The Fields of Pickett’s Charge Part 1 | Gettysburg 161

Walking the fields of Pickett’s Charge with Wayne Motts, Doug Douds and the National Civil War Museum. Part 2 of our walk can be found here: kzbin.infoh7lMeTZqY7E?... #gettysburgtour
This video is part of our series commemorating the 161st Anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg. View all of the videos here: • Gettysburg | 161st Ann...

[@AmericanBattlefieldTrust]

We lost signal at the end, so this is officially Part 1 of our Pickett's Charge coverage. Part 2 is here: kzbin.infoh7lMeTZqY7E?feature=share and Part 3 is here: kzbin.infowgQCAjETSKY?feature=share

[@kenttucson2830]

Tucson Arizona here!

[@dragonflyhill5748]

My great Uncle was a 17 year old sharp shooter, 42 Mississippi Vol , Gaston’s Regt at Gettysburg taken July 3 when lost in action and imprisoned at Ft. Delaware where he died March 64.

[@blakebufford6239]

A P. Hill's old Light Division was in Pickett's Charge although broken up into different divisions. Archer and Brockenbrough, Lane and Scales. I think the only one missing was Thomas's Ga. Bg.which was stuck in Long Lane. Archer and Brockenbrough were in the front. Brockenbrough broke, but Archer's (Fry) lost all their battle flags at or near The Angle except for the 7th Tn. which was torn off the staff and tucked into the coat of an officer. The 14th Tn was captured by the 14Th Conn. about 50 yds from their front. Great job folks!!!!

[@sampsellmark]

I look forward to seeing these videos every year. thank you one and all who makes this posable

[@johngetz8585]

Mornin' yourself..!!! Between the charge and the Cavalry charge on the backside..that was a hell of a day. Literally. A humbling spot ....

[@user-tv3id2nf5o]

There's just something about Pickett’s Charge. I've done it 30 times. As you traverse the field, you just FEEL SOMETHING as you walk it!! Very unique.

[@ncwoodworker]

Just to see the scope of the field and how far they had to go to get to other side is chilling.

[@kimfitzsimmons7408]

Cant thank you enough for doing this every year. I so look forward to learning from you all.

[@mikekellum6238]

Direct descendant of William Kellum, 55 th Virginia, extreme left flank of Picketts charge.

[@intpete]

Kudos to Sarah! A very moving story.

[@MrBBaron]

In 1994 1995 and 1996, i stayed in Gettysburg and toured this battlefied. Stayed in the Cashtown inn , which was claimed to be haunted. I can vouch for that . In 1996 I walked the exact trail from where my NC men started their attack. I was dressed in full Confederate gear. Upon reaching mid field, i stopped and pondered about those young men in grey.I looked skyward and then gave a heartfelt prayer and salute to those brave souls. Would i have gone with them? ..Yes! When I reached the union line i was greeted by applause from those that saw me walking the distance. Some wanted to take pictures with me. It was a very emotional moment and a highlight of my life as I wanted to be there since I was i boy when learning that my ancestors served in NC Confederate units.

[@user-yn7bj2mt1g]

Lee was supposed to be such a great leader. He dropped the ball on this charge. It was basically insane to attack across such open ground and to attack such high ground

[@michaelhoffman5348]

A little harsh, don't you think? Ewell was supposed to attack Culp's Hill at the same time to coordinate from both ends of the field, but the Union beat him to the punch. That lost, had the bombardment been successful, we may be looking at a whole different outcome. Lee's weakness was that he was NOT a micro-manager, while many of his generals needed close attention. Lee was also suffering the first stages of heart disease, so he definitely was not on his A game at Gettysburg.

[@kw19193]

@@michaelhoffman5348 Not in the least bit harsh. Instead of making excuses for Lee the bigger picture reveals that as an offensive general Lee was at best over-the-moon slack, and not just here at Gettysburg. Lee's reputation rests as much upon incompetent and intimidated leadership of the AoP as it did his supposed genius. Lee's whole handling of this battle was pathetic. Had it been Grant, Sheridan, and Sherman on the other side the defeat would have catastrophic. Cheers!

