Buford's Stand at Gettysburg Battle: Willoughby Run | Gamble and Devin hold McPherson's Ridge | Maps
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 1 мар 2022
- Gettysburg: Day One
Who was John Buford?
Why is Buford important at the Battle of Gettysburg?
Lee's invasion of Pennsylvania is under way in the summer of 1863. Robert E. Lee is in Chambersburg, PA on June 30th.
Buford's cavalry division will bring Gamble and Devin's brigades to Gettysburg on June 30th.
Pettigrew advances simultaneously from Cashtown toward Gettysburg to get shoes. However, Pettigrew sees Buford at Gettysburg and returns.
But Henry Heth and AP Hill believe that they can drive out Buford. The Confederates will attack the next day.
Buford realizes the importance of the high ground south of town, including Little Round Top, Big Round Top, Cemetery Hill, and Culp's Hill. He decides to make a stand on McPherson's Ridge northwest of Gettysburg. Buford can use the Lutheran Seminary's cupola tower to view the approach of different armies.
Heth moves toward Gettysburg on July 1. Buford's forward troopers report his movements at Marsh Creek. Buford prepares on McPherson's Ridge.
Heth sends Archer and Davis foward, and they attack up the Chambersburg Pike. Buford's skirmishers delay him at Willoughby Run.
Buford's troopers fall back to McPherson's Ridge. But General Reynolds has arrived. The Iron Brigade under Meredith stalls Archer and Davis. Wadsworth's division is now on the field to counter the confederates.
However, Devin's troopers report that Confederates under Ewell are approaching from Heidlersburg, PA. Rodes division comes toward town from the north. Devin's skirmishers hold him until Howard's Corps arrives.
Buford's division successfully held forward elements of AP Hill and Ewell long enough for Reynolds and Howard to arrive.
The high ground south of town is preserved for the Union.
This map history film is by Jeffrey Meyer, historian and librarian
Music Credit:
Autumn Sunset by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommons.org/licenses/...
Artist: audionautix.com/
![KFF Singapore Badminton Open 2024 | He/Ren (CHN) vs. Alfian/Ardianto (INA) [7] | F](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/an7AykjOaAA/mqdefault.jpg)
Few general officers deserve more credit from the historians for initiative, courage and fine soldiering ability than John Buford - and few have received less. In his classic “Army of the Potomac” trilogy, Bruce Catton epitomizes the view taken by most Civil War chroniclers, describing Buford simply as “a solid man who was hard to frighten and who was greatly admired by the men of his division.” He was, in fact, a good deal more, and at Gettysburg, he was responsible for saving the day, the battle and, arguably, the Union. - Buford Hold the High Ground BY RON SOODALTER JUNE 29, 2013
Well said!
That strikes me as quite true, considering that the primary function of cavalry units was essentially reconnaissance in force, which means that a competent cavalry commander need to be able to, among other things, assess the terrain. Buford did so, and realized the importance of the position southeast of town right off. Correctly deciding that his repeater-armed troopers would be more than the foe expected (and remember, Henrys didn't require a man to stand up to reload), and leveraged that fact to set up a crucial defense-in-depth plan, while still keeping troops free to screen his right.
While I don't fully subscribe to it, there's a strong argument to be made that Lee lost the entire battle on the first day, and Buford made it happen. But Gen. Buford isn't the only one mostly overlooked. Consider also the 1st Minnesota Volunteers, Hancock's shield, when he needed it most. They paid a very high price, but they bought Hancock the time he needed to stabilize the Union center. Not well-remembered, of course, but that's part of why, IMO, we have the Tomb of the Unknowns, to commemorate the forgotten fallen, those whose stories are generally forgotten. JMNSHO
And thus the phrase, "Here Comes The Cavalry"
Well said!
Day 1 is critical. Even though the rebels drove the Union through town, Buford's delaying action combined with Reynolds and Howard's holding action knocked out several of Lee's brigades that could not be replaced.
What General Buford did was incredible. Awesome video and one of the best descriptions of the battle at Gettysburg I've seen. The topographical maps were a great addition.
Yep, and later on it was none other than Buford's great, great grandson, Buford Pusser, who "walked tall" against the forces of corruption in McNairy county Tennessee in the early 1970's, as sheriff. (😁)
Absolutely great presentation! In my mind’s eye I can see Sam Elliot (playing Buford) wiping away the tears in his eyes with a dirty, sweaty handkerchief as he sees Reynolds arriving. Saying, “thank God” under his breath. I had to wipe away a tear myself. A powerful scene of a powerful, real moment. Buford was the right man, at the right place, at the right time. It doesn’t get any better than that.
