Today is the 150th anniversary of the beginning of the Battle of Gettysburg.<\/p>\n
The battle would rage for three days.\u00a0 It is generally regarded as one of the turning points in the US Civil War.\u00a0 Indeed, many historians regard it as the turning point after which Confederate independence was no longer possible.<\/p>\n
Gettysburg was a classic meeting engagement; it was never intended to be fought at all.\u00a0 It was enabled by the absence of much of the Confederate cavalry from Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia, whose commander – “Jeb” Stuart – had gone on his famous but foolish “ride around the Union army”.\u00a0\u00a0 This act deprived Lee of reconnaissance assets that would have alerted him to the close presence of the enemy.<\/p>\n
The battle began when Confederate troops of Harry Heth’s division approached Gettysburg (according to Heth’s memoirs, looking for supplies – particularly shoes).\u00a0 They were discovered by Union cavalry under John Buford screening the Chambersburg Pike northwest of Gettysburg.\u00a0 Buford recognized the critical value of the high ground south Gettysburg (Cemetery Ridge), and – with no support and no guidance – on his own initiative decisively deployed his troops to delay the Confederate advance.<\/p>\n
This act, which could easily have destroyed his command, was in retrospect likely the event that both ensured the battle and the Union’s victory.\u00a0 Union troops under John Reynolds, Abner Doubleday, and Oliver Howard arrived in time to relieve Buford and prevent the destruction of his command (a very near thing) – and to fight a delaying action keeping Cemetery Ridge in Union hands.<\/p>\n
Reynolds was killed by a Confederate sharpshooter shortly after arriving. He would be among the first of many to die during the battle.<\/p>\n
Units from both sides arrived piecemeal during the day, and went into battle as they did.\u00a0 Confederate forces seized Gettysburg and the high ground east of town – Seminary Ridge.\u00a0 But the Union held possession of the critical ground at Cemetery Ridge at the end of the day.<\/p>\n
Confederate forces would never possess Cemetery Ridge.\u00a0 Lee would nearly break his army attempting to seize it from them.<\/p>\n
Lee failed.\u00a0 With that failure, in the opinion of many historians the Confederacy’s chances of independence also failed.<\/p>\n
Wickipedia’s article<\/a> on the Battle of Gettysburg is actually a rather good overview of the battle’s events.\u00a0 If you have some time today and need or want a refresher, it’s worthwhile – as are the articles describing Day 1<\/a>, Day 2<\/a>, and other specific actions occurring as part of the battle (Little Round Top<\/a>, Cemetery Hill<\/a>, Culp’s Hil<\/a>l, Pickett’s Charge<\/a>, Third Day Cavalry Battles<\/a> ) in more detail.<\/p>\n And while you’re reading it – or otherwise going about your daily business – also take a moment to remember the heroism and sacrifice that occurred 150 years ago today over the three day period beginning at about 7:30 AM.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"