Sickles' Salient/Battle of Gettysburg/July 2nd, 1863 (1 Viewer)

[Warrior]

On July 2nd Longstreet's second division under Lafayette McLaws struck the Federal salient at the Peach Orchard with Kersaw's Brigade attacking from the south and Barksdale's Mississippi Brigade from the west. After initially meeting heavy resistance from Federal infantry and artillery, the Federal line broke around the Sherfy Farm and the salient began to give way...…………

 

[Warrior]

Under pressure from two directions, Graham's Federal Brigade from Birney's Division collapsed under pressure from two directions. The 11th PA Zouaves fought a stubborn delaying action as they gave ground. Two more Confederate Brigades under Wilcox and Lang from Anderson's Division attacked alongside Barksdale's men around the Klingle farm...………

 

[Warrior]

Humprey's only put up moderate resistance as he fell back towards Cemetery Ridge. The Confederate attack continued onward, rolling up Federal units in the process as the Salient continued to give way, Federal batteries around the Klingle Farm along with infantry units from MA, PA, NH, NY and a Zouave unit from NJ tried to hold their ground vs the onslaught...………..

 

[Warrior]

Despite their initial success, the Confederate attack began to falter, heavy casualties and lack of supporting troops to press home the attack meant they were unable to exploit the temporary hole in the Union line; Federal units were rushed into the breach to plug the gap and push back the Confederates and as evening approached, the attack ran out of steam and stalled out. The Federals cobbled together a new line along Cemetery Ridge and anchored it on Little Round Top. As the days fighting ended, the Union line held...……..






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[Warrior]

This is one of my favorite parts of the battlefield to visit, been here a number of times, walked the ground over which this attack took place, it's a special part of the field for me, have read quite a few books on the subject as well, I hope I did this attack justice...……..

 

[villagehorse]

Unbelievable layout. Your passion shines thru for this series, you have done it so well. Robin.

 

[Warrior]

Unbelievable layout. Your passion shines thru for this series, you have done it so well. Robin.

Thanks for the kind words Robin.

The American Civil War holds a special place for me, fought in this country, most of the battlefields are wonderfully preserved. As a youth, I recall taking out the American Heritage book on the Battle of Gettysburg from the local library countless times, my Aunt bought me my very own copy for my 10th birthday.

The Greenspan map on the battle was a great source of inspiration to me, I always dreamed as a youth of recreating that map in miniature with painted 20mm soldiers, now that dream has become a wonderful reality for me.

I go to Gettysburg at least once a year, the battlefield is a haunting place, a place where the dream of southern independence died and the union was preserved.

Each time I go there, it's a magical experience for me, I need to talk Miss Tiffany into moving there at some point, I'm sure she'll be all in for that...………..:wink2:

 

[lancer]

Superb layout of the crucial attack of the crucial battle of the war. My favorite action of the battle. If Kershaw and Barksdale had just a little more timely support we might all be singing 'Dixie' right now. Great job, George. -- Al

 

[Warrior]

Superb layout of the crucial attack of the crucial battle of the war. My favorite action of the battle. If Kershaw and Barksdale had just a little more timely support we might all be singing 'Dixie' right now. Great job, George. -- Al

Thanks Al; IMO, Sickles moving his corps forward is actually what saved the Federals that day...…………….the Confederates were gassed by the time they got to Cemetery Ridge, Hancock kept throwing troops into the action plugging holes and the success of three divisions is what led Lee to throw 15,000 men at Cemetery Ridge the next day...…………...have you read Gettysburg's Peach Orchard, it's on my reading list, I heard it's pretty good...………..

 

[lancer]

Thanks Al; IMO, Sickles moving his corps forward is actually what saved the Federals that day...…………….the Confederates were gassed by the time they got to Cemetery Ridge, Hancock kept throwing troops into the action plugging holes and the success of three divisions is what led Lee to throw 15,000 men at Cemetery Ridge the next day...…………...have you read Gettysburg's Peach Orchard, it's on my reading list, I heard it's pretty good...………..