Anyone can understand what Buford did that first day after viewing this. He was more than excellent. He was a savior.
@@johnmurray1930 Do you think we have leaders like that today in the US military? The answer is a resounding no.
Thank you for expressing so well what I feel.
Sam Elliot's portrayal of Bufford is what made me aware of the man, and his role in what happened at Gettysburg.
@@Grnademaster There's always someone who comes along on one of these historical comment threads and disparages the modern military. Not good enough to pay respects to an excellent leader of men, but have to insult the modern defenders of liberty. Some things do never change.
@@Grnademasteronly when there is a real battle will these soldiers turn into fighting men.
This was the single finest moment in the history of the US Cavalry, and it was actually a dragoon action. Neither Buford nor Meade have ever truly gotten their due for saving the Union that July.
I concur and quite possibly the worst moment Heth should of crushed him or obeyed orders and avoided contact
Lee's super bad luck, he runs into Buford's fine Federal Cavalry and the "Black Hats" also known as the "Iron Brigade", the two best units in the Union Army.
The Iron Brigade got mauled......
@@mattjones8254they did their job tho.
I have been waiting and searching so long for a video exactly like this, describing the exact movements and actions of the cavalry before and during the opening of the battle. Thank you so much for producing this. You've scratched a big itch I've had for a long time. Scott
Much appreciated! I need to visualize it to understand it.
@@JeffreytheLibrarian i feel the same way as brutusbuk and join him in thanking you for your work.
SO HAVE I
It may help w/more detail if you check out Harry W. Pfanz's Gettysburg-The First Day. Also for some excellent detail on cavalry actions elsewhere during this 3 day slugfest see Eric J. Wittenberg's Protecting the Flank at Gettysburg and Gettysburg's Forgotten Cavalry Actions.
If you haven't read " Killer Angels " please do.
Excellent narrative of both sides on the Battle of Gettysburg.
Kudos to the creator of this wonderful history lesson. Clear, concise, illustrated beautifully. Thank you.
General William Gamble is a direct ancestor of mine. Our family came to the US from Ireland in1838. I found this very informative. Thank you so much.
If you go to north of Gettysburg, the historical markers are all over the place and near impossible to make sense of this part of the battle. This video captures the very fluid but sensible movements of the battle. From this, it's clear that Gamble and Devin were like boxer's arms parrying the punches the Confederates were throwing. Great work!
It's a confusing maze of them
Totally agree with you! After a recent visit I left more confused, but this video helped so much!
Outstanding. Bufords foresight and pluck essentially saved the outcome of the battle and a retreat to the pipeline. Good work.
I am not a military genius, but I do agree with many historians, Buford's decision saved the day. His cavalry ensured that Meade would have the high ground.
I absolutely loved my trip to Gettysburg. I walked these grounds where the July 1 battle took place. Your excellent video adds much to my understanding of what happened that day.
Thank you! I am glad you enjoyed your trip!
Very useful. I've wanted to know more about Buford and why he took up a position where he did since I saw the movie Gettysburg as a kid. Almost everything I knew about the battle concentrates on the actions of the 2nd and 3rd of July, so having an understanding of how Buford's mastery of the terrain influenced the battle on the 1st has been enlightening.
One of the key things you gain by visiting Gettysburg is a perspective. The open fields they had to cross under fire and then when you see the distances at which some of the most pitched battles were fought. It can make you hair stand on end. Nowadays it would be called close quarters. Really frightening to think about the noise, the smoke the ferocity of the battle. This video lays out the way the battle proceeded but being there on those ridges and in those battle grounds, you realize how horribly frightening it would have been.
Excellent rendition of the first day of Gettysburg. My understanding of the details of Buford's contribution and the complexities of the movements of both armies was really enhanced by the graphics and narration. Fantastic work!
Please let me echo everyone else's comments on your work. I'm no slouch when it comes to Civil War history but you're style of presentation is excellent- quite unique. I felt a lot of the information in my head begin to orientate itself, including my knowledge of the Gettysburg area. It was really a happy experience, as learning something new always is for me. Your South Mountain video was a real eye opener too. Please continue your work. Along with The History Guy, I will be watching out for your next video. Thanks again!
Myth: There was no mention of shoes having anything to do with the Battle of Gettysburg until 14 years after it happened. In 1877, Confederate General Henry Heth wrote, “Hearing that a supply of shoes was to be obtained in Gettysburg, eight miles distant from Cashtown, and greatly needing shoes for my men, I directed General Pettigrew to go to Gettysburg and get these supplies.” Problem is, there were no shoe factories anywhere near Gettysburg in 1863. Rather, roads took the armies to Gettysburg. It was difficult to travel through south-central Pennsylvania without passing through Gettysburg.