[@michaelhoffman5348]

@@kw19193 Could not disagree with you more, as would any soldier that fought for or against Robert E. Lee's ANV. When Commander-in-Chief Winfield Scott told Abraham Lincoln that his overwhelming recommendation to lead Union forces was Robert E. Lee, it was because of a well deserved reputation, not some "over the moon" slack. Lee took long chances because he HAD to take long chances with the limited resources he had. When you get the chance to actually spend 5 minutes on the battlefield on July 1st or 2nd or 3rd in 1863, and see the actual events unfold in real time, then you can tell us all exactly where Lee showed his insanity. Cheers yourself...

[@rayparker7496]

Love this videos

[@garys.4789]

Great job as usual guys 😎👍

[@Jersey2tall86]

Doug, as a veteran (USMC) artillery officer (1st Bn 11th Marines, 1st Bn 14th Marines, and once-14th Marines XO), I fully agree with your analysis (from 6:08 to 6:54) regarding the so-called "overshoots" in this cannonade. Was glad to hear someone like yourself finally articulate it in a quasi-official public video setting like this. I would also add that the objective of the Union artillery here is different from the Confederates, which would be that the Union's objective would be 1. counter-battery fire to lessen the effects of the Confederate guns and 2. in anticipation of an infantry assault (and no commander on the battlefield would ever not think that an infantry assault wasn't going to follow an artillery bombardment--it was a standard military tactic for several centuries) to pin down and degrade the assaulting force. Using correct artillery terminology, you can say here that the Confederates' was a bombardment, while the Union's was a barrage.

[@bigstevesnostalgiadragraci4240]

Spot on assessment. As a former Army artilleryman, your comments are well taken. It's a little "inside baseball" for many, but absolutely yrue.

[@Gitarzan66]

@Jersey2tall86 My dad was a Navy Corpsman in the 11th Artillery, Companies H&k. He landed in Korea with the 1st I.D in 1050. He was there for a year and was present at Chosin. He received a Commendation from the Corp for his work at battalion aid during the battle.

[@cindylodestro5788]

NC here!!!

[@delnunley7026]

Thank you for posting these! Love them in Wyoming

[@bobbennett7195]

I can't Imagin what they were all going through.

[@michaeldouglas1243]

Always a great pleasure to listen to Mr Douds speak. I'd love to get him to give me a guided tour sometime.

[@geralddixon4705]

Hi guys I from south Carolina but originally from n.y. I 😘 be theses guys I watch you guys all the time Jerry Dixon from sc

[@4673103]

From NewBedford been There four times and learn more every time I watch😎

[@jef5537]

Great job Sarah and co.!

[@texmexfla]

San Antonio Texas is here!

[@johngibbons2858]

Love these videos. Thanks for all the hard work.

[@gilllawson2214]

Thanks to everyone again for this video and work

[@HighVelocityRips]

Damn, I’m addicted, my history teacher is probably rolling in his grave 😂

[@grahamhill2267]

Hi again from the UK! Before I got interested in the Battle of Gettysburg and the American Civil War, the only thing I knew about Confederates was what I’d seen in Hollywood movies. They always portrayed Confederates as illiterate, murderous cut-throats and vagabonds. Have seen a couple of times now the written artefacts like the Confederate Privates diary in this video, what beautiful handwriting it is and dispels the Hollywood interpretation of the Confederate troops! Wonderful!

[@johnturner2664]

Hellow from Eugene Oregon. Thank you so much for all of your time and effort put into your videos. I can't wait to come and see everything in person.

[@WayneFielder]

WHAT a damn cliff hanger! AMAZING WORK EDITOR!

[@chieffamilygenealogyoffice621]

Wyoming here! Been to Gettysburg twice….

[@heynowls3058]

Palm Springs CA! I woke up Garry! Thanks folks.

[@bigsarge2085]

👍👍

[@dragonflyhill5748]

😊

[@KenKen-jt6lh]

From Scotland. Tactically if Lee did not instigate pickets charge what options did he have

[@padraicfarrell188]

What options did Lee have? That is one of the greatest "what ifs" of civil war discussion. Some say he could have moved his army south , get between the ARmy of the Potomac and Washington DC. That would have forced Meade to attack him. Lee might have gone north and threatened Harrisburg and possibly Philadelphia or Possibly NYC. The issue with either option is Lee's supply lines. He really couldn't do either from a logistics pov. A lack of options doesn't make the decision any better though. Withdrawing would have saved a lot of his soldiers. Not that that would go well either. Lee couldn't have known any of that on July 3rd though. And that is the drama that transfixed so many to this epic drama

[@edwardyost915]

Thanks!

