July 3, 2023
LM#33--Gettysburg 160th anniversary, part 3
FAN MAIL--We would love YOUR feedback--Send us a Text Message Join us as we journey back in time to honor the 160th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg, a turning point in our nation's history. In todays Special Liberty Minute 🗽, we continue with our 160th anniversary commemoration with the final part, Part 3. Our guide today will include Stephen Sears and his wonderful one volume book on Gettysburg plus, we have a unique book we will be reading from, Pickett's Charge At Gettysbu...
FAN MAIL--We would love YOUR feedback--Send us a Text Message
Join us as we journey back in time to honor the 160th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg, a turning point in our nation's history.
In todays Special Liberty Minute 🗽, we continue with our 160th anniversary commemoration with the final part, Part 3.
Our guide today will include Stephen Sears and his wonderful one volume book on Gettysburg plus, we have a unique book we will be reading from, Pickett's Charge At Gettysburg: A guide to the most famous attack in American History by James Kessler and Wayne Motts.
Again, this series is a tribute to our dear friend and listener, Ed Gallagher, whose love for history inspired us to delve deep into the heart of the battle at Gettysburg's rich past.
Key Points from the Episode:
- We’re peeling back the layers of history, taking you through an in-depth journey into the rigorous process of becoming a battlefield guide at Gettysburg, a role steeped in tradition and a profound understanding of the broader scope of the battle beyond the strategies and tactics. You'll gain insight into the five tiers of the licensing process, shedding light on the decades of research, the human element, and the political, social, and economic perspectives tied to this era.
- We’ve brought along two seasoned battlefield guides, Wayne Motts and James Hessler, to add color and depth to this unique journey. They’ll help us dissect the infamous attack of Pickett's division on the third day of the Gettysburg battle. With their expertise, we'll scrutinize the events leading up to General Lee's decision to order the assault and unearth the stories of bravery and sacrifice that define this historical event.
- Our tribute wouldn't be complete without honoring those who fought and died at Gettysburg. We're looking beyond the battle lines to the stories of courage and commitment that shaped this event. From Louis B Williams’ gallantry to Colonel Norman Hall's heroic efforts, these tales of bravery remind us of the cost of liberty.
- We wind down by reflecting on the words of Abraham Lincoln's famous Gettysburg Address, reminding us of the importance of remembering and honoring the legacy of those who fought for freedom. So tune in, and let’s journey together through the Battle of Gettysburg.
Other resources:
American Battlefield Trust--Inside the Copse of Trees and Picketts Charge
More Goodness:
Academy Review membership program
Want to leave a review? Click here, and if we earned a five-star review from you **high five and knuckle bumps**, we appreciate it greatly, thank you so much!
Because we care what you think about what we think and our website, please email David@teammojoacademy.com, or if you want to leave us a quick FREE, painless voicemail, we would appreciate that as well.
00:01 - Introduction
12:56 - Battlefield guides
22:48 - Picketts Charge
40:16 - Honoring the Sacrifice of Brave Men
WEBVTT
00:00:01.983 --> 00:00:04.750
Listen, those are the drums of liberty.
00:00:04.750 --> 00:00:13.454
160 years ago today, those drums sounded in south central Pennsylvania, in a sleepy little town named Gettysburg.
00:00:13.454 --> 00:00:15.881
We've talked about days one and two.
00:00:15.881 --> 00:00:21.792
Today let's talk about the final day, day three, on this special Liberty Minute.
00:00:23.140 --> 00:00:36.283
Welcome to the Theory to Action podcast, where we examine the timeless treasures of wisdom from the great books in less time, to help you take action immediately and ultimately to create and lead a flourishing life.
00:00:36.283 --> 00:00:40.351
Now here's your host, david Kaiser.
00:00:42.777 --> 00:00:52.020
Hello, i am David and welcome back to this special Liberty Minute, part three of our 160th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg.
00:00:52.020 --> 00:01:03.350
Today we're going to set the stage for one of the most famous infantry charges in all of military history, but we're going to do so from a unique vantage point.
00:01:03.350 --> 00:01:21.816
Part of the idea is to help you flourish in your own life, to seek out and find those unique nuggets of wisdom and these unique books to help you practically feel that you're functioning at the top of your game, and then to share those nuggets with you so you can explore and feel like you're stepping.
00:01:21.816 --> 00:01:37.100
You have a step on the competition And today our guide and authors have produced a book that I was hoping would be written for many years, especially all those years that I've been going to the Gettysburg battlefield.
00:01:37.100 --> 00:01:45.564
In fact, it is a guide written by actual national Gettysburg Military Park battlefield guides themselves.
00:01:45.564 --> 00:01:48.593
That's why this is important.
00:01:48.593 --> 00:02:01.192
It's because if you've ever been in the battlefield and you paid the money to rent a guide for an hour or two, you will quickly understand how vital that is to enhance your experience at the site.
00:02:01.192 --> 00:02:10.962
In fact, it is tremendous the amount of knowledge that these guys and gals have in the battle itself and then all things that are civil war.
00:02:13.408 --> 00:02:18.259
So first, these battlefield guides who conduct very professional tours.
00:02:18.259 --> 00:02:32.348
Often when you go to certain landmarks in our country and around the world, you end up getting volunteers helping to provide their time because they believe in the cause of you know, certain said historical landmark.
00:02:32.348 --> 00:02:38.145
That's certainly the case with these guides.
00:02:38.145 --> 00:02:49.954
But more than that, there are requirements, a long standing requirements, to become a Gettysburg battlefield guide, and they are quite rigorous.
00:02:49.954 --> 00:02:58.723
To shed some light on how rigorous it is, let's just grab some information from the Gettysburg Military Park website.
00:02:58.723 --> 00:03:03.056
Quote based upon park needs and visitor demand.
00:03:03.056 --> 00:03:06.247
The park will only be licensing individuals for full time.
00:03:06.247 --> 00:03:23.813
For the full time license category Listen to this the licensing process consists of five tiers the written exam, the panel interview, the field of practicum, the oral exam and the post licensing orientation.