After learning about how near the Union army was, Lee ordered a concentration toward Gettysburg and that's why everybody headed in that direction. It's possible Heth heard something about shoes and tried to send Pettigrew ahead for them, but that isn't the reason the battle was fought.
Thank You for pointing that out! Thumbs Up.
One of those persistent myths of Gettysburg glad you made mention of it. Confederate forces had passed through Gettysburg some 7 or 8 days earlier on their way north and west. They surely would have commandeered what any footwear at that time.
The Myth goes deeper than just being a myth. There is an actual much earlier account from Heth's after battle action report written after the campaign. Heth recounted the events of June 30. On that day, he states that he sent one of his brigadiers (J. Johnston Pettigrew and his North Carolina brigade) to Gettysburg, “to take his brigade to Gettysburg, search the town for army supplies (shoes especially), and return the same day.” He later makes the same statement in 1877 in a Newspaper series “Why Lee Lost.” Heth wrote the following:
“Hearing that a supply of shoes was to be obtained in Gettysburg, eight miles distant from Cashtown [where Heth’s division was camped], and greatly needing shoes for my men, I directed General Pettigrew to go to Gettysburg and get these supplies." Since both Pettigrew nor Hill did not survive the war there was no one to dispute what exactly was said or what was truth. It is believed Heth was trying to put off any blame on himself for engaging with the Union on that day and/or further adding that the blame should be on Stuart. Now with all myths or lies there is a grain of truth. The Confederates were looking for shoes but just not on that day. It was Heth's comments that started an argument between Heth and John Singleton Mosby which later fed into the debate that the blame for the loss was on Heth and Longstreet not Lee or Stuart. That myth is at the heart of a debate between Confederates in the aftermath of Civil War of who was to blame. Either Heth was not recalling the situation correctly or was just telling a lie to save face and perhaps shift blame.
@@arakuss1
p
Thank you for putting this together. As an Englishman by birth and an Australian by choice, I was captivated by this action in your Civil War. Lest we forget. Will come and visit one day and walk the ground myself.
Beautiful rolling hills of Gettysburg and then the monuments of Washington DC and Arlington Cemetery are only 75 miles away. I highly recommend the trip
@@donaldshotts4429 Thank you Donald. Will be sure to look it up. Google maps does give some idea to the terrain and those 4 ridges which turned the course of the battle, but nothing like walking the terrain.
What an excellent presentation. I do generally agree it was more likely the Union cavalry was using the Sharpes breech loader rather than the Spencer repeating rifle. Ordinance records show the Union cavalry was not generally using the Spencer until the summer of 1864, while the Sharpes single shot breech loader was in common usage in the summer of 1863. Regardless, the Sharpes would still have a far higher rate of fire than any muzzle loader and the Sharpes being easy to load from a kneeling and especially the prone position would help the Union soldiers use cover far more effectively.
Another video on weaponry I watched said that volume of fire Sharps v Springfield for 1 minute was about 7:2.
It's an interesting subject for sure. Over the years, I've read a lot of conflicting information on what small arms were carried by Buford's boys that day, including ordinance dept. records that show Sharps, Burnside, and other carbines among Buford's men, but no Spencers. Could some Spencer rifles have gotten into the hands of a few of Buford's men that day by unofficial means? I suppose it's possible. There were Spenser rifles on the field at Gettysburg in limited numbers, such as with the 13th Pennsylvania Reserves. A couple of Custer's regiments also had Spencer rifles (not carbines) at Gettysburg, specifically the Wolverines.
As you point out, breech loaders even of the single shot variety were just one of several factors (along with the horse artillery, effective use of tactics and terrain, etc) that allowed Union cavalry to put up a much bigger scrap that day than their numbers would have otherwise implied.
i believe the rate of fire was what convinced lees generals they were facing not just dismounted cavalry but that they had infantry support from the outset.this caution further delayed them .bufords genius in switching men from one position to another to support fire further convinced them they were facing far greater numbers than they were initially.of course the union infantrys timely arrival on the left convinced the confederacy that their suspicions were right. they suspected a union ambush as stuarts cavalry were not there to tell them the enemys strength.a big factor was bufords rolling defense kept an illusion of the union responding strongly with every attack they made forcing them to commit more and more troops turning a skirmish into a full scale assault.instead of sweeping through bufords men they were confused and deceived by the high rate of fire and quite simply the fact that buford was standing at all! under normal procedure unsupported cavalry dismounted skirmish and retreat his men didnt.this indicated powerful support so the greys proceeded cautiously in full battle order.bufords unique grasp of terrain not just for the battle the next day but in the defence he set up on all sides worked so perfectly that he denied lees army the field and choice of ground.the courage of himself and his men cannot be overstated they held against phenomenal odds and probably not only won the battle but arguably the war by their heroism.
