I still believe Lee was in poor health then and was set in his ways . but it was meant to be . so many things had happen before to place this in motion .. Civil War is just such a waste
Because he was not as good a tactician as Longstreet, the capture of the Town was of little importance tactically, while the Federals held the high ground. Lee placed to much faith on his men's moral and fighting abilities to overcome the tactical disadvantage he faced and underestimated his enemies ability to resist and as a result lost the battle and the War. Also this scene is not correct, Longstreet expressed his disagreement (in person to Lee) of Lee's proposal to attack the Federal position the night before this briefing, suggesting the strategic outflanking of the enemy to the left, positioning the Confederates on ground of their choosing and blocking the Federals from their capital, forcing the Federal Army to attack at a disadvantage. But Lee stated that "If the enemy is there tomorrow, I will attack him." Longstreet replied "If he is there tomorrow it is because he wants you to attack".
As Lee says in the movie, every day the fight goes on Union troops gain more reinforcements, more ammunition and more guns. Richmond has nothing to send the Confederate army. Lee is under immense time pressure to pick a fight he can still win. In addition, he must win with such a knockout blow that the Union loses its will to fight and will sue for peace. Any delay endangers that objective. Fredericksburg was his best shot and his generals let the enemy slip away. Lee understands that this is a war where numbers and industrial production will decide and his only shot is to deliver such a shock that Lincoln will have no choice. That's why he insists on his army behaving nicely with civilians and why he is pushing so aggressively despite knowing the terrain and numbers are against him. It's not what he planned or wanted but he is fighting to win. Longstreet is fighting the wrong war. He still believes a war can be won like it was in Napoleonic ways, by humiliating the enemy army on battlefield and negotiating a peace afterwards. Longstreets tactics may preserve the army in the short run but war will still be lost after a bloody grind. It will just take longer but defeat is just as certain. In essence the generals are at odds on what to do and this reflects on the entire battle. Ewell fails to take the high ground on the first day due to unclear orders ("if practicable"). It's not shown in the movie but Longstreet drags his feet bringing more men into the fight on second day. This can be held as a failure of Lee to impress upon his subordinated what his real objective and mindset about the campaign is.
Trying to maneuver a large force without knowing the enemies position, he may have run straight into another section of the Union Army. Lee's critical mistake was allowing Stuart to takeoff on a raid around the Federal Army. Resulting in being cutoff from ANV for several days.
You cannot disengage and go around a watchful foe without a large Calvary force to screen your movements or the foe will strike your force while your army is on the move. Stuart still wasn’t on the field on the start of day one - Longstreet was asking for the impossible
I don't think it would of made much of a difference Picketts was only one division the Union were receiving much more than that. Eventually Lee would of been vastly outnumbered than he already was.
This plan may have actually worked if General Ewell did his job. While Longstreet and Hill were breaking themselves against little round top and cemetery ridge, all Ewell was doing was shooting artillery. Over half of the soldiers on Culp's Hill were sent to reinforce the Union left.
"Cemetery Ridge is where they have concentrated their troops." Two days later: Lee: "I believe they are weakest in the center." What had changed in that time? Nothing. Lee was mistaking speculation for reality. Troops had not been withdrawn from the center as he said. In fact, more troops had come up and were deployed on the flanks. By the 5th, the center had been fortified even more with additional artillery added.
That may of been where they initially concentrated there force's but over the next few day's they were having to reinforce their flanks with men from the center. That's why he believed they were weak in the center in theory he was right they only had 6000 men in the center but it was more than enough to thwart any attack between the amount of rifled artillery and men that were well entrenched and behind cover.
Everything had changed by dawn of Day 3 - Meade reinforced both his flanks because of the attacks on both flanks on Day 2 - the center was the weakest part of the - don’t forget the ANV had broken the center at the Battle of Gaines Mill the year before
Most were foolishly thinking the War would be over by the end of the day here except for Longstreet it seemed like, anytime we see the hubris and confidence of others talking to Longstreet about this being the end of the way as long as the confederate win this battle we can see the look of trepidation and sometimes disbelief on Longstreet’s face.
