, just a bit in front of the Union line is a small stone, about 1 foot out of the ground, denoting their location. It doesn't do justice to their bravery.
lendir1 I know that the Irish Brigade had some skirmisher battalions sent out to fire into the right flank of Kemper’s line, (I was reading about the use of Enfield rifles and these skirmisher used them due to their better accuracy and to make up fo the fact that most of the Irish Brigade used smoothbore weapons with buck and ball). But on that flank during Pickett’s charge there were many New England regiments providing enfilade fire, so I’m not sure which it would be. Gettysburg is such unique battlefield because so many men stepped up to the plate when it really mattered, and it really made a difference in the outcome
lendir1 So true! The events around Little Round Top alone could easily fill one entire 2-3 hour movie.
And this was only three days of a 4 year war....
Another great piece of history you have brought attention to that should never be forgotten. I really enjoy your work.
incredibly brave men, thank you for pointing out this portion of the battle.
Read the book, saw the movie and got the opportunity to visit the battlefield. Will never forget it!
The movie Gettysburg glazed over the real saviors of the North, the Iron Brigade which was decimated holding off Confederates so the rest of the Army of the Potomac could come up to engage. Without the First of the First of I Corps, and their actions by Whilloughby Run and the Railroad Cut, Lee gets Cemetery Ridge and gets the piecemeal battle he wanted by Harrisburg. Instead, they hung on for five hours until the Union lines collapsed from the Barlow's Knoll Salient northwest of town counterclockwise and then withdrew in a manner now called "leapfrogging" as they departed. The "Men of Iron" should have been more prominently portrayed in both book and movie.
They did gloss over some major events. Thank you for the suggestion. I think I will be doing an Iron Brigade at Gettysburg soon.
Was that where Reynolds was killed?
Yes, General Reynolds was killed immediately to the rear of the 2nd Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, the most experienced regiment in the Iron Brigade. Most likely from a soldier of either the 7th or 14th Tennessee shooting "over" the slightly uphill 2nd WVI.
Having walked the site, unless they did serious land moving since the battle, it's easy to see how he was struck by a bullet that missed the 2nd WVI, it wouldn't have had to been a Marksman, Bubba J, Jeff Dunham's Dummy could have hit Reynolds from the distances the area allows and Reynolds would have been in line with the upper bodies/heads of the soldiers of the 2nd WVI.
I also have to point out that of the 1,883 strong Iron Brigade who marched into Gettysburg on July 1, 1,153 were casualties because after the first day they were sent to the left, lower flank of Culp's Hill... Not that they had much to fight with. IIRC, Co. B, 2nd Wisconsin had 6 soldiers and an officer for roll call the evening of the 1st.
I'm from WI and I see a lot of Iron Brigade plaques around at different areas. They paid a big price.
Thanks for comments. Very insightful.
I was 8 when this movie came out. My dad let me watch it with him. The music in the film grabbed me and still hasn't let go and with that was the start of my obsession at a young age with the Civil War. I would give anything to be able to go back in time and witness those times.
Great Presentation. I have done a lot of research on my Grandmothers Grandfather whose 15th Alabama under William Oats charged UP Little Round Top into the line of Joshua Chamberlin’s 20th Maine. I personally feel like to little credit is given to the Alabama’s courageous attempts with depleted resources and a bit too much deification of Chamberlain in this encounter. Oat’s troops had already trekked up and down a Big around Top under constant fire from the Division of US Sharpshooters, also under credited I think, and attacked uphill against fortified forces I believe of greater number. I feel fortunate enough to have the direct connection of my grandmother telling me the stories of how the family had to use lineament rubs on her grandfathers legs in his old age from wounds he received by a Yankee shotgun. Also, I have the service validation letter written by William Oats, who like Joshua Chamberlain later becoming Governor of Maine, become Governor of Alabama, for my grandmothers grandfather to receive a Veterans pension from the state of Texas. When I first read this letter, handwritten by Oats as he is said to have done for hundreds of his men, I thought, what terrible penmanship, until I got to the part when Oats lost his writing arm in a later battle. I have since collected several books on Oats including his autobiography, and I am amazed at the detail he provides of the action and character of hundreds of his individual soldiers including my grandmothers grandfather and his brother. I wish that Oats and the 15th Alabama were portrayed less of an overwhelming force that got their butts kicked by a greater gallantry and more of the honor portrayed on the 20th Maine. Thanks for letting me post my thoughts.
In 1942 the German 6th Army captured nearly 97% of Stalingrad, all but a small area next to the Volga River. Seems the losers don't get nearly as much credit in these cases as the winners do. Agree with you about the near deification of Chamberlain. According to some of the GNPS videos, prior to the release of "Gettysburg" no one gave a fuck about Chamberlain- there wasn't even a path to the 20th ME monument- but since Burns and Maxwell he's not just the man whose brigade helped hold LRT, he's the man who saved the left flank, the Union army and by proxy the entire United States of America. (Yet it's Warren, Vincent and O'Rourke with the statues.)
@@indy_go_blue6048 For what it's worth, in 1986 while stationed at an I&I in Wyoming PA, I along with some fellow Marines went on a Gettysburg tour. We had an official tour guide and Chamberlain "was" a big deal. We went to LRT and the guide spoke at length about the importance of that part of the battle. I remember it very well because of the terrain, it gives you a real perspective when you stand there. I agree with your comments about winners writing the history though. That's the way it goes.
I have been to Gettysburg. So much tragedy & so many what ifs. It made my heart ache. I love this video. I only wish they were longer. As a history nerd & lover i could listen to you for hours.
Thank you for posting this video, I can understand now what motivated General Lee to attempt to replicate what the Georgia elements accomplished on the previous day.