Outstanding description of the first day’s battle. Buford’s leadership, vision and determination turned the course of the battle to the union.
Your coverage of the operational/lower strategic theater of these campaigns distinguishes you from every other channel when it comes to this conflict.
Thank you for your work!
Buford deserves as much credit as any Union Officer for the ultimate Federal victory at Gettysburg. Excellent presentation!
As former Chief of the Cavalry Leaders Course, when it was at Ft Knox, we taught this battle extensively. Classic security operation somewhere between a covering force and a guard. He identified the enemy, held the critical terrain and gained time for the main body to close on the battlefield.
Wow. really can't thank you enough for this. Adding the context of the force positions and objectives a few days out from the commencement of the engagement has really enhanced my understanding of the battle. Many thanks!
This is a timeless historically accurate account for future generations of a day that undoubtedly saved the Union.
Thank you!
Best description of the 1st day! Every detail clearly and fully explained. Thanks Jeffrey. Will there be further videos for Days 2 and 3?
Yes, I will continue to explore each sector in detail. Each area has its own amazing story.
@@JeffreytheLibrarian I have been looking on YT for a long time for a channel about civil war battle history and movements, glad I found you!
Nice video but I have to point out a mistake. I'm sorry but the Historian in me cannot let it pass. Buford's 1st Cav. Division was not armed with repeating carbines. Common misconception. The only cavalry regiments armed with repeaters at Gettysburg were two regiments in Custer's Michigan Brigade. Buford's brigade was armed with the standard issue Sharps Breechloading Carbine. Which is superior due to it's higher rate of fire than a muzzle loading rifled musket.
@@peabody2884 Thank you.
Yes, thank you. Interesting that a common belief that the two forces bumped into each other on the 1st isn't the case at all.
Very well done! I have studied this battle for a long time and this narration helped to clarify complete division locations as time progresses during the battle.Many books have specific units actions but their division locations and involvements are incomplete. Well done.
Well, having read volumes and volumes about Gettysburg over the years, I must say that this is an excellent visualization of the maneuvers of Buford's cavalry and the coming up of the infantry on June 30th/July 1st. The visualization really enhanced the understanding which written descriptions and maps had given me beforehand. Well done and thank you very much.
The video brought great clarity to an engagement that was so critical to the overall victory. Buford was under rated and under appreciated.
Terrific program. My father was a history teacher and specialized in 19th Century America; the American West and military history. I've been reading about and studying the American Civil War since I was a child. It's not often you find a fresh and informative way to look at things. Thanks for taking advantage of modern technology to do that. Well done! I've subscribed to your channel and hit the alarm bell to be alerted for new programs. Thanks.
Beautiful documentary and chronicles, thank you!!
1958 Avalon Hill published a board game: Gettysburg. The game was as true to the battle as is possible on a 36x36in printed map with cardboard markers. The Union difficulty was always time. Delay, delay, delay until heavy forces arrive. Exactly as in the real battle.
My first war game. Remember it well.
Yes my first war game as well which I still have. I still get it out and refight the battle every couple of years. I also went on to get Civil War and Chancellorsville also from Avalon Hill. Thanks for the memories..
As a Civil War buff since my early teens, I thought I knew something about Gettysburg until I saw this. I knew about half. Great job with truly insightful comment and facts. You do credit to yourself.
And yes, Buford was one of those people that history thrusts into a time and place, the perfect man at the perfect time in the perfect place. These moments and people change history. To this day, he doesn't get the credit the he deserves..
This was excellent. Been there thrice (diorama, etc.). Watched Sam Elliot portray Buford in the film several times, and yet this video put it all together perfectly.
If Cavalry's job, in this case, was to gain information and hinder Infantry, Buford's two brigades did an outstanding job turning Confed. initiative and advantage into a superior Union defensive engagement.
This was covered in the movie when Lee (may have) made the strategic error to fight the Union's fortress-fishhook, when he said, "the enemy is here" instead of slip-slidding away to fight another day.
I knew about the American civil war, but these details make it so interesting and you learn so much. Your voice is also very relaxing to listen to. Thanks & Greetings from the Netherlands.
If you're interested in seeing a dramatization about this specific point in the battle of Gettysburg, thre's a video here on YT showing the events that were described here. It's called "Gettysburg (1993) ~First Day (part three)" and it's from scene of a made-for-TV movie of the same name.
2nd Civil War, aka North vs South, American vs American.