Sounds like he over estimated his Army’s capabilities and under estimated the Unions Army. I’m not an expert by any means. I remember reading that battle or two prior Lee had a somewhat one sided victory. Maybe he thought he had momentum on his side. I don’t think that Lee ever had a shot. I imagine the scales were tipped out of his favor. Poor logistics, political leadership and low man power. Just my two cents.
@@natureboy6611 i am like you it seems the bigger picture isnt always the right one. Lee was over confident and the union army had strength in depth. An advance on Washington was not an option because he would run out of supplies and incurred heavy losses which he could not sustain i am not an expert in such matters but to me Gettysburg could have been avoided it was circumstance which brought both sides together and Lee was always at a disadvantage but what else could he do
@@grahamnaylor6697 What Longstreet suggested. Swing to the south and position the Army of Northern Virginia between the Army of the Potomac and Washington. It would've forced the Union to attack, with a much more equivocal chance of victory or defeat. But charging across open ground without the enemy's artillery silenced and with the enemy having short interior lines with a numerical advantage was sheer arrogance mixed with stupidity. Almost anything else Lee could've done at Gettysburg would've been a better idea than the charge - reinforce Ewell and hit Culp's hill hard, shift Longstreet's corps and hit the Union right flank from the south and west, or even just sit there and wait for Meade to do something, since Lee *should've* been well aware that sitting in Union territory, Meade would be under great pressure to make a move against Lee - ordering the charge was close to the only wrong choice to make.
Lee's orders to his generals was if they encountered the federals was to not bring on a general engagement because the whole army was not there. The main reason for being in Gettysburg was because many of the Confederate troops needed shoes. Unfortunately, this was left out of the final cut of the movie. The plan was for a battle to take place near Harrisburg.
They should have done like the Roman's work have done it. Like mossada, you got em on a hill, surround em, trap em there and starve em out. Sometimes the high ground doesn't work in your advantage. Total error in tactics. They had no more provisions than the south and there isn't water at the top of hills.
don't forget, they're deep into the union at this point; they'd probably run out of food first and/or see a massive counter-attack from the union's ever increasing manpower and resources. as lee says in the clip "but every moment we delay, the enemy uses to reinforce himself. we cannot support ourselves for long in this country" im no expert, but id imagine it'd be a similar situation as germany found itself during ww2
Masada is not that great an example because it's basically a simple siege with huge difference in numbers and no real way for the defenders to counterattack. Alesia is better in every way, Vercingetorix had more soldiers inside the city than Caesar did on the outside.
Not a bad point. Never thought of it like that. Me personally, and it’s always easy to look back and say I would have don’t it this way. Either way I would not have advanced into Union territory deep like that. It seems it’s so much easier to defend your ground than to advance into territory and have to hold that ground or defend it again. I think of the Nazis and how it seems they just took too much territory and were spread to thin.
@@natureboy6611 consolidation of power in military means is great for defense, but you eventually have to attack. Again the Roman's had it down to a science. They lost their society from within, just as were doing now.
Who else wishes the South would have won??? Not for slavery off course,I believe slavery would have ended even if the South would have won but the way the Federal Government is behaving nowadays I would rather be under State rule....That way you could move to what ever State you wanted to based on that States laws and beliefs...
Looking back I still don't know why Lee didn't listen to Longstreet, the Union had such a better position. Attacking those heights was folly.
I still believe Lee was in poor health then and was set in his ways . but it was meant to be . so many things had happen before to place this in motion .. Civil War is just such a waste
Because he was not as good a tactician as Longstreet, the capture of the Town was of little importance tactically, while the Federals held the high ground. Lee placed to much faith on his men's moral and fighting abilities to overcome the tactical disadvantage he faced and underestimated his enemies ability to resist and as a result lost the battle and the War.
Also this scene is not correct, Longstreet expressed his disagreement (in person to Lee) of Lee's proposal to attack the Federal position the night before this briefing, suggesting the strategic outflanking of the enemy to the left, positioning the Confederates on ground of their choosing and blocking the Federals from their capital, forcing the Federal Army to attack at a disadvantage. But Lee stated that "If the enemy is there tomorrow, I will attack him." Longstreet replied "If he is there tomorrow it is because he wants you to attack".