George, the book is on my list, as well. Haven't gotten it yet. The second day is a fascinating study. If AP Hill had supported Wilcox at all, the Union line would probably have been ruptured on Cemetery Ridge on the second day and the third day would never have occurred. Woulda, coulda, shoulda, as the saying goes. Gettysburg is a battle that never gets old. -- Al

 

[Warrior]

George, the book is on my list, as well. Haven't gotten it yet. The second day is a fascinating study. If AP Hill had supported Wilcox at all, the Union line would probably have been ruptured on Cemetery Ridge on the second day and the third day would never have occurred. Woulda, coulda, shoulda, as the saying goes. Gettysburg is a battle that never gets old. -- Al

Very true, Wright's Georgians on the second day got to where Lee wanted to go on the third day, although the theory now is Zieglers Grove, not the copse of trees was his actual target. His plan was to hit the Federal line there while Ewell attacked Culps Hill in the rear; Federal troops would be sent from the center to reinforce Culps Hill, the center would be weak and Pickett's assault would punch a hole in the Federal line...………..but Ewell attacked too early, then the assault hit the line in the wrong spot.

As you said; woulda, coulda, shoulda.

 

[lancer]

Very true, Wright's Georgians on the second day got to where Lee wanted to go on the third day, although the theory now is Zieglers Grove, not the copse of trees was his actual target. His plan was to hit the Federal line there while Ewell attacked Culps Hill in the rear; Federal troops would be sent from the center to reinforce Culps Hill, the center would be weak and Pickett's assault would punch a hole in the Federal line...………..but Ewell attacked too early, then the assault hit the line in the wrong spot.

As you said; woulda, coulda, shoulda.

Good catch, George. I meant to type Wright but I had Wilcox in my head. AP Hill was supposed to support Wright but failed miserably to do anything. Lee's II and III Corps commanders, Ewell and Hill, did not serve him well. -- Al

 

[Louis Badolato]

I have stood looking down at where Sickles created that Salient, and I just shake my head. I understand that he was afraid he couldn’t see the confederates coming, but after being told not to move up by his commander, in addition to violating every principle of good tactics, Sickles’ decision was nothing short of criminal stupidity. He is lucky he lost his leg, or he would have faced a court martial rather being awarded the Medal of Honor. Every time I pass his statue in Brooklyn I roll my eyes. That being said, his idiocy gave one of my favorite regiments, the 39th New York (Garibaldi Guard) one of its finest moments: saving a gun battery from being overrun by counter attacking.

 

[lancer]

I have stood looking down at where Sickles created that Salient, and I just shake my head. I understand that he was afraid he couldn’t see the confederates coming, but after being told not to move up by his commander, in addition to violating every principle of good tactics, Sickles’ decision was nothing short of criminal stupidity. He is lucky he lost his leg, or he would have faced a court martial rather being awarded the Medal of Honor. Every time I pass his statue in Brooklyn I roll my eyes. That being said, his idiocy gave one of my favorite regiments, the 39th New York (Garibaldi Guard) one of its finest moments: saving a gun battery from being overrun by counter attacking.

Good point, Louis. Sickles was not a military man, he was a politician, and thus didn't have the eye for ground or the discipline to follow orders. All he saw was that his position was on low ground and figured higher ground has to be better. Hancock saw him move and new it was trouble. The Union was fortunate that Longstreet's assault ran out of steam. -- Al

 

[Warrior]

What's amazing to me is the size of the actual battlefield, specifically where this attack took place, it's huge. If I were to properly do it in 20mm, it would be three times this size, maybe more. Three days of fighting that helped determine the fate of a nation; if you're a fan of the ACW, do yourself a favor and make the trip, you won't regret it...……………..something about the place, I can't describe it, you have to experience it for yourself.