1st Civil War ;), everyone calls it War of Independance but it's Brits vs Brits Colony. Sooo, it's a Civil War also.
This is a very informative and easy to follow, yet detailed, recounting of that first critical (and I think most interesting) day of the battle. I especially liked the non-vegetation look at the topography. Made the reasons for the positioning of the units more clear. Well done. Good to see my home state of Illinois well-represented.
In my opinion, General Buford is the real hero of the battle of Gettysburg. His foresight lead to the victory.
Fantastic layout! It illustrates the brilliance of Buford's judgement and skills.
Good defensive ground with better and better ground to the rear, then
float like a butterfly and sting like a bee:
while waiting for infantry.
Your vids get better and better.
I was disappointed it ended. Can't wait.
Credit should also definitely be given to Col. Devin for his excellent work in delaying Ewell almost alone. His was the last if Buford's units to be relieved, was fighting a whole corps with just 1 brigade of dismounted cavalry, on open ground no less, and still bought enough time to get the job done.
Well done! The cycling in and out of scale and the removal of features enabling us to see the topography better were extremely helpful. I'm fascinated with this battle, and although incomplete,
this is the best video about the battle I've ever seen. I just subscribed to your channel and will be watching more of your videos. Thanks.
Very good description of this battle! Archer's Tennessee and Alabama Bgd. were the ones who the firstt shot was fired at. The 5th Al. Battalion was only about 200 strong and were the skirmishes in front. About 30 more men from the 13th Al. were added as well. When Archer's men crossed the creek the 7th and 14th Tn fired their first volley at about 50 yds. into the 2nd Wis. of the Iron Bgd dropping their Col. and Lt Col. Around this time Reynolds fell as well. There was a stand up firefight between the Iron Bgd. and the Tn. Bgd. for several minutes until the 24th Michigan wrapped around Archer's right flank causing them to flee. Archer was captured soon after. Despite their heavy losses the Tennesseans and Alabamians were the center of the attack (Pickett's Charge) on July 3rd. The flag of the 14th Tn. was captured about 60 yards in front of the 14th Conneticut.
Thanks again for another great, informative video! I love your cadence as well. Too many youtubers try to talk as fast as possible, but you speak slowly and clearly. Thank you for that!
And ... no music! Music detracts from videos like this.
Beautifully done, and just proves what I have said for years. This battle, and maybe the war, was lost early on because while the Union men were fighting to secure the heights of Gettysburg, the Confeds were pushing forward in a somewhat lackluster attempt at finding footwear.
This is probably the best Gettysburg video I've seen so far that shows the geographical detail of the battlefield. It clears up a number of misconceptions I had on the first day's fight at Gettysburg and highlights the courage and foresight of Gen. John Buford. As for the shoes, I'm not so sure. But I won't quibble in the face of such excellent work.
Much appreciated!
Yeah the shoes are considered a myth, but who knows for sure.
I learned more new detailed information on this battle in first three minutes than from dozens of other videos combined. 10 Stars!!!
Thank you!
Outstanding analysis. Ive waked this battlefield several times and this vid made it much clearer than just walking the ground
I've been to Gettysburg. What beautiful rolling hills, fields and towns. Brilliant sun and puffy white clouds. The smell of sweet grass and earth. Gentle breezes.
I can't imagine what was in the minds of the young soldiers those days, called to fight and die here.
I suspect that no one here missed the intro where it was explained that Buford with two Brigades decided to stand against two Corps. For the possibly not familiar, Divisions are composed of 3 or 2 (sometimes 4) Brigades and Corps are composed of (3 or 2, sometimes 4) Divisions - so nominally nine times the forces.
Incredible video! My gg-grandfather fought in the 17th Pa. Cavalry under Col. Devin, and this really does show how his unit’s deployment fit into the battle and their contributions. Thanks!!
Awesome! My ancestor was under Gregg in Pennsylvania Cavalry, too.
Excellent!
Thank you, sir, for your close study & careful presentation.
Buford's soldierly wisdom and tenacity cannot help but be admired contemporarily and in retrospect by students of this engagement, ( and that's coming from an UnReconstructed Virginian).
Trying to imagine the maneuvering when reading about the battle is challenging! It is great to see the movements! The comments about the search for shoes, truth, myth, or partial myth, are fascinating!
Very well done. Great work and fantastic maps showing exact step by step. Have read more than one book on this event and this is the best I have ever seen it explained.
Gen. Buford was probably the best tactician of the battle. his cav tactics are incredible.
He knew how to delay a significantly larger force for just enough time.
If the unfolding events of history were only so clear when they're actually happening... Great video.
