Civil-War_Ch5_homework-2

=**Chapter 5 Homework #2**=

**Gettysburg: The Accidental Battle**
The victorious Army of Northern Virginia had demonstrated its skill at Chancellorsville, and its spirit couldn't have been higher. Western Confederate armies were in trouble, however. Grant had moved south of Vicksburg, captured Jackson, and was closing in on Vicksburg from the east. Longstreet wanted to go to Tennessee and help Braxton Bragg in the Chattanooga area, but Lee had a different plan: invade Pennsylvania. This could accomplish several things: encourage Peace Democrats, force Federal troops in Tennessee and Mississippi to be pulled east, and allow his army to live off food and supplies taken from the Yankees for a change.

After Jackson's death, Lee reorganized his army into three corps instead of two. Commanders were now James Longstreet, Richard Ewell, and A.P. Hill. When the army moved, it was important that Union General Joseph Hooker not know where they were or where they were going. Hooker guessed they were moving, and his cavalry met Confederate J.E.B. Stuart's cavalry at the Battle of Brandy Station - the largest cavalry battle of the war. For the first time, Union cavalry performed as well as the Rebel cavalry, and Stuart received much public criticism. More important, Hooker now knew where Lee was. Ewell had a much easier time than Stuart defeating Robert Milroy at Winchester.

By mid-June, the Rebels were in Pennsylvania, visiting farmers, merchants, and stores, paying for what they took in Confederate money. On June 23, Stuart's cavalry headed east to harass the Yankees, destroy their supplies, and gather information. Stuart's instructions were vague, but his trip took far too long, and Lee lost the "eyes of his army." Lee's army spread over a large area 100 miles west to east and 40 miles north to south. Hooker suggested to Lincoln that this was an ideal time to attack Richmond; the president told him that Lee's army was more important to defeat than seizing the Confederate capital. Lincoln has lost confidence in Hooker and decided it was time to change commanders.

The responsibility of stopping Lee's advance fell to George Meade. Unlike Hooker, who wanted to lead the Army of the Potomac, Meade was content to let someone else lead, but on June 28, 1863, Meade was told to assume command. Meade was an able officer, but his hot temper made him unpopular, and his troops described him as a "goggle-eyed snapping turtle."

Lee hoped to avoid any major battle until his army was reunited, so when he learned on June 28 that the Yankees were north of the Potomac, he sent an order for all units to gather near Gettysburg. A.P. Hill, already near Gettysburg, decided to visit the town and take the shoes that were reported to have been stored there. Arriving on July 1, he found that John Buford's cavalry was already there. Then John Reynolds arrived, and soon Ewell was there to support Hill. Over the next three days, one of the world's most important battles took place as both sides fought for hills near this quiet town.

Questions: 1. What did Longstreet want to do to help the armies in the West? 2. How did Lee want to help them? 3. Who was in command of Federal forces when Lee moved out in June? 4. What large cavalry battle was fought? 5. As they entered PA, what job was Stuart assigned? 6. How did Hooker want to handle the Rebel invasion? 7. What did Lincoln think was the job of the Army of the Potomac? 8. Who replaced Hooker? 9. Why was A.P. Hill interested in going to Gettysburg? 10. Which Union general got to Gettysburg to help Buford? Which Confederate general got there to help Hill? Thinking question 1: If you were on Lee's staff, would you have advised in favor or against moving into Pennsylvania? Thinking question 2: If you were Lincoln's advisor, would you have advised on focusing on Richmond or defeating Lee's army?

**Gettysburg: Showdown at Cemetery Ridge**
While no one had selected Gettysburg as the place to fight the battle of the century, once there, Lee decided that Meade must be engaged there. Longstreet did not like the strength of the Union positions south of the town and wanted to move out of Gettysburg to get between Meade and D.C. to force Meade to attack, but Lee saw the only opti9ons as fight or retreat. When requested that Ewell press the enemy "if possible" on the late afternoon of July 1, Ewell did not attack (it's worth noting that in all likelihood, Stonewall Jackson would have pressed on up the heights regardless of the time of day). With Stuart's cavalry away, Lee had no idea of the huge army being assembled by the Yankees. When Meade arrived on July 2, he found his army numbered 93,000 and controlled the ridges.

Meade's first concern was protecting the Baltimore Pike, which could be used by the Confederates to attack Washington. However, action shifted to the west side of Cemetery Hill and Cemetery Ridge after Longstreet tried to flank the Union left (that means go around the left part of the Union army). Acting on his own, Union General Daniel Sickles moved his troops on Cemetery Ridge, leaving a gap in the line between any Federal troops and Little Round Top. Gouverneur Warren saw the gap and rushed troops to this key point, arriving barely ahead of the Rebels, whom his troops managed to hold off with Colonel Joshua Chamberlain's key decision of ordering a bayonet charge rather than retreating when his regiment was out of ammunition. Longstreet then shifted his attack to Sickles, whose men were pushed back through the Peach Orchard, Wheat Field, and Devil's Den. It was all in vain, however, as Federal reserves managed to hold them back, along with Chamberlain's key decision that saved the day for the Union.

Lee's army had suffered heavy losses, but had also inflicted them. He felt that with one grand rush, he might be able to break the Federals' spirit. that task was assigned to Longstreet's corp to be led by division commander George Pickett. Longstreet strongly opposed this move, but gave up when he saw Lee had made up his mind. The first gun duel of July 3 was on the eastern flank of the line, where Ewell's troops were driven off Culp's Hill. Then, there was stillness in the hot air, as each army prepared for the coming storm.

It struck at 1:00 as 140 Confederate cannons opened fire and 188 Federal cannons responded. The artillery went at each other for two hours. When Confederate artillery commander E. Porter Alexander informed Longstreet that he was running short on ammunition, it was time for Pickett to move. His 10,500 men formed in three ranks as if on parade, and at 3:10 p.m., they moved forward at 110 paces a minute. The Federals fired everything available at them, but the gray wave kept coming, and some reached the Yankee line before being killed or captured. It had been a heroic effort, but a dismal failure. As the survivors returned, Lee met them and triet to encourage them. When Pickett saw Lee, he was told to move his division behind the woods. Picket replied: "General Lee, I have no division."

Lee, Longstreet, and others in the high command prepared for Meade to attack their weakened troops, but Meade felt his men were too tired. On July 4, 1863, the Confederates began to withdraw (ironically this was the same day as Vicksburg fell to Grant in the West), but heavy rains prevented recrossing the Potomac until July 13. Lincoln was disappointed in Meade's lack of movement after the battle. Casualties on both sides were over 50,000.

Questions: 1. Why did Lee decide to fight at Gettysburg? 2. Why was Meade first concerned about Baltimore Pike? 3. What area of the battlefield did Sickles leave open? 4. What did Lee want to accomplish with Pickett's Charge? 5. Who was opposed to Lee's idea? 6. What bad move was made by Ewell July 1 that Jackson would have done? 7. Who commanded the Confederate artillery that had to move Union troops off of Cemetery Ridge? 8. What was Pickett's Charge? 9. Why did Meade not attack on July 4? 10. Why would July 4 be one of the worst days in Confederate history (two reasons)?

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