As Lee says in the movie, every day the fight goes on Union troops gain more reinforcements, more ammunition and more guns. Richmond has nothing to send the Confederate army. Lee is under immense time pressure to pick a fight he can still win. In addition, he must win with such a knockout blow that the Union loses its will to fight and will sue for peace. Any delay endangers that objective. Fredericksburg was his best shot and his generals let the enemy slip away.
Lee understands that this is a war where numbers and industrial production will decide and his only shot is to deliver such a shock that Lincoln will have no choice. That's why he insists on his army behaving nicely with civilians and why he is pushing so aggressively despite knowing the terrain and numbers are against him. It's not what he planned or wanted but he is fighting to win.
Longstreet is fighting the wrong war. He still believes a war can be won like it was in Napoleonic ways, by humiliating the enemy army on battlefield and negotiating a peace afterwards. Longstreets tactics may preserve the army in the short run but war will still be lost after a bloody grind. It will just take longer but defeat is just as certain.
In essence the generals are at odds on what to do and this reflects on the entire battle. Ewell fails to take the high ground on the first day due to unclear orders ("if practicable"). It's not shown in the movie but Longstreet drags his feet bringing more men into the fight on second day. This can be held as a failure of Lee to impress upon his subordinated what his real objective and mindset about the campaign is.
@nathanieldayspring00 Len Fullenkamp says what I think more eloquently, so I'll just leave this here:
ruclips.net/video/Myoj2hntbdg/видео.html
Trying to maneuver a large force without knowing the enemies position, he may have run straight into another section of the Union Army. Lee's critical mistake was allowing Stuart to takeoff on a raid around the Federal Army. Resulting in being cutoff from ANV for several days.
You cannot disengage and go around a watchful foe without a large Calvary force to screen your movements or the foe will strike your force while your army is on the move. Stuart still wasn’t on the field on the start of day one - Longstreet was asking for the impossible
Telegraph hot with messages attack attack, the same for Lee
Lee should have waited for Pickett to arrive. That was his first mistake.
I don't think it would of made much of a difference Picketts was only one division the Union were receiving much more than that. Eventually Lee would of been vastly outnumbered than he already was.
Not having Stuart on day 1 kept the south from achieving its objective.
His first mistake was promoting Ewell
Lee should have done exactly what Longstreet said and get between the Union army and Washington, force them to attack his defenses
He had no time to wait. He knew the day he marched north this was the make it or break it part of the war.
This plan may have actually worked if General Ewell did his job. While Longstreet and Hill were breaking themselves against little round top and cemetery ridge, all Ewell was doing was shooting artillery. Over half of the soldiers on Culp's Hill were sent to reinforce the Union left.
"Cemetery Ridge is where they have concentrated their troops."
Two days later:
Lee: "I believe they are weakest in the center."
What had changed in that time? Nothing. Lee was mistaking speculation for reality. Troops had not been withdrawn from the center as he said. In fact, more troops had come up and were deployed on the flanks. By the 5th, the center had been fortified even more with additional artillery added.
Bad intel must’ve played a part. I simply can’t believe that Lee would make such an obvious blunder.
@@readsomebooks666 Lee bass a chancer. Sometimes he was lucky other times not.
That may of been where they initially concentrated there force's but over the next few day's they were having to reinforce their flanks with men from the center. That's why he believed they were weak in the center in theory he was right they only had 6000 men in the center but it was more than enough to thwart any attack between the amount of rifled artillery and men that were well entrenched and behind cover.
Everything had changed by dawn of Day 3 - Meade reinforced both his flanks because of the attacks on both flanks on Day 2 - the center was the weakest part of the - don’t forget the ANV had broken the center at the Battle of Gaines Mill the year before
GOD BLESS MY AWESOME FRIEND MOCTESUMA ESPARZA.