I am so in love with your presentations of Gettysburg. Please continue your detailed and eye-opening reviews and Thank you!
This is great. It was new to me, and I think it adds a great deal of insight as to why Lee thought Pickett's charge might work. Wright's attack might have been more significant if Posey had gone with him. I'm from Minnesota, and the First Minnesota also attacked to hold the line with 50% casualties. That seemed to me the marker of bravery, beyond the last full measure. Thank you for your excellent and generous scholarship, sir.
Thank you so much for the kind words. I have a sequel to this video that details a personal account of a union soldier during Pickett's charge. ua-cam.com/video/tYxi2twXXjA/v-deo.html
Posey got held up but his right flank moved with Wright's Brigade the 48th Georgia to be exact. The one who should have been court Marshalled was General Mahone he never moved his Brigade forward. After many request from Wright to Anderson. My 2 cents
I appreciate your bringing to light the many overlooked facts about the battle.
The movie Gettysburg was amazing in it's accuracy and clarity but inevitably, important events had to be left out. Another important occurrence was the charge of the 1st Minnesota which was in effect a suicide charge to buy a few minutes for Union reinforcements to arrive to prevent a confederate breakthrough which would have rolled up the Union line.
The 1st Minnesota suffered 82% casualties in 5 minutes. Two of it's men won Medals of Honor.
Edwin Mintey and the lost brigade on little round top.
Edwin Mintey no one can ever say these soldiers both North and South were cowards in the face of such devastating fire.
James, the bravery of these men throughout the war astounds me.
The Charge of the 1st Minnesota was the very event I thought of when I saw the title of this video. Perhaps the most compelling of the many “in the nick of time” moments that permitted the Union forces to prevail in this battle. That said, a movie can only show so much, and “Gettysburg” did a great job of capturing the essence of the battle from several points of view.
The film wasn't really about the battle it was based on "The Killer Angels." It was not a documentary. Hence no Culp's Hill, cavalry battle on the third day. etc. Still it was amazing that the film was made.
David Corbett i
Ron Dion .well said! You have ended this debate. By the way, my 13 year old daughter wanted to see this movie. I took her to see it she was riveted to all 4 hrs of it. I was so proud of her☺️
David Corbett This is the key point that far too many here are overlooking. The movie was based those parts of the battle described in the book, not on the total battle itself.
The cav fight on 3 July wasn't nearly as important as people want to believe.
I enjoyed the book, especially Longstreet's discussions with Freemantle, about what we now call "pepperpotting" assault tactics.
I've always wondered how much of a role Wright's succes on Day 2 played in calling Meade's attention to the weakness of his center. There is no doubt that he reinforced that center in anticipation of the assault on that very point on Day 3.
If Lee was looking for new corps commanders, it seems he overlooked this man somehow.
Excellent video and commentary. Gettysburg is by far one of my favorite military movies I ever seen. I agree 100% that the movie was missing key parts of the battle in the movie but again it is difficult to have everything squeezed into a 3-4 hour movie. Killer Angels was also one of my favorite books that this movie was based on.
Thank you so much. Please check out my other videos.
Thank you for posting this video. My gggrandfather, Robert Bird Thompson, was a member of the 48th Ga under Wright. His brother, Asa, was mortally wounded and died a couple weeks later in a union hospital. Their brother in law was killed near the codori farm
wrc723 I'm glad you liked my video. Thank you so much for the support
...and this is why it is important to memorialize ALL the troops who participated in the battles. Because ALL were Americans. The dumb lefties who want to take down statues or commemoratives just don't get it: This is history, and the forefathers of living Americans were killed on both sides. The American Civil War has its own dynamic and its own special meaning to our history. It is unlike any conflict ever in the world.
@@sportsmediaamerica i was born in new jersey. i favor the north. but i AGREE WITH U
@@sportsmediaamerica those statues you so love weren't put up for history. They were BUILT during jim crow era and during the civil rights movement. Are you aware of Lee's 5 year ownership of several hundred slaves ? The will left by his father in law said they were to be set free. He had them whipped when they asked for their legal freedom. Not to mention the youth at his college formed a chapter of the kkk with his consent. So yea fuck lee for causing the deaths of hundreds of thousands. Even James Longstreet and Nathan Forest changed for the better after the war. Lee didn't. Hood expressed his hatred of blacks frequently. He eventually killed his wife, daughter and himself. Yes let's honor men like him.
@@Brianfightingmad They died of yellow fever you dumbass
I understand the reasoning that the described events should have been included in the movie. If Wright's penetration and advance to the summit of the ridge had been supported by additional units the CSA forces might have been able to roll up the Union line and possibly won the battle right there. In the event Wright had to fall back due to losses and lack of support, thus only gaining a temporary triumph. I wonder if Lee, seeing how Wright succeeded the day before and how spirited his troops were in pressing the attack, ordered Longstreet to attack the center with a greater force with hopes of repeating that success. Of course, the situation was different in that Wright advanced through Union forces that did not hold the high ground.
The same scenario would be played out, only in reverse, in 1864 at Spotsylvania when Grant saw the success of one brigade's vigorous attack. The next day he attacked in a similar fashion with several brigades hoping to break Lee at the Bloody Angle.
@@Indylimburg I seem to remember the 22nd Georgian was very involved in that battle as well.
"Charge" is such a misnomer of Pickett's operation. It was simply a MARCH to certain death.
Ok then. How about Pickett's Debit?
A Charge it was, indeed. A glorious one! A wrong decision by Lee, but honor to both sides who fought for their own principles.
Wow! Superb detail! You are right that it would take months if not years to study and understand this ultimate battle in all of its intricacy!