I love this so much! My relative Reuben Martin died on 7/1 on McPherson's Ridge with the Pennsylvania 149th Bucktails, Company A. Died over night as a prisoner on the grounds outside McPherson's Barn, where the injured officers were tended to, if i recall correctly.)
Excellent depiction. It is so much easier now to understand the brilliance of Buford and his fighting troops who ultimately set up the eventual defeat of Lee at Gettysburg. Thank you.
I had the honor of going to Gettysburg with the head of the American Battlefield Trust, Mr Jim Lighthizer. We went through gettysburg as if we were experiencing the battle from beginning to end. So much detail and the way the battle was explained really brought it to life for us as we walked around the fields, it made for the most amazing day. Thank you Jim.
Great presentation! The topographical segments and the "hour by hour" format were especially helpful in further developing this layman's understanding of Buford's defence.
Thank you!
Wow, this ultra detailed explanation of what happened is very impressive. Thanks for spending time to put this together. Having been to the battlefield years ago, it really helps having some visual aids showing who was where and when.
Thank you!
This is very helpful. So many lectures and descriptions of Gettysburg or any battlefield breakdowns forget one crucial thing, orientation, this one nails it
I thoroughly enjoyed this. Reading about the battle, it is often hard to grasp what is happening. I enjoyed your use of maps to explain.
Also, read Buford's biography for an excellent description of fighting around Seminary Ridge. There is now a museum at Seminary Ridge open portraying the fighting.
Thank you for the recommendation!
Great video, but one error found in this and many other accounts of Buford's brilliant delaying action is the myth that his troopers used Spencer carbines. Buford's troopers had breech-loading carbines but not one Spencer repeating carbine. "Company, Regimental, and Division ordnance records of the regiments under Buford show that his troopers were armed with Sharps, Burnsides, Merrills, Ballards, and Maynards."
Sharps having about 1/2 the rate of fire of Spencers, probably the other breechloaders similar. Still, helped them stand up to AP Hill's units. In a stand up fight, calvary also had just 3/4 of the troops present in the line, 1/4 holding the horses at the rear.
Where repeating rifles really made a difference was at Chickamauga where Wilder's Lightning brigade and the 21st Ohio both repelled Confederate attacks, one by Longstreet's ANV veterans. Longstreet heard it, and though the Federals had brought up another corps!
@@Samlind 1/3 was standard cav tactics..dont forget the man holding horses had his own to hold..lol....Buford never lived to write his after action..he was dead in December
I have been to Gettysburg. SOME of the yankees had Henry rifles that were made in Brooklyn, and could fire 16 bullets in a minute. They also had more cannons than they needed. These cannons fired grapeshot cannisters. When you put grape shot into a crowd of men you can kill dozens of men with one shot.
@@jenniferthomas3875 there is no record of henry rifles issued to any union regiment...spencer 7 shot repeaters were issued to wilders brigade in the west..private ownership is another matter
Thanks. I thought they lacked repeaters. Still the efforts are magnified by the staunchest efforts of that group of men. ❤️🇺🇸
Incredible description of the battle in concise manner. Thank you. This is the best presentation of this monumental battle
That means a lot to me. Thanks!
This was really fantastic! The detail, the visuals, the maps, really, really fantastic!
A very good presentation of the battle. My great-great grandfather was a member of Company D, 8th Illinois Cav. under Gamble that day. I especially appreciated the presentation showing the location of the unit that day. It was an officer of the 8th Illinois that is said to have fired the first shot of the battle. I agree with one of the other comments that I wish more time was given to Bufford's actions in the movie Gettysburg.
Buford's man did not have repeaters. Most were armed with single shot .52 breach loading Sharp's.
Still, a breech loading firearm had a better rate of fire, and could reload while under cover, both big advantages compared to the infantry issued firearms that required standing to reload down the barrel. I am not a CW historian, just making a comment based on general firearms knowledge, so blast away if I am mistaken and I will maybe learn something.
I am wondering how quickly those Sharps would foul, and if that was a factor in their use. Also, was the standard loadout about sixty rounds per man?
This is the first place I've found to actually describe Buford's delay at Gettysburg....well done.
Honestly I have tried to understand Civil War battles and my head winds up swimming. This video brings it all to life and it is very easy to comprehend. Great job!
Thank you!
I’ll be visiting Gettysburg for the first time in October. I’ll be there about two weeks soaking as much history as I can. I read books, I listen to books, but as a visual learner this was most helpful. Thank you for the effort and details you provided along with the visuals. I particularly liked the topographical maps which gives a whole new perspective on the area.