My mood when I am there is one of sadness, I feel no joy that the Federal army "won" the battle or happy that the Confederates "lost", over 50,000 Americans were casualties in this battle, the whole affair is just tremendously sad to me, Americans killing Americans and still arguing about it to this very day...………..

 

[lancer]

What's amazing to me is the size of the actual battlefield, specifically where this attack took place, it's huge. If I were to properly do it in 20mm, it would be three times this size, maybe more. Three days of fighting that helped determine the fate of a nation; if you're a fan of the ACW, do yourself a favor and make the trip, you won't regret it...……………..something about the place, I can't describe it, you have to experience it for yourself.

My mood when I am there is one of sadness, I feel no joy that the Federal army "won" the battle or happy that the Confederates "lost", over 50,000 Americans were casualties in this battle, the whole affair is just tremendously sad to me, Americans killing Americans and still arguing about it to this very day...………..

George, as we have said, Gettysburg is just incredibly interesting on so many levels. Everything the military history enthusiast could want (land wise, of course) can be studied, strategy, tactics, logistics, transportation, terrain, infantry, cavalry, artillery, leadership, medical, personalities, and luck (or lack thereof). What else could one want? Gettysburg does have a haunted quality that is very palpable. I have especially felt it in the dead of winter, when the fields are dusted with snow and the trees are bare. It is a lonely and haunted place with the wind blowing cold across those sanguine acres. Everyone should visit, whatever the season. -- Al

 

[Go for Broke]

I love Gettysburg, been there about 5-times. I always try to imagine what it must have felt like to be a soldier there. When I look down on that open field from the union position, it seemed like a hopeless situation. Shot, cannon fire, canister hitting you for almost a mile. Then having to climb over the fence. Yikes. I heard when Lee withdrew, his wagon train was 14-miles long. Amazing to move an army during that period. You east coast guys are lucky to have history at your fingertips. If I grew up there, my TS collection would be Civil War, Revolutionary or French & Indian war, instead of WWII.

 

[Louis Badolato]

I try to go there every year with my son (assuming my back permits it). The battlefield guides are incredibly knowledgeable. I always book 2 tours: first a general battlefield tour to refresh myself on the entire battle, then a second tour focused on one topic (like the 14th Brooklyn at Gettysburg). I completely agree that the battlefield has a haunted feeling, like you are walking on hallowed ground. I had never been when George talked me into it at Chicago about 10 years ago. Tim Tyler gave me some great advice about where to stay and eat (my favorite restaurant being the Revolutionary War era tavern). It’s one of my favorite places now.

 

[Warrior]

George, as we have said, Gettysburg is just incredibly interesting on so many levels. Everything the military history enthusiast could want (land wise, of course) can be studied, strategy, tactics, logistics, transportation, terrain, infantry, cavalry, artillery, leadership, medical, personalities, and luck (or lack thereof). What else could one want? Gettysburg does have a haunted quality that is very palpable. I have especially felt it in the dead of winter, when the fields are dusted with snow and the trees are bare. It is a lonely and haunted place with the wind blowing cold across those sanguine acres. Everyone should visit, whatever the season. -- Al

I thought it was just me...…………….:wink2:

It has a different feel to it in the Fall vs the Summer, it has an overall feel to it that something really bad happened there, hard to describe, you have to experience it for yourself to understand.

The battlefield where the first days fighting took place is enormous as well, the Iron Brigade was decimated fighting a delaying action that allowed the rest of the Union Army to retreat and take up positions behind the town; without their sacrifice, who knows what would have happened, they were the cream of the Union Army, First Brigade, First Division, First Corps, they were basically wiped out as a brigade and were never the same after that battle, I believe they sustained close to 80% casualties.

 

[ccdc11]

Another great display from George. Am I the only one who thinks he may have been trapped in the basement all this time? But he is having so much fun he forgets to call for help.
This and the replies has made me want to go back to Gettysburg .