The key to the second day I believe has been discovered by one of the Park Rangers at Gettysburg, his name is Trey Harman and he wrote a book titled Lee’s Real Plan at Gettysburg, something Sharra, who wrote Killer Angles didn’t know. I have studied the battle for many years, been to Gettysburg many times, every year in fact for over 20 years. I own land on Marsh Creek Road which is south of Round Top and off the Emmittsburg Road. Harman tells that Lee actually wanted Longstreet to move along the Emmittsburg Road and strike Cemetery Hill from the south while Hills Corp struck from the west. Lee did not know that the Union had occupied Cemetery Ridge or Little Round Top. His engineer who had reconnoitered that morning did not see any Union troops in those positions. Of course that brings up the whole problem about Longstreet taking all morning and into the afternoon to get into position. What I have seen is a little known monument on the far right of where the Confederates attack begins, what is now Confederate Avenue south of the Emmittsburg Road. The monument is to several companies of Vermont sharpshooters who were being used as reconnaissance by Meade. They occupied the far left of the Union position saw the Confederates moving towards Round top and took up a position just in front of a farmhouse , that is where the monument stands. I am guessing that Oates Regiment was the far right of the attack, he saw the sharpshooters and knew he couldn’t allow them to get behind the moving formation so he went after them. The sharpshooters were a small unit , not even regimental size and so withdrew as Oates men came at them. They first withdrew up Big Round Top, Oates followed, they went down the side of the hill just to the south of Little Round Top where they met up with the company that Chamberlain had posted on the far left of his line along a trail that if followed through the woods takes you to Taneytown Road, where all of the reserve artillery was that day. Oates following the retreating sharpshooters runs into Chamberlain and the 16th Maine and that’s where Sharra’s story starts.
Lee’s engineer probably wasn’t anywhere near the Round Tops or Cemetery Ridge, so Lee’s whole plan was flawed from the beginning. The fact that Longstreet came as close as he did to breaking the Union line is a testament to his leadership and to the utter incompetence of Daniel Sickles.
@@mjfleming319 right, supposedly there were troops on Little Round Top that morning so it appears the engineer was mistaken but it’s hard to see how he could be since there are no other hills around as high as Round Top.
@@matthewmiller9526 If I recall the information correctly, it was very early morning, there was heavy fog, and the engineer was an inexperienced and low-level major. He likely didn’t know what hill he was on and took a wild guess. I believe I read about this in Allen Guelzo’s book The Last Invasion.
@@mjfleming319 That is from Professor Guelzo's book.
Thank you for this info. We'll look into that monument and remember these men when we visit in September.
Totally fascinated with Gettysburg I've no idea why as I'm a Scots man & we've had our share of Civil & National wars inside not only Scotland but through into England as well. I've watched various movies & short stories about it & enjoy (not really the word) the Gettysburg movie. Glad you have pointed out the missing pieces
Possibly the most amazing oversight of all was the case of Brev Lt. Col. Alonzo Cushing, the 22-year-old commander of Battery A, 4th U.S. Artillery, stationed on Cemetary Ridge during Pickett's Charge. During the assault, one shell fragment went through his shoulder, and a second disemboweled him. Yet despite being ordered to the rear, he stood his ground and held his intestines in with his good arm while continuing to command the battery until he was killed by a bullet through his mouth.
He's buried next to Gen. Buford at the cemetery at West Point. Incredibly, he wasn't awarded the Medal of Honor until 2013!
Wow what an amazing piece of selflessness.
How about Bredan's Sharpshooters?
Lee lost the battle on the first day when the confederates failed to occupy Culp's Hill and their not being able to take the hill the next day. Not to take away the heroic defense of Little Round Top but Culp's Hill was far more important. It was mentioned but not by name.
Robert E. Waters on UA-cam, some one has recorded a clip of a park ranger describing the moving story of the 22 year old Cushing, an extreme patriot and brave man. What a tragic waste of life and resources, the Civil War. Can it happen again in America? We are becoming more polarized. People on both sides have very strong feelings.
well said, forever in the pantheon of heroes .. Paddy O Rorke wins every time,
Excellent job. I appreciate your work. I've subscribed.
It seems the Gettysburg movie was more of a story-line than a documentary, so therefore, so much was left out.
I did appreciate seeing how Longstreet disagreed with Lee all 3 days, especially Pickets Charge. I admired
how the actors portrayed the subtilties and etiquette between the two generals.
The movie "Gettysburg" really needed to be a mini series to cover all that went on. George A. Custer (of Little Big Horn fame) played an important part also for saving the battle for the union.
Fun fact: Gettysburg was originally filmed to be a tv mini series, but the studio liked what they saw so much that they demanded it be edited into 3 hours for theatrical release.
A mini-series would be great for history buffs. But no one can even get the money for The Last Full Measure to conclude even this limited trilogy
You can't really understand the "uphill battle" the Confederates almost pulled off in Gettysburg until you stand on the real Culp's hill and Little Round Top and see how impossible crossing or climbing both those fields of battle would of been.
Thanks for adding to the historical perspective
Well done! I certainly didn't expect it to be in the movie but I wish more people realized the importance of the actions taken by the 1st MN on the second day. My feeling is that it is simply over shadowed by the larger battles that day, however, if the AL regiments broke through it could've been a disastrous day for the union. I suppose during filming some actions from the battle were not filmed because of time constraints. Again, very good video.
Irony: The name of that Confederate division commander was Richard Anderson. In the movie, the role of Union General George Meade is played by an actor named "Richard Anderson".
Not really irony; more like interesting.
It was the same guy actually. No irony.
What division?
@@stevepowsinger733Anderson's Division, AP Hill's 3rd Corps
I live in the area where the 3rd Georgia infantry was organized. After reading their history during the war it reads like a journal of General Lee. They organized in the spring of 1861 and surrendered at Appamattox.