You will be very humbled, as was I when visiting last year. I thought I had a pretty good perspective on the battle beforehand, not. If you have time, take at least a day trip to Antietam. It's only a little over an hour from Gettysburg. Enjoy your history lesson, I know I did.
HOW DID IT GO? WHAT DID YOU LEARN?
Brilliant, concise, and marvelously illustrated depiction of Buford's cavalry securing the high ground, the devil of it!
Thank you so much!
@@JeffreytheLibrarian I am really happy to see that a librarian has made such a channel. I believe libraries are an integral part of society. I come from a family of librarians. My father was director of Long Island Library Resource Council and my mother and father were very active in ALA. and attend many IFLA. meetings. Please keep presenting more material.
This is so well done. The maps superimposed with the units and the geography defined, makes this the best learning tool on the internet on Gettysburg.
Thank you!
Forcing the enemy to take the time to deploy "On Line" is key to the "Delay and Screen" mission. Took Heth three hours to get his troops lined up, "on line". That is HUGE given the odds Buford was up against.
Very informative. It gets a bit confusing but eventually everything falls into place. This shows that what Buford did was much moreI fulencial to the overall outcome of the battle then he's given credit for.
I been visiting Gettysburg for 50 years (my grandfather is buried in the Annex Cemetery). I have walked the battlefield, looked at it from the tower before it was taken down, rode my bike for miles through the park and outside of town, and have taken several tours. But the use of the satellite and topographical maps with zooming in and out really helped follow the battle. On the ground with modern structures and large trees, sometimes it is too hard to get the big picture. Job well done.
I need one for Vicksburg. I visited there during Covid (visitor center was closed) and I just couldn't figure out how they fought such a battle in a heavily wooded area. They didn't because the Park planted the trees during the 1930s. The overlay of the satellite and topographical maps would be helpful because modern day ground conditions are confusing and hind so much.
Thank you! I can only understand it myself if I lay it out on the maps. Vicksburg will be done in the future. That is an amazing campaign, and Grant sealed the deal there.
Thats funny... I was just thinking that their must have been much more forested territory back then, and wondering what the satellite would have shown.
Your presentation and use of maps with topography, roadways, individual units, consistent north south orientation of maps, moving scale in and out with timelines explained are absolutely the best I have found on You Tube. Keep up the great work. I would have loved to have you as a history teacher.
Thank you. I really appreciate that.
Love the detail and description along with the sat maps that help give better context to it.
I love that this is done using current google maps. It really helps to spatially place these movements. Reading about "north" toward this or that town means nothing to me, not being familiar with the smaller villages. Its also interesting to see what remains and what has changed
Thank you! I need to see it spatially as well. I don't think battles make sense without a good understanding of the land and topography.
I always enjoy seeing history explained from a modern map. Once again, excellent work sir.
Thank you! The modern maps help place it in today's landscape.
Love you he maps!
Well done. Would have loved to have seen a more detailed explanation of the railroad cut battles on this day. Those have always interesed me. But you really showed Buford important efforts. Well done!
It's a shame the movie 'Gettysburg' didn't go into more of this detail regarding Buford's stand. Near-perfect choices in setting up his forces, and STILL facing a huge risk of getting flanked from the north. Excellent work by he and his cavalry.
Thank you for the nice comments. A single film has to choose certain details because they only have so much time, and they end up missing other parts. You could almost make a full film out of each sector of the battle.
Very fun to watch, I only watch full videos if they are the best and for-sure this qualifies
This battle is often overlooked. Buford held his ground and kept the Union on the high ground. This and Little Round Top IMO had more of an impact than Pickett's Charge. Had Buford or Chamberlain failed the Battle of Gettysburg would have gone differently.
My g g grandfather 17th Georgia took a Minnie ball to the leg at Little Round Top. POW on an island just outside NY city. Paroled but went back to Fredericksburg a d stayed with Lee untill Appomattox.
Thank you so much! The 1st days battlefield at Gettysburg is my favorite part of the battlefield. I consider myself fairly knowledgeable of Buford's activities July 1 but this video filled in a bunch of holes and brought it all together. Thanks again!
Much appreciated! There is so much "in the gaps" to learn, and it is fun to piece it together.
You did an outstanding job on this. Love the visual way you put this together.
I like seeing the troop movements.
Just a couple of corrections. Meade had the information the Confederates were moving towards York. He thought Lee could threaten Baltimore or Washington DC. He set up his HQ in Manchester,MD. He was setting up defenses. He even wrote The Pipe Creek circular to all of his commanders and summoned them to come towards the east. Slocum did not know which direction he should go since the Battle of Gettysburg started the following day.
Bufords men were issued Sharps Carbines. Unless someone purchased a Spencer repeating rifle for themselves.