00:03:23.813 --> 00:03:30.631
Candidates must pass each tier in succession to become a license battlefield guide.
00:03:30.631 --> 00:03:49.483
This multi tiered process continues a tradition of rigorous license battlefield guide examinations and upholds the continued excellence of guiding on the battle the Gettysburg battlefield, said Bill Justice, acting superintendent of Gettysburg National Military Park.
00:03:51.967 --> 00:04:01.557
Now I'll put a link in the show notes so you can see for yourself what they all go through, what all these battlefield guides go through.
00:04:01.557 --> 00:04:10.765
But let me share but let me share real quick just two questions from this extremely long list of frequently asked questions on the battlefield guides themselves.
00:04:10.765 --> 00:04:19.045
One question was how long will I have to study to become a licensed battlefield guide?
00:04:19.045 --> 00:04:22.713
The answer to this generally is years.
00:04:22.713 --> 00:04:28.980
You should be for the exam as soon as you have a burning desire to become a battlefield guide.
00:04:29.862 --> 00:04:34.333
The actual written exam is given in the late fall and generally on a Saturday and early December.
00:04:34.333 --> 00:04:42.201
Since it is announced in the late spring or summer, it's best You would have about four to six months of preparation time beforehand.
00:04:42.201 --> 00:04:42.783
Don't wait.
00:04:42.783 --> 00:04:45.146
Start reading and start studying now.
00:04:45.146 --> 00:04:49.598
And then you come to the question what should I study?
00:04:49.598 --> 00:04:56.682
The answer, the basic answer that they give, is anything and everything.
00:04:57.771 --> 00:04:58.815
Start with a general work.
00:04:58.815 --> 00:05:02.060
Coddington's The Gettysburg Campaign is a good one.
00:05:02.060 --> 00:05:06.230
Go through and try to get the basics, the ebb and flow of the battle.
00:05:06.230 --> 00:05:17.399
Don't concern yourself with names, particularly below brigade level, unless they are particularly striking or significant individuals or units, and don't get bogged down in statistics.
00:05:17.399 --> 00:05:24.855
Once you've accomplished this, pick up one or two smaller works, like Tucker's High Tide at Gettysburg, or a few of the older guidebooks.
00:05:24.855 --> 00:05:30.583
Although not so good for battle related action, they make great sources of human interest stories.
00:05:30.583 --> 00:05:37.324
Then you must also concentrate on the monuments, the weapon types, the uniforms, food, local area place names.
00:05:37.389 --> 00:05:46.197
It's important to note that successful guides are those who have a good grasp of political, social and economic perspectives related to this era.
00:05:46.197 --> 00:05:50.860
Knowledge of military aspects alone normally is not sufficient.
00:05:50.860 --> 00:06:13.461
Generally we find that those with the most detail down the company knowledge level of the battle usually have the hardest time making it through the licensing process Because they know too much of a specialized aspect of the battle, ie tactics or artillery, and too little of the broad scope of the battle, the human element, the meaning of it all.
00:06:13.461 --> 00:06:18.502
By all means, know the Gettysburg area, know its roads it's historic and modern.
00:06:18.502 --> 00:06:21.439
Know the place name, study the battlefield proper.
00:06:21.439 --> 00:06:30.081
It will help you to get through Tier 1 exam and absolutely be crucial in your subsequent practical tiers.
00:06:30.081 --> 00:06:43.697
Wow, so you can see very quickly that to become a licensed battlefield guide at Gettysburg you have to be top notch in many areas.
00:06:43.697 --> 00:06:54.536
And who knew that there was a tradition of rigorous licensed battlefield guides that have to go through examinations?
00:06:54.536 --> 00:07:17.870
But I like it and I deeply appreciate it, this tradition, because as we've moved forward in our country, more and more interest has come about with the American public, especially with the Ken Burns series, which actually started me on this wonderful trip of discovering the Civil War.
00:07:17.870 --> 00:07:21.670
Seriously, it was probably my gateway drug, so to speak.
00:07:21.670 --> 00:07:31.158
And then obviously we follow that up with the most famous and well done movie, the 1993 Gettysburg movie with Martin Sheen.
00:07:34.350 --> 00:07:43.285
Now back to our book Pickets Charge at Gettysburg, written by Wayne Motz and James Hessler.
00:07:43.285 --> 00:07:47.970
Now, wayne Motz is a central Ohio guy like myself, born and raised here.
00:07:47.970 --> 00:07:53.850
He received his BA from the Ohio State University in 1989 and then moved to Gettysburg in 1990.
00:07:53.850 --> 00:07:57.524
He earned his MA from Shippensburg in 1994.
00:07:57.524 --> 00:08:11.637
And his claim to fame, in addition to being an author of this wonderful book we're going to cover, was Wayne was one of the youngest persons ever to complete the licensing process to be a battlefield guide at the Gettysburg National Military Park.
00:08:11.637 --> 00:08:16.920
He guided parties around the famous field for over 27 years.
00:08:16.920 --> 00:08:24.295
He has tons of other credentials that we don't have time to share, but you get the point This guy knows his stuff.
00:08:24.295 --> 00:08:29.689
Now James Hessler is the other author, the co-author, of this book.
00:08:29.689 --> 00:08:32.070
He's been in Battlefield Guide since 2003.
00:08:32.070 --> 00:08:44.701
He's been in the book Sickles at Gettysburg, written in 2009, and won the prestigious Batchholder Connington Award as the most outstanding work on the Gettysburg campaign.
00:08:44.701 --> 00:08:58.561
Jim is an adjunct professor at the local Harrisburg area community college at Gettysburg, the Gettysburg campus, And he continues to give professional talks to many Civil War roundtables.
00:08:58.561 --> 00:09:08.549
So this guy knows his stuff as well And our book is wonderful and unique because it was written in 2015.
00:09:08.549 --> 00:09:19.980
It's the first book that I know that was written by one or more of the actual battlefield guides themselves I guess in this case two of them as co-authors.