They fought in or were at the scene of nearly every major battle of the east, including Antietam (Sharpsburg), Gettysburg, and Petersburg among them. They were IN the sunken road at Antietam, they broke thru and had to pull back from the crest of Cemetery Ridge at Gettysburg, and were in the middle of the Crater fiasco at Petersburg.
I think I remember reading that they acted as a part of the rear guard at Appamattox.
My mother's great grandfather was in the 3rd and wounded at Petersburg.
There are 2 young men who
both were early enlistees of the 3rd, buried in our local municipal cemetery less than a mile from where I'm sitting right now.
I can't support slavery, but I honor these men who fought for their beliefs.
It just makes me proud to be a Georgian.
My great great great grandfather served 3 years in the 22nd Georgian Infantry. If you want to know what it was like, a man named Judkins kept a diary of a year of their travails that is available on line. Daniel Lafayette Beaty was drafted toward the end of the first year. First draft ever I am told, in USA. Census shows he owned a 500 acre farm in Alpharetta, GA. No slaves. His father, Moses Beaty was next door with 300 acres. No slaves. Alpharetta was a Methodist community, hence no slaves. After the war they had nothing. But am getting ahead of myself. Research the history of the 22nd Georgian Infantry. They were in almost every major battle in the eastern area. Pvt. Daniel L. Beaty was in a hospital several times with dysentery, but always out during battles and marching campaigns, I cross checked. I have a photo somewhere of a small monument to Wright's Brigade supposedly the highest up the hill at Gettysburg, I have never been there. RH Anderson was commander. AP Hill was famous for more than his jacket. 22nd Georgian was also the unit that did the shooting at The Crater. Under different commanders. I think my great grand daddy had enough after that. Records show he collected his last pay on retreat toward Appomattox, then went AWOL! 33 years old when drafted, he is now 36. 7 kids and a wife, Margaret. No farm. Burnt out. Same for Moses and Cassandra Beaty, his father and mother. Moses dies a few years later, and Margaret years later in a old folks home, alone, for her family was in Benton, Arkansas. I have the deed to 3 acres he bought not far from here in 1870. Several years later he owned the whole section south down to Hiway 67. The north end of Beggs Rd was his, the top of the highest hill around here. He must have been one tough son of a gun. He is buried at the top of the hill at Graham Cemetary, his grave marked as a veteran of the 22nd Georgian. Thank you the Daughters of the Confederacy! That was my starting point. Growing up I never knew it was there, my branch of the family had lost its history, and it is only a tenth of a mile from where I sit now. We drove past his grave hundreds of times never knowing it was there, and many other old Beaty graves. His headstone says he died in 1880, but it is wrong. He was a Justice of the Peace and married many couples around here that have descendents here as well up until 1892. He had very fine handwriting, and made his own little notary public seals hand drawn on deeds, and marriage documents. But still was only a simple dirt farmer. Many of the old Beaty graves have only shards of rock as headstones. They never escaped the poverty caused by the Civil War. The Beatys are originally from southern Scotland, and were Border Reivers, who ran with the Armstrongs and Elliots, famous names nowadays.They were called Beattisons, back then. My first American ancestor John Beaty arrived in SC in 1750. Beatys fought in all wars since then of USA. Even the obscure ones. Some of my line were amoung the first into Kentucky. I went to Centre College in Danville Ky , the oldest four year school west of the mountains, and there was a Beaty street close by, and a Beaty was a founder of the school. One of Daniel L. Beaty's brothers died in the Civil War, but I forget his name at the moment. When I see the movie Cold Mountain, I think of my great grand pa trekking back home over the mountains to Alpharetta and his family, exactly the same way, and hopefully with similar adventures! And he and my family's pilgrimage from Georgia to central Arkansas five years later. Leaving his father and mother, Moses and Cassandra behind. Did they walk with wagons, mules, oxen, etc.??? We have no record. Part of the family ended up with most of his land here after one brother murdered another, and moved back to Atlanta, went to med school and law school. My branch remained dirt farmers. I think the ones that moved back to Atlanta area have the family Bible. I know it must exist, but no one here has it, but there are tales of its size and age. Must be some records there I will never recover. I went and visited Alpharetta several years back. I found the old Beaty farm sites. Still undeveloped 20 years ago, but subdivisions were close by, and a golf course. Next time I will try to find some Beatys, and see if they have the Bible. Over and out.
A great film about the one of the major battles of the Civil War. You're right in pointing out that there are aspects of the battle that the film missed, but I don't think any one film could fully capture the tragic nature or the catastrophic death toll at the battle of Gettysburg.
I also admire your video because it focuses on the facts on the war, and does not try to villify or villanize either side. As Americans, we need to continue to objectively study this war.
What I find peculiar is no mention of the cavalry battles on the third day, one of which included Custer. I know, I know, length of the movie, things had to be cut. No one understands this better than I, worked as a manager in the projection booth when this movie was released. It took up two platters for the film instead of one, requiring an intermission to re-thread the projector.
How fascinating! I have been looking for detailed information about General Wrights action for some time. I did not realize he made it so far. Only if he had the support required to hold it. Wonderful presentation with the animated maps it sure does give a better understanding of a particular battle action. Sad thing, Meade now knew to re-enforce it. Lee underestimating Meades's efforts to do so.
I really wanted to see the unions battle retreat through the city. What an epic cinematic scene that could have been. I suppose it could have also built more of a back and forth picture of those 3days. What I'm trying to say is, from what I remember about the movie (from what I recall), the script time line sort of went like this: first contact, jump right to the fish hook, defend the bottom flank, third day assault. In conclusion, knowing 2 of my ancestors fought in the "missing" cinematic parts and forgetting my bias, I wanted to see that retreat through town in which the fish hook was formed.