But highly doubtful.
The whole shoe idea is a myth devised by Heth as to his plan to enter Gettysburg. They were sent to reconoiter the larger town. Confederate troops would enter Gettysburg on the way toward Cashtown Gap.
Did you mean sharps carbines, not Spencer carbines? The only people that had Spencer's at Gettysburg were Custer's men
Agree
Really good summary and your usual excellent use of topographical details to show the reasons behind the tactics
Absolutely the best graphical, visualization of Buford's action, or any Civil War action anywhere.
Recommend you add a timeline running at the bottom of the video to give exact times of events beyond the voice over. For those familiar with the overall, operational picture your visualization is even more powerful. The lack of Confederate Cavalry to influence the situation is clearly obvious, without any mention in the video.
And the voice of General Lee, "Do not bring on a general engagement," the Commander's Intent,
can be heard throughout, resonating in the background. And all this successful coordination at the operational level...with no satellite, GPS, or radio communication.
WELL DONE JOHN BUFORD!!
This was great until you said that Buford's Cavalry was armed with Spencer Repeating Carbines. That is absolutely wrong. The only Cavalry unit in the AOP that had Spencer Repeaters at Gettysburg were two regiments in Custer's Michigan Brigade. This is a common misconception. Very few repeaters were issued to other troops at that time (more would come later). Some claim that Spencer gave out some for testing. But it would only have been a handful. When people read that Buford's 1st Cav. Div. was armed with superior weapons, most assume they mean repeaters. What is meant by superior weapon was the Sharps Breechloading Carbine. It was Superior to the Rifled Musket because it was loaded from the breach one shot at a time giving it a higher rate of fire. But it did not have the range of the Rifled Musket. A breechloading carbine was a serious upgrade from muzzle loading small arms. But Buford's Cavalry did not have repeaters at Gettysburg.
I just discovered this series and love it. Clarifies the battle, step by step. I apologize if this has already been noted, but I absolutely love the fact that, at the 31 minute mark, I see General Doubleday's units posted in area containing baseball fields!! Very appropriate!
That was EXCELLENT !! Topography was always important at that time. Also a southerly POV was kept, avoiding directional confusion. Having been there was extremely educational. But this was in much greater detail. Thanks !!
Topography is everything
Good video but as a semi-local (I live in Carlisle), hearing the pronunciation of Herr's Ridge and Mummasburg Rpad grated on my ears. "Herr's" is pronounced "hers", and not like the German word for Mister. "Mummasburg" is pronounced as "MOO-maws-burg". In print, they sure look like how you pronounced them though! Pennsylvania Dutch does some weird things! Don't get me started on how we pronounce "Lancaster".
Very interesting. I went to college in Carlisle. Spent a lot of time in the Waidner-Spahr Library. I wonder if "Herr" was originally pronounced like German. I was not aware of the Mummasburg pronunciation, and I will use that in the future. Having been in Carlisle for college, I do know about "Lenk-a-stur."
One thing I have never actually seen addressed: why did the Confederates think there were shoes in Gettysburg? To my understanding there was no shoe manufacturing in Gettysburg and one would assume either misinformation, gossip, or a real shipment of shoes (maybe even just a small one and it got distorted by a game of telephone) led to the battle. It's one of those what if something else happened moments. If one guy hadn't misheard a word or misremembered something, what might have happened? It's funny to think about.
They didn't. This myth has come about due to one account told by Heth well after the fact. None of the letters of the time mention shoes. The real reason why the CSA advanced toward Gettysburg was they knew it was a road hub; it was nothing more than a reconnoiter.
It's always best to stick to first hand accounts written closest to the time of an event when forming an opinion. People confuse details of the events more & more with time. And once people latch onto small false details, it gets harder & harder to correct.
Wow, that was a great presentation, very detailed and easy to follow. Thanks! I learned a lot from this.
Buford is an American Hero by any measure! Thank YOU SO MUCH FOR A FINE PRESENTATION.
Thank you for watching!
great preliminary details on the unfolding of the First day. i never knew this much detail existed!
Those maps were extremely helpful in recreating this part of the battle.
Thanks for watching!
Excellent Presentation. The Micro and Macro Views, as the Battle progressed, are very helpful in understanding this Engagement or any other Engagement.
Really excellent. I never really understood this part of the battle and especially the topography. Thank you!
Thanks for watching!
After watching this video I feel that I more clearly understand the details of this famous battle. Thank you for taking the time to put together such a wonderful visual. Hopefully you will follow this up with videos from other famous battles in the Civil War.
Dan Wearstler
Thank you. I will continue to make Civil War videos. It is very enjoyable to really dig into the details.