[@AmericanBattlefieldTrust]

Thanks so much!

[@WayneFielder]

@21:42 - I'd bet those folks in East Tennessee, right at the edge of the upright part of the monument? yeah...those folks were ready to take the fight to middle and west TN in 1861 so I'm kinda sure those ancestors of East Tennesseans would have a problem with that so small portion of the monument! OKAY, Okay okay...I get it and EVERYTHING about how and why this monument was placed. For DAMN sure Tennesseans should be honored at Gettysburg and I do love the monument.

[@johnzajac9849]

For Federal observations about the lethal accuracy of rebel artillery, read the well-researched books by Hennessy, ‘Return to Bull Run’, and by Hartwig, 'I Dread the Thought of the Place’.

[@InVinoVeritas.]

Oh no, livestream interrupted/ended. They changed the title to Part 1 so hopefully they're getting ready to livestream Part 2.

[@billfries1077]

Bill in Belvidere Il. Here

[@ga6381]

Just got back from the 161st Gettysburg reenactment. Went down Seminary ridge, took pictures with my 12 year old son. Left my binoculars there, by the NC monument. Went back 3 times around from 2:10 - 3:15. Could not find them. If anyone finds them, could you let me know. It would have been before the Porta John's up to the the NC monument, on the stone wall by one of the cannons. They were Baraska binoculars. Appreciate it, if anyone finds them. Thank you.

[@blakebufford6239]

I've never heard the theory of deliberate over shots. Interesting,! Every thing I've read puts a rubber stamp on over shots being due to the obscuring smoke. Very good idea Col. Doud!!

[@philipwolf3619]

Bad timing fuses - new factory

[@Mercenaries3]

Is that Gary trying to get something going by saying “Chris did you say Doug is wrong.”

[@Spinonemaster]

More great analysis of the final day .... I've always had great respect for Gen Lee .... but Lee failed horribly at Gettysburg on day 3 .... either delusional, or his foolish pride would not allow him to rethink his strength and lack of a good tactical ground for an attack ...

[@1rwjwith]

In the book Killer Angels LEE is portrayed as being somewhat ill and suffering Angina pain . Was that factual? Any evidence to that ?

[@Raymond-dn3su]

I had also read that Lee was suffering from a virus or from eating spoiled rations. Causing him to be extremely dehydrated, thus interfering with his mental state. And it was recorded by several Confederate adjutants, many of the Confederate officers did not want this frontal assault to proceed.

[@Raymond-dn3su]

I left a reply about Lee being sick that day. I had also read that he was dehydrated from eating bad food.

[@burrellbikes4969]

Hmmm…I honestly am not trying to throw shade at the Vet’s - but I wonder how many of the survivors claimed to have gotten all the way to the wall or even past the wall? It would seem that given the utter destruction of those attacking units - if you got to the wall, you were most likely a casualty in some fashion. So it just makes me wonder if they are pumping up their own actions from that day to be a bit more than it really was.

[@MrFrostings]

What's the date, Wayne?

[@Clare-qo5jv]

Did he say "girly excitement"? It's called 'enthusiasm" sir. There's a difference. What grade are you in?

[@michaelhoffman5348]

Longstreet's Assault... plain and simple.

[@Jersey2tall86]

Hmmm... 63+75 = 150+ ??? 🤣😂

[@philipwolf3619]

“WE” had a failure !!??? Da-huh? So you are a slaver ?

[@davidpitchford6510]

Please don't keep saying "stuff"; Geez! Also: more somber facts vs. girly excitement. Finally, complete your sentences without going off on tangents and please ensure that sentences follow from the last one and lead to the next.

[@vinceo1058]

I think you'd be happier reading a book than watching a live presentation, especially if you believe that excitement is "girly." You should demand a refund *and* insist on speaking to the manager.

[@blakebufford6239]

I like their " girly excitement"! 😂

[@AmericanBattlefieldTrust]

We can do whatever we want, it's our production. Feel free not to watch.

[@padraicfarrell188]

Fans of the ABT think of those things as features not bugs.

[@RandomOccurrences]

@@AmericanBattlefieldTrust Please don't stop what you're doing or how you do it. I look forward to these anniversary specials every year and block out whole afternoons to watch the coverage. Everyone involved with the production and presentation is great and I never fail to learn something (usually many somethings) I didn't know before.

[@gilllawson2214]

Is it gone? 👀