Not really suitable from dramatic standpoint. Lots of confusion, traffic jams, and individual acts of heroism and cowardice, but no structure. Further, the costs of taking even one street of Gettysburg out of business for a couple of weeks would have been prohibitive -- take down liight poles, power lines, possibly parking meters, covering the streets with dirt, removing house numbers and business signs, rerouting traffic, all at the height of the tourist season.
There is a documentary on U-Tube called "Gettysburg" that does show the retreat through the town.
1st Minnesota buying time with 80% casualties should not have been left out. Also, showing the Confederates nearly taking Cemetery Ridge on day 2 would have been a great narrative tool for setting up why Lee thought Pickett's Charge would work.
Every person there had a story to tell. Only so much can fit in.
it's simple really!make a movie worthy of the conflict no matter how many hours that it needs to be to have it protrayed correctly and fully!that damned andy warholl made the "frankenstein" movie 48 hours long!surely this much heralded american epic battle deserves at the very least equal temporal advantage to the subject matter!the deleted scene with the mayor of gettysburg with the excellent actor sam elliot did however seem a little trite and uncharacteristically pedestrian!if there is more footage from the cutting room floors by all means re-edit the whole! Custer's dismounted skirmish fight behind meade's lines in particular would be quite stirring in turning away mounted COURAGEOUS CONFEDERATE cavalry and cannon from deploying
And as was previously stated the movie was based on a novel, not as a documentary of the battle.
Yes, the movie led to me reading probably upwards of thirty books on the battle, and visiting the sight three times, and many other sights. I’ve forgotten much of it by now, but is what you described the nighttime battle on cemetery ridge? I seem to remember a battle that took place at night that was critical, and there was nothing on Culps hill, wasn’t the day 2 battle important? The movie was excellent, but instead of gods and generals, they should have divided gettysburg into 2 movies. I personally thought there was too much chamberlain in the movie, but I could be wrong.
I actually have an animated battle map of Greenes defense of Culps hill on July second. Please check it out. I think you will enjoy it.
I did the same, but read the book first, then more books and all the movies I could find. Is engrossing subject.
And that should be “sites” I must have not been paying attention.
Sadly many great Americans on both sides gave their all and fell during this conflict. And even if one survived such an engagement a part of one's self is left behind with the fallen. It is right to remember what they did and what they sacrificed.
To me, only one side was the true Americans: the Union troops. The others were traitors.
@@ohioexpax1592 All Americans were traitors to England, remember the Revolutionary war.
@@ohioexpax1592 100% People wonder why there is so much hatred still in the US, when we refuse to teach that the South were the bad guys. They were the bad guys. Until the people of the South can stop their denial and revisionism, there will always be a divide. You CANNOT fly the confederate flag next to the US flag. Just like you cannot fly the Japanese Empire flag, or the Nazi flag. We wiped out what the Confederate stood for. Please stop trying to keep the war alive, and accept that the Confederate South is no more, that that is GOOD.
I knew there would be ignorant assholes responding to this one, and here they are.
@@princeofcupspoc9073 What a load of tosh
Really enjoy this documentary and the way you explain things - you are a bomb 💣
Good job, my suggestion is to do a video on Lee’s retreat from Gettysburg, a fascinating tale.
This happened a lot during the civil war. There are many stories of actions by battalions or divisions that were brave or extraordinary, that could have, but eventually did not effect the battles outcome. If there was a particular tactic, or metric that could be used in further battles it would be more significant than a lone brigade's valor, simply because. 1. it could not be repeated on a large scale, and 2. it is not something you can train regular troops to do and may in fact be situational.
While the bravery of men doing this kind of thing (like Custer in the peach orchard) were significant to the situation. The overall battle was still defined by a few struggles outside these acts.
i didnt realize the Georgians had reached the stone wall on Cemetary ridge on day 2 where pickets charge focused on day 3. very interesting
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Thank You for posting this. Well done!
Brilliant as ever.... They also left out the cavalry fight on the hook of the union line, Jeb Stewart v Custer almost...
You are right. The union would have had a real problem if Stuart's cavalry could flank. Probably Custer's finest moment in uniform.
I spent 9 days as a “background artist “ (extra) for this movie, they used reenactors . We camped on site and they fed us like hogs. Turner and “her” were there on our last day of filming, of course all the veterans ignored “her”.
Still salty after 30 years. This is exactly what the Internet was made for
They should do a separate bonus track that has stuff like Ambrose Wright's attack, and the Iron Brigade's attack.
You're correct, Wright's Brigade of Georgians was in most of the major battles the ANV fought from early 63 to Appomattox.
They could only put so much in that film! This is good stuff you posted thank you.
Lang fell back because his left was exposed by the Georgians falling back. It is noted in his report that Wright was some 100 or 150 yards to his rear. Lang asked for reinforcements from Anderson after capturing a NY battery and Anderson never responded to Lang's request. Unsupported, with no reinforcements coming, and in danger of being cut off the small Florida Brigade had no choice but to fallback. Anderson should of been brought up on charges for not supporting both Wright and Lang on what would of been a major breakthrough.
I do not think this video is very accurate. Levy, I think you are right about the Georgians though. All other accounts I have read was the Florida Brigade under Lang advanced the farthest of any other Confederate unit. From what I gather was if the Floridians had advanced another 200 to 300 meters they would of captured the entire union headquarters.
I have visited the battlefield many many times. Every time I go, I learn something new. And every time I find myself tearing up thinking of the sacrifice and the heroic deeds done there. If you have never been there, I urge you to go.