00:09:20.610 --> 00:09:23.509
So with that long introduction, let's set the stage for day three.
00:09:23.509 --> 00:09:36.982
Pickett's Charge, or the Grand Charge as it's sometimes called, was part of Robert E Lee's overall thinking that he could take Cemetery Hill and the network of roads it commanded behind it.
00:09:36.982 --> 00:09:47.346
In fact, lee's military secretary wrote these words in his memoirs of Robert E Lee in 1886.
00:09:47.346 --> 00:09:49.750
Let's go to the book.
00:09:49.750 --> 00:10:01.278
There was a weak point where Cemetery Ridge, sloping westward, formed the depression through which Emmitsburg Road passes.
00:10:01.278 --> 00:10:18.722
Perceiving that by forcing the federal lines at that point turning towards Cemetery Hill, hayes division would be taken in flank and then the remainder would be neutralized, lee determined to attack at that point and the execution was assigned to Longstreet.
00:10:18.722 --> 00:10:23.801
Now, why did General Lee think that?
00:10:23.801 --> 00:10:32.533
Because on day two there was a slight breakthrough in the Union Center, even though the Confederates couldn't hold it at the time.
00:10:32.533 --> 00:10:44.634
There was a breakthrough and because General Lee had concentrated such heavy fighting on the flanks and he thought General Mead would reinforce their same flanks again to anticipate further attacks.
00:10:45.697 --> 00:11:02.764
On day three, early on July 3rd, the infantry assault was preceded by a massive artillery bombardment which started roughly about 1 pm with about 150 to 170 guns firing.
00:11:02.764 --> 00:11:33.830
That is why Lee thought he could break through in the middle of the Union line, so as these 150 to 170 cannons start firing at roughly 1 o'clock, by 2 o'clock roughly 12,500 men among nine brigades began to advance across the three-quarter mile open field between each of the lines.
00:11:33.830 --> 00:11:42.264
They advanced across the Emmitsburg Road and up to the crest of Cemetery Hill.
00:11:42.264 --> 00:11:59.056
Now I will say, when you walk this actual three-quarter of a mile, it is indeed an open field but it is a slight grade up with some dips in it And there is very little shelter across this open field.
00:12:00.447 --> 00:12:26.138
Now, generally ordered Longstreet General Longstreet to start this charge and Longstreet ordered his division commanders of Pickett, pettigrew and Trimble to lead the assault, generally also highly suggested to Longstreet that Pickett General Pickett had fresh troops, having not fought in the engagement at Gettysburg yet, so that they would be the ones to lead the assault.
00:12:26.138 --> 00:12:31.337
Thus the famous name of Pickett's charge being assigned to General Pickett.
00:12:31.337 --> 00:12:47.614
Now to give you some context, the day was super hot 87 degrees by one account of the measurement from close by in Gettysburg, the actual town, and it was extremely humid.
00:12:47.614 --> 00:12:51.495
Now let's get into this book itself.
00:12:51.495 --> 00:12:53.812
Let's go to our first poll quote.
00:12:56.609 --> 00:13:06.275
The attack of Pickett's division on the third day has been more criticized and still less understood than any other act of the Gettysburg drama.
00:13:06.275 --> 00:13:14.014
It was not ordered without mature consideration and on the grounds that presented fair prospects of success.
00:13:14.014 --> 00:13:26.431
Colonel Armstead Long wrote later, and here again, with this important quote, we understand the context of General Lee's thinking.
00:13:26.431 --> 00:13:28.711
Let's go back to the book.
00:13:28.711 --> 00:13:37.134
Any hopes for fighting a defensive battle were dashed, however, by the Confederate victory on July 1st 1863.
00:13:37.134 --> 00:14:00.613
General Lee had not planned to fight at a battle Gettysburg on that day, but Major General Henry Heath's division of Lieutenant General AP Hills Third Corps unexpectedly collided with Union Brigadier General John Buford's cavalry division and Major General John Reynolds Infantry One Corps in the fields west of Gettysburg.
00:14:00.613 --> 00:14:23.389
As the day progressed, hills men were joined with Confederate Lieutenant General Richard Jules, second Corps, and succeeded in defeating the federal first and ninth corps first and eleventh corps rather, which were reinforced Reynolds Corps north of the town in the afternoon, like we talked about.
00:14:23.450 --> 00:14:31.015
After retreating through the town, however, the northern forces rallied by nightfall on the heights of Cemetery Hill and Culp's Hill, south of Gettysburg.
00:14:31.015 --> 00:14:44.054
Although Lee and his generals may not have yet fully realized it, their victory on July 1st had ironically only served to drive the Union forces into a stronger defensive position.
00:14:44.054 --> 00:14:53.716
And again Jeb Stewart's cavalry comes in the picture of why Lee was agitated.
00:14:53.716 --> 00:14:55.308
Let's go back to the book.
00:14:55.308 --> 00:15:08.277
In the process of scoring this fruitless victory, lee had also allowed his army to be drawn away from the communication and supply lines which had been west of South Mountain Range.
00:15:08.277 --> 00:15:15.394
West of the South Mountain Range, these mountains are clearly visible from Gettysburg on the western horizon.
00:15:16.725 --> 00:15:35.197
That evening, on Seminary Ridge, general Longstreet arrived and allegedly proposed that the Confederate army moved farther south toward Washington, located a strong defensive position and forced the Yankees into making a presumably futile attack.
00:15:35.197 --> 00:15:39.429
Lee disappointed Longstreet by rejecting this proposal.
00:15:39.429 --> 00:15:44.739
No, the enemy is there on Cemetery Hill and I'm going to attack him there.
00:15:44.739 --> 00:15:57.774
Longstreet found Lee to be uncharacteristically agitated, in part due to the absence of Jeb Stewart's cavalry, which had lost contact with Lee's main body during the March North.
00:15:57.774 --> 00:16:09.135
As a result of Lee's insistence on attacking, longstreet, properly deferred to his commanding officer, returned to his Bivouac in order to prepare for the following day's offensive operations.