Most were foolishly thinking the War would be over by the end of the day here except for Longstreet it seemed like, anytime we see the hubris and confidence of others talking to Longstreet about this being the end of the way as long as the confederate win this battle we can see the look of trepidation and sometimes disbelief on Longstreet’s face.
If only battle planning like shown here was as accurate and as simple and quick. If it was well, then the war would have been over years earlier.
Guys , you people asked for freedom, i did grant . Now it's upto you people.
Should Lee have fought at Gettysburg at all or was there no other strategy
Sounds like he over estimated his Army’s capabilities and under estimated the Unions Army. I’m not an expert by any means. I remember reading that battle or two prior Lee had a somewhat one sided victory. Maybe he thought he had momentum on his side. I don’t think that Lee ever had a shot. I imagine the scales were tipped out of his favor. Poor logistics, political leadership and low man power. Just my two cents.
@@natureboy6611 i am like you it seems the bigger picture isnt always the right one. Lee was over confident and the union army had strength in depth. An advance on Washington was not an option because he would run out of supplies and incurred heavy losses which he could not sustain i am not an expert in such matters but to me Gettysburg could have been avoided it was circumstance which brought both sides together and Lee was always at a disadvantage but what else could he do
@@grahamnaylor6697 What Longstreet suggested. Swing to the south and position the Army of Northern Virginia between the Army of the Potomac and Washington.
It would've forced the Union to attack, with a much more equivocal chance of victory or defeat. But charging across open ground without the enemy's artillery silenced and with the enemy having short interior lines with a numerical advantage was sheer arrogance mixed with stupidity.
Almost anything else Lee could've done at Gettysburg would've been a better idea than the charge - reinforce Ewell and hit Culp's hill hard, shift Longstreet's corps and hit the Union right flank from the south and west, or even just sit there and wait for Meade to do something, since Lee *should've* been well aware that sitting in Union territory, Meade would be under great pressure to make a move against Lee - ordering the charge was close to the only wrong choice to make.
Lee's orders to his generals was if they encountered the federals was to not bring on a general engagement because the whole army was not there. The main reason for being in Gettysburg was because many of the Confederate troops needed shoes. Unfortunately, this was left out of the final cut of the movie. The plan was for a battle to take place near Harrisburg.
They should have done like the Roman's work have done it. Like mossada, you got em on a hill, surround em, trap em there and starve em out. Sometimes the high ground doesn't work in your advantage. Total error in tactics. They had no more provisions than the south and there isn't water at the top of hills.
don't forget, they're deep into the union at this point; they'd probably run out of food first and/or see a massive counter-attack from the union's ever increasing manpower and resources. as lee says in the clip "but every moment we delay, the enemy uses to reinforce himself. we cannot support ourselves for long in this country"
im no expert, but id imagine it'd be a similar situation as germany found itself during ww2
Masada is not that great an example because it's basically a simple siege with huge difference in numbers and no real way for the defenders to counterattack. Alesia is better in every way, Vercingetorix had more soldiers inside the city than Caesar did on the outside.
Not a bad point. Never thought of it like that. Me personally, and it’s always easy to look back and say I would have don’t it this way. Either way I would not have advanced into Union territory deep like that. It seems it’s so much easier to defend your ground than to advance into territory and have to hold that ground or defend it again. I think of the Nazis and how it seems they just took too much territory and were spread to thin.
@@natureboy6611 consolidation of power in military means is great for defense, but you eventually have to attack. Again the Roman's had it down to a science. They lost their society from within, just as were doing now.
Starve them out in the North? This is Gettysburg, not Nashville.
Who else wishes the South would have won??? Not for slavery off course,I believe slavery would have ended even if the South would have won but the way the Federal Government is behaving nowadays I would rather be under State rule....That way you could move to what ever State you wanted to based on that States laws and beliefs...
I wish the same because our government is outta control and has no morals.
More arrogance.
Apparently God’s will does not trump stupidity!
THEY SAY. HES A INTELLIGENT..General. hes. Head strong. And. Lost. The war. For the.south
Longstreet never wanted to fight at Gettysburg he new it was a disaster waiting and the end of the confederacy