My Great Great Great Grandfather, my Great grandmother, Sylvia Wright, spoke often of her memories about Gen Wright
My Ancestors fought in General Wright's Brigade of Georgians in the 48th Georgia Co H and also in the 3rd his original unit, Carswell
Very nice commentary! Id watch any and all that pertains to this subject matter. Thumbs Up from North Carolina!!! They should've included many more important moments from that great clash!. I would've enjoyed seeing more of a Confederate veiwpoint from the 1st days fighting, i.e. 26th NC's assault across the run. Great work!
I mean at 4.4 hours long ( the extended edition) there wasn't much else they could fit into an actual movie to be released in theatres.
But If we're going with a mini series. Culps hill on the second day was a HUGE thing to put in. The back and forth on that side of the battlefield was as important as the Defense of Little round top.
The Movement of Sickles out to the wheatfield and Peach Orchard and the delay that it actually caused as longstreets columns had to re deploy because they were sighted.
Warren getting to the top of little round top and the immediate decision that he made to call for help. Strong Vincent intercepting Warrens runner and taking it upon himself to deploy the MI, NY and ME. Regiments to the hill not knowing he was literally minutes away from the confederates overwhelming Sykes and Sickles and charging the hill.
The other bayonet charges by one of the NY regiments to counter a probable confederate breakthrough at the base of little round top to the right of the 20th maine.
The Lost company of the 20th Maine. A HUGE part of Chamberlains battle tactics during the fight was him thinking he'd lost all of Company B and how they rejoined into the fight as the Bayonet charge occured.
I could go on with this list for a long time. There were tons of great stories that were written that day. Acts of Heroism that got left out of the movie.
Too right, there just isn't enough time in a movie to explore all the stories of Gettysburg. I've read entire books about the battle that didn't cover all of the facets of the battle. Suffice it to say whoever tries to tell the story of this battle always has to pick and choose what part of the story to tell. The movie Gettysburg did it better than most...
1st Minnesota and the Union cavalry repulse of Stuart's cavalry corps deserved some shine to.
Fantastic depiction of a battle that was staggering in its historical depiction ,the only other film i think is on a par with Gettysburg is Waterloo starring Rod Steiger as Napoleon Bonaparte and Christopher Plummer as the Duke of Wellington
An excellent movie.........one of the last British funded big screen war extravagances
They made some awful gaffs with uniforms and equipment. For instance, the soldiers had white enameled drinking cups. In 1815??? Tin, yes. Pewter was too expensive. The story line was accurate though and both Rod Steiger and Plumber really looked like the original characters.
I LOVED that movie.... Finally found it on UA-cam about a month ago to watch it again.
However, the narrator said that despite being based on a novel, "Gettysburg" is historically accurate. You have to hand it to the Shaaras. Their books are better than reading "history" and they are probably more "accurate" than any "text" you can find when it comes to American military history.
Tina Anderson. I thought cross of iron was one of the. best
Tina Anderson gods and generals also
3rd great granddaddy was in 54 ga co I. He was at one point in the army of the tennessee. Would like to see something about murfreesboro or franklin
I have an animated battle map of Franklin. Its titled, The Death of Cleburne and Franklin.
I concur with what you are saying. I felt part 2 of the movie spent to much time building a lengthy sideline history of interpersonal relationships though certainly important that could have been used to give more battle facts. Still a great movie that I have watched many times.
Thank you, I cannot think, but might have been if Wright had had more support..
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The movie Gettysburg is amazing. Unfortunately, even with a runtime of 4 hours and 14 minutes, there are several key events that it fails to cover. It is still a remarkably detailed and historically accurate film.
Great synopsis! I hope to do some videos on the Gettysburg Battlefields coming up here shortly
Thank you so much
First I am very happy to run across this discussion and humbled because I had read and studied the Civil War since I was 10, 54 years ago. The level of knowledge here is intimidating but I have a couple thoughts. Most wars are based on some derivation of financial gain or loss; in short, money. The North was industrialized and produced higher value products for trading w other markets; more money. The South was an agrarian economy with good products but their financial success depended upon inexpensive production of their goods; lower value and less money. They needed some form of very cheap labor because their products were labor intensive. The North had begun mechanization, producing a higher value product w less reliance on "free" labor. Second, a lesson from WWII is that the nation that can produce the greatest quantity of materials wins. The South did not have a manufacturing base to continue producing the materials for war. Somewhere I read or saw a documentary that said later in the war the South had only 1 factory producing cannon; that can't sustain or fulfill the need. That also coincides w why the blockade was so lethal to Lee and Davis. The South relied on buying munitions because they couldn't produce enough themselves. I suggest the North would have eventually won because it could product more implements of war. There is also a discussion around the military technology in use; rifled muskets versus smooth bore early on, repeating rifles for the cavalry (prominent at Gettysburg), Colt pistols and not LeMatte, etc, etc.
If I may, I'd like to diverge from the what may have, what did, what could have and look at what was. This war of civil strife killed more American soldiers than any prior or since. We fought ourselves and it was devastating to all involved. The bravery, sacrifice, heroics and loss to both sides was both inspiring and terrifying. I am a Boston boy but I am furious at what is being done to deface the Southern memorials to their soldiers, their great leaders and the places of sacrifice. We shouldn't glorify this war but it must be remembered, the dead honored and the places preserved; lest we forget and somehow do it again. We are a Union today because of that war and stronger as a people. I'm tired of the political correctness. Robert E Lee's and all the other statues are not about slavery, they are about recognition of a great man, the men who put their beliefs and protection of their homeland into practice. Honor deeds, sacrifice and remember all the dead that gave so freely of their blood; don't defame them.
I've sat at Gettysburg 4 times and it is a place and has a feeling that I've experienced nowhere else. I've stood at the stone wall up the hill in Fredericksburg where no Union soldier reached despite wave after wave fighting uphill against entrenched troops and commanded by an idiot that wasn't even in the fray. The silence in these places is deafening despite being in city or surrounded by tour buses or deluges of mother nature. Thanks for listening to the rants of an old man; I am still confounded by the shear bravery and loss of all involved in the face of those weapons, tactics and frequently inadequate officers. May God Bless them all and the United States.