00:16:11.528 --> 00:16:19.164
Now there's more than one important conversation between Lee and Longstreet about the charge early on day three.
00:16:19.164 --> 00:16:21.692
Let's go back to the book Longstreet wrote.
00:16:21.692 --> 00:16:25.011
I felt that it was my duty to express my convictions.
00:16:25.011 --> 00:16:32.164
And, pointing to Cemetery Hill, longstreet told his commander General, i've been a soldier all my life.
00:16:32.164 --> 00:16:43.471
I've been with soldiers engaged in fights by couples, by squads, companies, regiments, divisions and armies, and should know as well as anyone what soldiers can do.
00:16:43.471 --> 00:16:50.700
Is my opinion that no 15,000 men ever raid for battle can take that position?
00:16:50.700 --> 00:17:02.480
But General Lee was not deterred and ordered me, longstreet, to prepare divisions, to prepare Pickett's division for the attack.
00:17:02.480 --> 00:17:13.114
Longstreet stressed that Lee was impatient of listening and tired of talking, so Longstreet turned his attention toward organizing the assault.
00:17:13.114 --> 00:17:23.472
And then one final quote about the planning of Pickett's charge And why I think this book is so important.
00:17:24.346 --> 00:17:33.893
Going back to the book, knowing the outcome in hindsight, history has been very harsh on Robert E Lee's decision to launch this frontal assault at Gettysburg.
00:17:33.893 --> 00:17:40.494
It should be remembered, however, that there were precedents for such successful attacks.
00:17:40.494 --> 00:17:50.477
Almost one year earlier, during the seven days battle, lee launched a series of massive, ultimately triumphant attacks against a portion of the Union Army at Gaines Mill.
00:17:50.477 --> 00:18:03.400
Recently, on the afternoon of July 1st at Gettysburg, colonel Abner Perrin, south Carolina Brigade, overran Union 1 Corps positions near the Lutheran Theological Seminary.
00:18:03.400 --> 00:18:16.900
Both victories had come at heavy cost, but they demonstrated that frontal assaults could work under the right combination of tactics leadership, terrain, artillery, support, luck and enemy performance.
00:18:16.900 --> 00:18:27.459
On the other hand, lee had also ordered some of these same men to attack Malvern Hill a few days after Gaines Mill.
00:18:27.459 --> 00:18:35.518
Poor Confederate execution and murderous federal artillery caused that attack to end in a bloody failure.
00:18:35.518 --> 00:18:50.641
Lee also undoubtedly remembered his own success and the part that his artillery played in defending against the Union's headlong attacks at Fredericksburg in December of 1862.
00:18:50.641 --> 00:19:05.040
Lee knew that he was taking a great risk in ordering this July 3rd charge, but with proper coordination between Longstreet Hill, their artillery and the use of the ground gained by Longstreet on July 2nd.
00:19:05.040 --> 00:19:12.458
Lee obviously believed this climactic assault on Cemetery Ridge could succeed.
00:19:14.887 --> 00:19:20.896
Now let's stop here and talk about another piece of brilliance with this book.
00:19:20.896 --> 00:19:32.465
It's arranged as if the guides are taking you through four different tours, each with its own unique talking points in history.
00:19:32.465 --> 00:19:36.468
And here is one such unique point.
00:19:36.468 --> 00:19:41.886
Let's go back to the book The Virginia State Military Memorial.
00:19:41.886 --> 00:19:53.287
There was initially some resistance from veterans on both sides to mark and commemorate the Confederate battle lines on the field.
00:19:53.287 --> 00:19:59.372
The Virginia State Memorial was the first southern state monument placed at Gettysburg.
00:19:59.372 --> 00:20:05.529
It was dedicated in June 1917, nearly 54 years after the battle.
00:20:07.460 --> 00:20:13.903
Lee generally sits mounted on his horse traveler forever looking across the fields of Pickett's Charge.
00:20:13.903 --> 00:20:19.480
It is believed that Robert E Lee watched much of the afternoon's action from near here.
00:20:19.480 --> 00:20:22.689
While seated on a large oak stump.
00:20:22.689 --> 00:20:40.329
Colonel J Thompson Brown, ules Acting Artillery Chief, observed Lee holding travelers' reins in his left hand, supporting his bowed head with his right hand.
00:20:40.329 --> 00:20:42.545
Brown assumed that Lee was praying.
00:20:42.545 --> 00:20:47.210
One can see why this would have been considered a suitable observation point.
00:20:47.210 --> 00:20:58.641
Longstreet in fact believed he did not have the authority to call off the attack because Lee was in such close proximity and could presumably see everything that Longstreet could.
00:21:01.019 --> 00:21:09.382
I just love those anecdotal stories that are sprinkled in Especially.
00:21:09.382 --> 00:21:16.047
You can take this book and you can especially go to the military park and walk through each of these steps.
00:21:16.047 --> 00:21:23.703
Each one of the four tours has seven, eight, nine different spots with long commentary at each spot.
00:21:23.703 --> 00:21:25.423
Really takes you to the battle.
00:21:25.423 --> 00:21:30.928
So roughly at 2 pm on day three, pickett's Charge began.
00:21:30.928 --> 00:21:49.844
Now please check out the book for more details about covering the roughly 1,400 yards from when all these divisions started and when the Confederates, under relentless hail of bullets and canisters, fired from cannon reach within eyesight of the stone wall which is the Union line.
00:21:49.844 --> 00:21:51.144
But let's pick it up there.
00:21:51.900 --> 00:22:08.404
Going back to the book, as Confederate casualties increased between the Ebbotsburg Road and the Stone Wall, pickett's Division lost three promising young officers whose lives had all followed remarkably similar roads to Gettysburg.
00:22:08.404 --> 00:22:18.065
Louis B Williams, robert C Allen and Waller Tazwell Patton were all Virginia natives who had attended VMI together.
00:22:18.065 --> 00:22:22.575
They graduated in the same small class on July 4th 1855.
