Col. Fremantle (1 Viewer)

[Napoleon1er]

I am reading "3 Months in the Southern States" by Col. Fremantle of the Coldstream Guards. I have found it to be one of the best primary sources i have ever read. Fremantle is quite perceptive, and defies his criticisms.
Some interesting things about Gettysburg:

• Fremantle wore green and grey civilian cloths with a black cowboy hat.
• Lee and Longstreet did not carry any arms (including swords), and never did so in his long experience with them. This is greatly at odds with every figure of the two men. I think this needs to be addressed.

-Sandor

 

[Napoleon1er]

Confederate cavalry wore their sabers between their left leg the the saddle. Another mistake on every(?) figure.

 

[Napoleon1er]

Confederate matrosses in charge of the horses dug themselves grave-like lateral fox holes, with dirt mounds on the end facing the enemy, which they hid in during barrages. This occurred at Gettysburg as well.

 

[Napoleon1er]

Throughout the battle, Longstreet ad Hod whittled sticks while discussing tactics and plans. Cool figure idea? These men did not stand around- they often squatted like Natives and whittled, or drew in the dirt with sticks (not battle plans, just poked the dirt).

 

[mikemiller1955]

interesting observations Sandor...not a big fan of this War...but enjoying your very detailed comments...

 

[Napoleon1er]

Thanks! I really recommend the book- it's cheap, quick, and very interesting. What about a figure using two rifles as crutches?

 

[Partner]

Hey Sandor , thanks for the tip. Sounds like a good read .

It is free on Amazon ,( Kindle addiition)

Regards

Kirk
PS
Would like to see WB do a Fremantle figure , even if in civvies

 

[Poppo]

I am reading "3 Months in the Southern States" by Col. Fremantle of the Coldstream Guards. I have found it to be one of the best primary sources i have ever read. Fremantle is quite perceptive, and defies his criticisms.
Some interesting things about Gettysburg:

• Fremantle wore green and grey civilian cloths with a black cowboy hat.
• Lee and Longstreet did not carry any arms (including swords), and never did so in his long experience with them. This is greatly at odds with every figure of the two men. I think this needs to be addressed.

-Sandor

Pity that Longstreet was not the commander at Gettysburg.... IMO the battle would have had a different outcome in this case...

 

[Napoleon1er]

I agree with you, though I must admit my opinion of Lee increased when I read the book. There is no better or more heart wrenching description of the charge and Lee's conduct than the one Fremantle wrote.

 

[lancer]

Pity that Longstreet was not the commander at Gettysburg.... IMO the battle would have had a different outcome in this case...

It would have been very different though not neccesarily better. Longstreet didn't want to fight at Gettysburg, so if he had been in charge, the battle would have been fought elsewhere. What is true from the results is that Longstreet did not give Lee or the Confederate Army his best effort in the battle, almost as if he was a petulant participant. Had Longstreet fought to his capabilities, the battle would certainly have ended differently as well, although victory would still not have been assured. -- Al

 

[Poppo]

It would have been very different though not neccesarily better. Longstreet didn't want to fight at Gettysburg, so if he had been in charge, the battle would have been fought elsewhere. What is true from the results is that Longstreet did not give Lee or the Confederate Army his best effort in the battle, almost as if he was a petulant participant. Had Longstreet fought to his capabilities, the battle would certainly have ended differently as well, although victory would still not have been assured. -- Al

You are right, and we don ' t know if he could have had victory.

But Longstreet understood that, at that moment, the battle couldn' t be won as the unionists were in an impregnable position, well entrenched on a hill with a gentle slope without blind spots: he fully understood the destructive power of the new rifled arms. So probably he didn' t fight at the top of his capabilities because he was skeptical about a frontal attack and he wanted to save the lives of his men. And yes, if he had been in charge, he would have waited for a better position to attack.

Longstreet is maybe the most "modern" confederate general ( in a way even more than Lee who didn 't fully understand this point).

 

[Lo1863]

This book is on my list to read at the moment. Looking forward to it!

 

[UKReb]

Throughout the battle, Longstreet ad Hod whittled sticks while discussing tactics and plans. Cool figure idea? These men did not stand around- they often squatted like Natives and whittled, or drew in the dirt with sticks (not battle plans, just poked the dirt).

Sandor

Troiani depicted that exact scene from Fremantle's diary in this picture entitled Decision at Dawn. Fremantle is seen up the tree scanning the battlefield with field glasses in the outfit you describe. The other observer in the blue and gold braided uniform at the base of the tree is another Englishman Captain Fitzgerald Ross of the 6th Austrian Hussar Regiment.

I concur with your other comment- in fact have often complained myself- that all manufacturers continue to adorn their figures of Lee and Longstreet with swords and other fancy paraphanalia when neither of them ever carried such adornments into battle. The only recorded occasion that Lee wore his ceremonial sword was when he went to meet Grant at Appomattox to offer his surrender of his army.

Also must agree with Al's comment that Longstreet on the second and third day was indeed a "petulant old Pete" but as he once observed "When the old man (Lee) had his blood up no-one could stop his penchant for attacking the enemy" The old man's penchant got the better of him at Gettysburg.

My well thumbed copy of Fremantle's book is a must for any student wanting inside information on the battle and interestingly within his final chapters he ensures his readers that the Confederacy- based on what he had experienced- would surely be the final victors in the struggle. As we now know he sure got that one wrong but perhaps his comment reflects on how impressed he had been with Lee, his generals and the ANV

Bob

 

[Napoleon1er]

Thanks for the comment- now I know the Uk Reb himself has read the book and feels the same! I love that painting- the hussar is just right as well, though I think there was another Austrian and two Prussians as well....
Thanks,
Sandor

 

[Barksdale]

A think a Col. Fremantle figure should be in William Britain's future...possibly with a tree.