Robert Flemings ole southern boy from west tn thank you so very very much. that blessed my soul reading your really I'm 56
Mark Stevens Sir, you do me honor w your comment. I love this country and believe all the members of our military; fallen, retired and serving, deserve far better then they've gotten. I always thank any service man i see, it should be required of everyone. Again, just the ramblings of an old man. Thank you
Those monuments you think so highly of are of traitors who murdered American (US) soldiers; however, they were not put up to honor those people specifically. They were set up to help spur and support the reintroduction of near slavery and the destruction of any rights for black people in the South. No one has said to take the Confederacy out of museums or other places where those items can be seen in context, only where they were set up to dominate the public spaces and show that the whites have power of life and death over their black subjects. Those monuments were set up to the tune of the mass murders of blacks throughout the South and those murders are what they represent. They should be torn down NOW.
That's the Great thing about this country; everyone is entitled to their opinion. What we need to do is respect all of them; whether we think the same or not.
I've thought about this a great deal as I was somewhat taken aback by your response. I ask if you've seen the movie/stage play 1776? There is a heated discussion w one of the Southern delegates about slavery and the Northern delegates immediately took the high ground, holy'er than thou; right up to the point that the oratory of "Slaves to Molasses to Rum". That Southern delegate could not agree but he put the new nation ahead of his feelings; he left the Continental Congress and took up arms as a common soldier against the British. The North was no less guilty for having let this happen; they profited from it. Our hated mother country abolished slavery long before America. The North profited handsomely by ignoring the "evil it helped foster". Your attitude perpetuates the division of thought in this country; live and let live, heal those hurt, reach out to understand your fellow man and don't be an ass that you're right and they're wrong. As for terrorists; September 11, 2001 my office was on the 25th floor of World Trade 1. December 7th, 1941 when a surprise attack killed over 3000 Americans. Those were terrorists; the South was fighting to preserve it's livelihood, it's financial relevance in the world marketplace. Yes, slavery was wrong, terrible, cruel,.....now go tell that to every civilization since man stood upright and while you're at it please take your message to those country's, organizations, terrorists and drug cartels that do it right now. You sound like a northern, white, privileged man that voted for Hillary or Bernie, would give everything to the "poor" illegal immigrants and have no grasp on reality. Now, I will apologize for that statement but I am sick and tired of taking care of everybody else when we have veterans, homeless, low income folks struggling to survive day to day and American children that don't have enough to eat.
Reading Gettysburgs Peach Orchard by Hessler and Isenberg. Great analysis of that fateful second day of battle at Gettysburg. General Sickles pushing his Corps forward of Meades main line may have been a blessing in disguise and may have saved the union's left flank. The ferocity of the fighting in and around the peach orchard was some of the worst during the Civil War.
What Sickles did was not a “blessing in disguise”, it was a terrible blunder that almost cost the Union the battle. His line was far too thin and his left, which could have been firmly anchored on Little Round Top, was instead left up in the air. Besides being spread too thin, his line was too far forward to be efficiently reinforced, leading to gaps opening up as described in the video. Warren, Hancock, and other officers scrambled for hours to plug the awful gaps, and the ferocious fighting of units like the 1st Minnesota saved the day.
@@mjfleming319 You have your right to your opinion...I stated mine...let's agree to disagree and leave it at that.
@@curtc2194 cool.
Could you do a video on the 3rd Arkansas infantry? They were assigned to the Texas Brigade. A relative is wondering about company H (the orphan company). John Allen Wilkerson is the relatives name we are searching for. They fought at Gettysburg with Hood and also at 7 pines etc. I left a Transcribed copy of his written letter telling his experiences during the battle at Devils Den at the Gettysburg information center for their collection. Thank You so very much for this video.
thattherevideoguy I have a some videos lined up to upload but I will see what I can do. Keep checking back to the channel. Thank you for the support.
Excellent video. Bravo.
I try to imagine Lee's decision making on sending those men across that field. Say what you will about Longstreet, he was correct.
Please check out Philip Thomas Tucker's book, "Pickett's Charge- A New Look at Gettysburg's Final Attack."
Thank you
Yes, history shows us that on this day General Longstreet was correct in his assessment of the situation.
I wonder how it would've turned out if Lee would've redeployed his forces and marched toward Washington??
@@royfairchild6895 Lee never intended for the attack to move forward under the conditions it did. Had he realized the lack of results from the preparatory artillery bombardment and Longstreet's abdication of tactical command of the troops engaged he likely would have called it off. Lee expected Longstreet to exert some manner of control over the attacking force which he manifestly refused to do. He even went so far as to try to place responsibility for the movement forward on E Porter Alexander.
The Federal army would never have left the Army of North Va. alone as it disengaged and moved towards Washington. Lee would have found himself pinned between the fortifications of Washington and the Army of the Potomac without the supplies he needed to wage a battle or a siege.
Wonderful video! This is another heroic story that would have enhanced Gettysburg. I also wish they could have devoted some time to the charge of the 1st Minnesota, and the cavalry battle on day 3.
Pickett's charge involved 15,000 confederate troops counting reserves on the flanks. Pickett's charge directly involved 12,000 troops who made the assault, not the 10,000 as the moderator claims. Half of the 12,000 became casualties. A "casualty" means killed, wounded, captured, missing. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain's 20th Maine was not really close to the charge on the 3rd day. This is pure fiction. However, Chamberlain went on from Gettysburg to equally heroic deeds until the end of the war. He finished the war as a Major General and was hand picked by Grant to receive the Confederate surrender at Appomattox. And he did that with typical class, having the Union troops come to attention and salute the Confederates as they marched by. This single act of Chamberlain's is said to have started the healing of the torn nation. Confederate General John Gordon, many times wounded, returned the salute on horseback. armyhistory.org/honor-answering-honor-bloody-chamberlain-and-the-surrender-at-appomattox/
Excellent narrative! I just subscribed.