00:22:22.575 --> 00:22:27.209
The men then all pursued occupations as lawyers prior to the Civil War.
00:22:27.209 --> 00:22:35.112
When military duty called, they ended all and came and entered back into the Army.
00:22:35.112 --> 00:22:45.686
They ended all commanding three regiments in Pickett's Division during Pickett's Charge, and all three were killed or mortally wounded.
00:22:45.686 --> 00:22:48.405
On this day Let's talk about one of them.
00:22:48.920 --> 00:22:52.686
Louis B Williams was a colonel in the first Virginia.
00:22:52.686 --> 00:23:01.803
Kempersburg aid was 29 years old at Gettysburg He had graduated from VMI with excellent academic standing and held the highest military office in his class.
00:23:01.803 --> 00:23:07.009
After graduation he taught mathematics and tactics for three years before pursuing law.
00:23:07.009 --> 00:23:17.599
The bachelor served with other Virginia regiments early in the war but was elected colonel of the first Virginia in April 1862.
00:23:17.599 --> 00:23:19.965
He was wounded and taken prisoner at Williamsburg.
00:23:19.965 --> 00:23:30.707
Williams was mounted on his horse, nelly, during the charge, near the Cordaio, the Codora house.
00:23:30.707 --> 00:23:37.827
He took a ball and the shoulder fell from his horse onto his drawn sword and was killed.
00:23:37.827 --> 00:23:42.588
The Ritalis horse was later caught by a member of Deering's artillery battalion.
00:23:42.588 --> 00:23:48.468
His body was eventually reburied in Richmond's Hollywood Cemetery.
00:23:52.019 --> 00:23:56.729
And let's pick up, pick its charge from the Union side.
00:23:56.729 --> 00:24:11.785
All nine brigades come across that long field, three quarters of a mile, marching, staggering, under withering fire, suffering.
00:24:11.785 --> 00:24:39.388
And then, when we pick up on the Union side, we're going to pick it up in the middle of the action, with the 19th Massachusetts in the heart of the Union line, attached to Colonel Norman Hall's brigade, regimental commander, colonel Arthur Devereaux, had been watching events unfold when I saw that Webb could not sustain the shock.
00:24:39.388 --> 00:24:48.646
With his front line, i saw that the 69th Pennsylvania was apparently run over but, not retreating, the 71st Pennsylvania was giving ground rapidly.
00:24:48.646 --> 00:25:06.382
After observing Webb's vain attempts to get the 72nd Pennsylvania to attack, colonel Hall did the true soldierly act by refusing his right, which unfortunately also opened a gap on his front, according to Devereaux.
00:25:06.382 --> 00:25:10.132
Just then Hancock came riding furiously up.
00:25:10.132 --> 00:25:16.313
I halted him, pointing out the enemy's colors crossing the stone wall, and asked permission to put my men in there.
00:25:16.313 --> 00:25:20.249
Hancock's prompt direction was you get in there, goddamn quick.
00:25:21.980 --> 00:25:26.624
Colonel Devereaux would claim credit for capturing four southern regimental colors.
00:25:26.624 --> 00:25:33.883
One of the flags was the 14th Virginia Armistice Brigade by Joseph H De Castro.
00:25:33.883 --> 00:25:41.145
Corporal De Castro was an 18-year-old Boston native and a former reform school resident whose father hailed from Spain.
00:25:41.145 --> 00:25:43.049
His mother was from Maine.
00:25:43.049 --> 00:25:48.058
Near the cops of trees, we met them breast to breast, wrote Devereaux.
00:25:48.058 --> 00:25:57.051
Corporal De Castro was one of the regiment's color bearers and knocked down the Virginia color bearer with a staff of the Massachusetts state colors.
00:25:57.051 --> 00:26:08.613
De Castro snatched the 14th regiment's flag from the enemy hands, broke back through the lines, thrust the prize into Devereaux's hand and dashed back into the action without saying a word.
00:26:08.613 --> 00:26:21.285
De Castro was awarded a Medal of Honor in 1864 for his bravery, although the citation erroneously credited him with capturing the 19th Virginia flag.
00:26:21.285 --> 00:26:27.519
De Castro is believed to be the first medal recipient of Hispanic descent.
00:26:27.519 --> 00:26:30.688
Let's keep going.
00:26:32.775 --> 00:26:39.953
As Pickett's men advanced across the field under a storm of artillery and gunfire, these trees may have served as a logical guiding point.
00:26:39.953 --> 00:26:47.628
This is the cops of trees they're talking about, although it is questionable that they were prominent enough to be officially designated as a target.
00:26:47.628 --> 00:26:55.756
An officer in the 72nd Pennsylvania later described the trees as a clump of saplings not over 30 paces in depth.
00:26:55.756 --> 00:27:05.830
Then a common post-war description was they stood out in relief from the ridge and afforded a most excellent target for the concentration of fire of the enemy's artillery.
00:27:05.830 --> 00:27:21.215
Further down the page, as Pickett's men crowded into the field east of the Emmitsburg Road and surged toward the stone wall, some sporadic shooting occurred before the 69th was finally permitted to open fire.
00:27:21.215 --> 00:27:29.515
This threw their front line into confusion, from which they quickly rallied and opened their fire upon us.
00:27:29.515 --> 00:27:41.557
Some of the Virginians dropped behind the brushing knoll in front of this 69th's left front, still visible today, but others withstood the volleys and continued to press forward.
00:27:42.961 --> 00:27:47.912
The enemy gained a foothold at the wall in front of the trees as a disorganized mob.
00:27:47.912 --> 00:27:54.566
After reading these words next, it will almost make you weep.
00:27:54.566 --> 00:27:59.434
The gallantry, the courage, oh the courage.
00:27:59.434 --> 00:28:01.839
Just listen to this.
00:28:02.862 --> 00:28:13.176
Although the 69th Pennsylvania was for the most part gamely holding their ground at the trees, general Webb's defense had reached a critical moment.
00:28:13.176 --> 00:28:18.232
History had given Webb's brigade the line share of the credit for stopping Pickett.
00:28:18.232 --> 00:28:29.432
But to Webb's left, colonel Norman Hall saw that a portion of the General Lyons' web on my right had given way and many of the men were making to the rear as fast as possible.
00:28:29.432 --> 00:28:43.511
While the enemy was pouring over the rails that had been a slight cover for the troops, hall found what he only knew as two regiments that could be spared from some command there, but they hesitated.
00:28:43.511 --> 00:28:48.768
So Hall was forced to move his own brigade by flank under heavy fire.
00:28:48.768 --> 00:28:51.738
The enemy was rapidly gaining a foothold.
00:28:51.738 --> 00:28:55.450
Organization was mostly lost and the confusion commands were useless.
00:28:55.450 --> 00:29:05.724
Fighting the natural urges of men to fall back, hall and his staff officers crowded his men closer to the enemy and the men obliged to load in their places.
00:29:05.724 --> 00:29:10.354
I did not see any man of my command who appeared disposed to run away.
00:29:10.354 --> 00:29:22.636
But the confusion first caused by the two regiments above Spokane of so destroyed the formation in two ranks that in some places the line was several files deep.
00:29:22.636 --> 00:29:45.309
Wow, wow, so moving Their courage under heavy fire, smoke, confusion, so moving It goes on.
00:29:47.055 --> 00:29:54.453
Despite Cowan's deadly canister and volleys from Web's Infantry, pickett's men still gained a momentary hold on the stone wall.
00:29:54.453 --> 00:29:56.739
I fired canister low in my charge.
00:29:56.739 --> 00:30:14.708
In my last charge, two rounds and each of the six guns were fired when the advance of the enemy in my front was by ten yards distance And while they had possession of our guns on my right Cushing's guns some Southerners, possibly members of the 14th Virginia, came over the wall yelling take the guns.
00:30:14.708 --> 00:30:21.189
My last charge a double header Literally swept the enemy from my front, being fired at less than 20 yards.
00:30:21.189 --> 00:30:38.420
The infantry in front of my five pieces, posted behind a slight defense of the rail some ten yards distance, turned and broke But were rallied and drawled off the right of my battery by General Webb in a most gallant manner.
00:30:38.420 --> 00:30:41.250
It was then that I fired my last charge of canister.
00:30:41.250 --> 00:30:45.666
Many of the rebels being over the defenses and within the last ten yards of my pieces.
00:30:45.666 --> 00:30:49.192
They broke and fled in confusion.
00:30:49.192 --> 00:31:01.692
Man, when those Confederates broke and fled in confusion, that was the high water mark for the south.
00:31:01.692 --> 00:31:05.220
All battles had led to this point.
00:31:05.220 --> 00:31:13.548
There is, in fact, a marker called just that the high water mark for the Confederacy on Cemetery Hill at Gettysburg.
00:31:13.548 --> 00:31:16.933
It's a big monument.
00:31:16.933 --> 00:31:20.059
If you go to the battlefield you should visit it.
00:31:20.059 --> 00:31:24.328
Let's go back to the book.
00:31:26.939 --> 00:31:32.516
On a more than one occasion that afternoon, robert E Lee famously accepted blame for the third day's failures himself.
00:31:32.516 --> 00:31:46.430
Colonel Alexander supposed that Lee came forward to rally the troops in the event of the federal pursuit and watch Lee speak to nearly every man who passed Don't be discouraged, it was my fault this time.
00:31:46.430 --> 00:31:49.221
Form your ranks again when you get undercover.
00:31:49.221 --> 00:31:50.566
All good men must hold together.
00:31:50.566 --> 00:31:50.846
Now.
00:31:50.846 --> 00:32:06.451
British military observer Arthur Fremantle thought Lee did not show signs of the slightest disappointment, care or annoyance And he encouraged his soldier with the words such as all this will come right in the end.
00:32:06.451 --> 00:32:10.567
We'll talk about it afterwards, but in the meantime all good men must rally.
00:32:10.567 --> 00:32:13.233
We want all good and true men.
00:32:13.233 --> 00:32:19.951
Just now Lee also requested the walking wounded to bind up their hurts and take up a musket.
00:32:19.951 --> 00:32:23.039
Lee explained to Fremantle.
00:32:23.039 --> 00:32:30.154
This has been a sad day for us, colonel, a sad day, but we can't expect to gain, always gain victories.
00:32:30.154 --> 00:32:39.378
When General Will Cox reported in near tears, lee assured him never mind, general, all this has been my fault.
00:32:39.378 --> 00:32:45.478
It is I that I've lost this fight and you must help me to get out of it the best way you can.
00:32:47.904 --> 00:32:58.125
According to Captain Robert Bright, lee advised Pickett to form in rear of this hill and be ready to repel the advance of the enemy should they follow up their advantage.
00:32:58.125 --> 00:33:05.598
General Pickett lowered his head Generally, i have no division now.
00:33:05.598 --> 00:33:12.357
Armstead is down, garnet is down And Kemper is mortally wounded.
00:33:12.357 --> 00:33:34.575
Generally replied come, general Pickett, this has been my fault, this has been my fight, and upon my shoulders rest the blame, as if the heavens opened up in a day of crying for the dead on both sides.
00:33:34.575 --> 00:33:44.164
It rained, a slow and steady rain all day on July 4th 1863.
00:33:44.164 --> 00:33:57.700
Lee anticipated all day a counterattack by Meade on July 4th, but then, slow and steady, he withdrew during the night of July 4th to the 5th.
00:33:57.976 --> 00:34:11.193
Meade's army pursued Lee's over the next 10 days with several engagements and skirmishes, but on July 14th the army of Northern Virginia successfully crossed back into Virginia near Williamsport.
00:34:11.193 --> 00:34:20.077
Although they may have momentarily seemed broken on the afternoon of July 3rd, lee's army was not defeated.
00:34:20.077 --> 00:34:25.215
Nor did Meade's army feel certain of future victory.