My ancestor, SA Corker led the 3rd Ga in this charge. He was captured. I wrote a book about his letters. Above the High Water Mark. After capture from prison he wrote the following letter. Johnson’s Island
Prisoner Port near
Saundusky City Ohio
August 2nd, 1863
My Dear Wife,
I wrote you a note from Fort Delaware, but as the postage was not paid, I fear you did not get it, and I have suffered much because, powerless to relieve your anxiety, I know your distress of mind must have been great. I know not what news may have reached you in regard to me, if I was taken prisoner in advance of the time, and even my own men do not know whether I was killed, wounded or a prisoner. God in his Mercy, & wisdom carried me safely thro that terrible battle (Gettysburg), and I am still spared to you, my dear son, and aged mother. Bad Gen’lship lost us the day. My dear wife, apprise my dear mother of my safety as quick as you get this and Kiss my noble boy. Tell him I will bring him a nice Pr. shoes when I am exchanged if allowed. Don’t allow his hair to be cut until I come home & begin to learn him his letters. You will be allowed (I hope) to send me a letter through the lines saying that you are well etc. Mr Nott - Walter’s brother- upon my apprising him of my situation, has kindly furnished me $50, which has afforded me comfortable under clothing, etc. & I am now as comfortable as my unpleasant position will allow of. The Post here is as well arranged as it can be. Plenty of good water from the lake. I have me a good wash pan, towel, soap, & use them freely. A nice under change; & ½ doz. good socks is the life of me. J. Anthony Lane from Wilkes, Jud Heargroves, Henry Attaway, and McCathran are prisoners with me. Love to all. Your devoted husband. Fes
Thank you so much for sharing - a fascinating letter
Your father's letter is priceless history...he wisely notes that poor generalship lost the battle for the South.
Thank you for sharing your ancestor's letter. It makes for fascinating reading, bringing to life something of one man's experiences.
My Ancestors fought in the Co H 48th Georgia Lt. Dennis L Durden my 4th Great Uncle and Private Elisha Coleman my 3rd Great Grandfather. I have Carswell ancestors in the 3rd Ga.
My 2nd Great Grandfather Sgt Charles Monroe Modesett of Wofford's Brigade captured the Flag of the 11th US Regular Infantry at the Peach Orchard on the 2nd day. Good bless their Souls.
I love this channel.CSA proud
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The movie left out the calvary engagement east of the town of Gettysburg.
George Custer make a name for himself that day as his unit repulsed Confederate calvary several times.
That's easily the most dispensable part of the battle, as the results there had little to no effect on the rest of the field. It's unlikely that Stuart had enough men or firepower to seriously disrupt the Army of the Potomac from that vantage point even had he been able to get the jump on the Federal cavalry that day. Custer might have turned a few heads but for all that little was accomplished by either cavalry force. So much the better if Custer had remained an unheralded junior officer. His last stand may have created a legend but he didn't seem to be a particularly good officer in my opinion.
In a talk at the army war college steve knott pointed out that a personal feud between Stuart and 2 other officers in the cavalry units Stuart left these 2 units of Stuarts best fighters behind and assigned 2 reserve units to accompany Lee into Pennsylvania.Lee didn't use reserve units as he didn't trust them.Thus not only did Stuart get held up by a moving army,he left Lee totally blind to Union movements
My great great great grandfather fought there at only 16 years old his name is on the wall there and I was born just north of there going there this summer
Been there twice. 1st time I was a child in a basement in former life .and i could hear canon fire and smelt the death of it all. By god l swear by this. Life is a true mystery.
Great video! I’d like to know what the music in the background is called?
My cousin is a college professor who is FLOORED by the number of new students Every Year who think they can substitute a Hollyweard facsimile for the literary or historical publication upon which to submit a book report.
Gotta love that common core public education and lack of parental involvement.
Daniel Mocsny Wow... that was irrelevant. Stop using every opportunity you have to shove your political and religious/anti-religious views down our throats.
Somebody is butthurt Hillary lost. I'm glad she did.
True reading is a lost skill
. Plus history isn't encourage , doesn't peak most young people's interest. Shame there I are more stories in books than in movies . Guess television started the decline after 1967
No surprise at all. A great number of these students are near functionally illiterate, have no interest in bettering themselves, have almost zero knowledge of history, or just about anything else. The term student shouldn't even be applied to them because that implies that they actually want to learn something. They should instead be re-named, PT's. Passing-Through.
Thoughtful video, well presented. Thank you.
There were plenty of BF episodes that could have been included-Custer’s charge repulsing Southern cavalry during the final day might have made for dramatic action too, because if Stuart’s troopers had broken through, they could have assailed the Union troops from behind. But it wasn’t in the novel, any more than Wright’s assault was. Good thoughtful piece though.
Everyone always forgets that Calvary battle . My G - G was with the 2nd PA Vol Cav .
@@hemihead001 Second Pa. Vol Cav. fought in 16 major engagements including the clash at East Cavalry Field. I visited Gettysburg once, many years ago, but missed that battle site.
Meade who fearlessly rode the battlefield and Hunt, who in my opinion really was key to the victory were not shown even though he was at the angle during Pickett's charge ...had his horse shot and was laying under it during the breakthrough. Culps hill was also key and their use of fortifacations was key as well preventing Lee from getting into their rear. But then it would have neen a 6 hour movie. Great job here and still a fine movie I thought.