00:34:25.215 --> 00:34:38.791
Both commanding generals would spend the fall of 1863 refitting and maneuvering in a futile attempt to bring the other army to a decisive battle as the war continued on.
00:34:38.791 --> 00:35:04.175
Of the 15,000 Confederates who advanced across the open field towards Cemetery Ridge on that fateful afternoon on day three at Gettysburg, only half, only half, only half returned back across that half mile.
00:35:04.175 --> 00:35:19.213
Estimated casualties for both sides was 51,112 over those three days, 23,049 for the Union and 28,063 for the Confederates.
00:35:19.213 --> 00:35:28.213
A total of 165,000 forces were engaged in the total at the Battle of Gettysburg.
00:00:01.983 --> 00:00:04.750
00:00:04.750 --> 00:00:13.454
00:00:13.454 --> 00:00:15.881
00:00:15.881 --> 00:00:21.792
00:00:23.140 --> 00:00:36.283
00:00:36.283 --> 00:00:40.351
00:00:42.777 --> 00:00:52.020
00:00:52.020 --> 00:01:03.350
00:01:03.350 --> 00:01:21.816
00:01:21.816 --> 00:01:37.100
00:01:37.100 --> 00:01:45.564
00:01:45.564 --> 00:01:48.593
00:01:48.593 --> 00:02:01.192
00:02:01.192 --> 00:02:10.962
00:02:13.408 --> 00:02:18.259
00:02:18.259 --> 00:02:32.348
00:02:32.348 --> 00:02:38.145
00:02:38.145 --> 00:02:49.954
00:02:49.954 --> 00:02:58.723
00:02:58.723 --> 00:03:03.056
00:03:03.056 --> 00:03:06.247
00:03:06.247 --> 00:03:23.813
00:03:23.813 --> 00:03:30.631
00:03:30.631 --> 00:03:49.483
00:03:51.967 --> 00:04:01.557
00:04:01.557 --> 00:04:10.765
00:04:10.765 --> 00:04:19.045
00:04:19.045 --> 00:04:22.713
00:04:22.713 --> 00:04:28.980
00:04:29.862 --> 00:04:34.333
00:04:34.333 --> 00:04:42.201
00:04:42.201 --> 00:04:42.783
00:04:42.783 --> 00:04:45.146
00:04:45.146 --> 00:04:49.598
00:04:49.598 --> 00:04:56.682
00:04:57.771 --> 00:04:58.815
00:04:58.815 --> 00:05:02.060
00:05:02.060 --> 00:05:06.230
00:05:06.230 --> 00:05:17.399
00:05:17.399 --> 00:05:24.855
00:05:24.855 --> 00:05:30.583
00:05:30.583 --> 00:05:37.324
00:05:37.389 --> 00:05:46.197
00:05:46.197 --> 00:05:50.860
00:05:50.860 --> 00:06:13.461
00:06:13.461 --> 00:06:18.502
00:06:18.502 --> 00:06:21.439
00:06:21.439 --> 00:06:30.081
00:06:30.081 --> 00:06:43.697
00:06:43.697 --> 00:06:54.536
00:06:54.536 --> 00:07:17.870
00:07:17.870 --> 00:07:21.670
00:07:21.670 --> 00:07:31.158
00:07:34.350 --> 00:07:43.285
00:07:43.285 --> 00:07:47.970
00:07:47.970 --> 00:07:53.850
00:07:53.850 --> 00:07:57.524
00:07:57.524 --> 00:08:11.637
00:08:11.637 --> 00:08:16.920
00:08:16.920 --> 00:08:24.295
00:08:24.295 --> 00:08:29.689
00:08:29.689 --> 00:08:32.070
00:08:32.070 --> 00:08:44.701
00:08:44.701 --> 00:08:58.561
00:08:58.561 --> 00:09:08.549
00:09:08.549 --> 00:09:19.980
00:09:20.610 --> 00:09:23.509
00:09:23.509 --> 00:09:36.982
00:09:36.982 --> 00:09:47.346
00:09:47.346 --> 00:09:49.750
00:09:49.750 --> 00:10:01.278
00:10:01.278 --> 00:10:18.722
00:10:18.722 --> 00:10:23.801
00:10:23.801 --> 00:10:32.533
00:10:32.533 --> 00:10:44.634
00:10:45.697 --> 00:11:02.764
00:11:02.764 --> 00:11:33.830
00:11:33.830 --> 00:11:42.264
00:11:42.264 --> 00:11:59.056
00:12:00.447 --> 00:12:26.138
00:12:26.138 --> 00:12:31.337
00:12:31.337 --> 00:12:47.614
00:12:47.614 --> 00:12:51.495
00:12:51.495 --> 00:12:53.812
00:12:56.609 --> 00:13:06.275
00:13:06.275 --> 00:13:14.014
00:13:14.014 --> 00:13:26.431
00:13:26.431 --> 00:13:28.711
00:13:28.711 --> 00:13:37.134
00:13:37.134 --> 00:14:00.613
00:14:00.613 --> 00:14:23.389
00:14:23.450 --> 00:14:31.015
00:14:31.015 --> 00:14:44.054
00:14:44.054 --> 00:14:53.716
00:14:53.716 --> 00:14:55.308
00:14:55.308 --> 00:15:08.277
00:15:08.277 --> 00:15:15.394
00:15:16.725 --> 00:15:35.197
00:15:35.197 --> 00:15:39.429
00:15:39.429 --> 00:15:44.739
00:15:44.739 --> 00:15:57.774
00:15:57.774 --> 00:16:09.135
00:16:11.528 --> 00:16:19.164
00:16:19.164 --> 00:16:21.692
00:16:21.692 --> 00:16:25.011
00:16:25.011 --> 00:16:32.164
00:16:32.164 --> 00:16:43.471
00:16:43.471 --> 00:16:50.700
00:16:50.700 --> 00:17:02.480
00:17:02.480 --> 00:17:13.114
00:17:13.114 --> 00:17:23.472
00:17:24.346 --> 00:17:33.893
00:17:33.893 --> 00:17:40.494
00:17:40.494 --> 00:17:50.477
00:17:50.477 --> 00:18:03.400
00:18:03.400 --> 00:18:16.900
00:18:16.900 --> 00:18:27.459
00:18:27.459 --> 00:18:35.518
00:18:35.518 --> 00:18:50.641
00:18:50.641 --> 00:19:05.040
00:19:05.040 --> 00:19:12.458
00:19:14.887 --> 00:19:20.896
00:19:20.896 --> 00:19:32.465
00:19:32.465 --> 00:19:36.468
00:19:36.468 --> 00:19:41.886
00:19:41.886 --> 00:19:53.287
00:19:53.287 --> 00:19:59.372
00:19:59.372 --> 00:20:05.529
00:20:07.460 --> 00:20:13.903
00:20:13.903 --> 00:20:19.480
00:20:19.480 --> 00:20:22.689
00:20:22.689 --> 00:20:40.329
00:20:40.329 --> 00:20:42.545
00:20:42.545 --> 00:20:47.210
00:20:47.210 --> 00:20:58.641
00:21:01.019 --> 00:21:09.382
00:21:09.382 --> 00:21:16.047
00:21:16.047 --> 00:21:23.703
00:21:23.703 --> 00:21:25.423
00:21:25.423 --> 00:21:30.928
00:21:30.928 --> 00:21:49.844
00:21:49.844 --> 00:21:51.144
00:21:51.900 --> 00:22:08.404
00:22:08.404 --> 00:22:18.065
00:22:18.065 --> 00:22:22.575
00:22:22.575 --> 00:22:27.209
00:22:27.209 --> 00:22:35.112
00:22:35.112 --> 00:22:45.686
00:22:45.686 --> 00:22:48.405
00:22:48.920 --> 00:22:52.686
00:22:52.686 --> 00:23:01.803
00:23:01.803 --> 00:23:07.009
00:23:07.009 --> 00:23:17.599
00:23:17.599 --> 00:23:19.965
00:23:19.965 --> 00:23:30.707
00:23:30.707 --> 00:23:37.827
00:23:37.827 --> 00:23:42.588
00:23:42.588 --> 00:23:48.468
00:23:52.019 --> 00:23:56.729
00:23:56.729 --> 00:24:11.785
00:24:11.785 --> 00:24:39.388
00:24:39.388 --> 00:24:48.646
00:24:48.646 --> 00:25:06.382
00:25:06.382 --> 00:25:10.132
00:25:10.132 --> 00:25:16.313
00:25:16.313 --> 00:25:20.249
00:25:21.980 --> 00:25:26.624
00:25:26.624 --> 00:25:33.883
00:25:33.883 --> 00:25:41.145
00:25:41.145 --> 00:25:43.049
00:25:43.049 --> 00:25:48.058
00:25:48.058 --> 00:25:57.051
00:25:57.051 --> 00:26:08.613
00:26:08.613 --> 00:26:21.285
00:26:21.285 --> 00:26:27.519
00:26:27.519 --> 00:26:30.688
00:26:32.775 --> 00:26:39.953
00:26:39.953 --> 00:26:47.628
00:26:47.628 --> 00:26:55.756
00:26:55.756 --> 00:27:05.830
00:27:05.830 --> 00:27:21.215
00:27:21.215 --> 00:27:29.515
00:27:29.515 --> 00:27:41.557
00:27:42.961 --> 00:27:47.912
00:27:47.912 --> 00:27:54.566
00:27:54.566 --> 00:27:59.434
00:27:59.434 --> 00:28:01.839
00:28:02.862 --> 00:28:13.176
00:28:13.176 --> 00:28:18.232
00:28:18.232 --> 00:28:29.432
00:28:29.432 --> 00:28:43.511
00:28:43.511 --> 00:28:48.768
00:28:48.768 --> 00:28:51.738
00:28:51.738 --> 00:28:55.450
00:28:55.450 --> 00:29:05.724
00:29:05.724 --> 00:29:10.354
00:29:10.354 --> 00:29:22.636
00:29:22.636 --> 00:29:45.309
00:29:47.055 --> 00:29:54.453
00:29:54.453 --> 00:29:56.739
00:29:56.739 --> 00:30:14.708
00:30:14.708 --> 00:30:21.189
00:30:21.189 --> 00:30:38.420
00:30:38.420 --> 00:30:41.250
00:30:41.250 --> 00:30:45.666
00:30:45.666 --> 00:30:49.192
00:30:49.192 --> 00:31:01.692
00:31:01.692 --> 00:31:05.220
00:31:05.220 --> 00:31:13.548
00:31:13.548 --> 00:31:16.933
00:31:16.933 --> 00:31:20.059
00:31:20.059 --> 00:31:24.328
00:31:26.939 --> 00:31:32.516
00:31:32.516 --> 00:31:46.430
00:31:46.430 --> 00:31:49.221
00:31:49.221 --> 00:31:50.566
00:31:50.566 --> 00:31:50.846
00:31:50.846 --> 00:32:06.451
00:32:06.451 --> 00:32:10.567
00:32:10.567 --> 00:32:13.233
00:32:13.233 --> 00:32:19.951
00:32:19.951 --> 00:32:23.039
00:32:23.039 --> 00:32:30.154
00:32:30.154 --> 00:32:39.378
00:32:39.378 --> 00:32:45.478
00:32:47.904 --> 00:32:58.125
00:32:58.125 --> 00:33:05.598
00:33:05.598 --> 00:33:12.357
00:33:12.357 --> 00:33:34.575
00:33:34.575 --> 00:33:44.164
00:33:44.164 --> 00:33:57.700
00:33:57.976 --> 00:34:11.193
00:34:11.193 --> 00:34:20.077
00:34:20.077 --> 00:34:25.215
00:34:25.215 --> 00:34:38.791
00:34:38.791 --> 00:35:04.175
00:35:04.175 --> 00:35:19.213
00:35:19.213 --> 00:35:28.213