Ep 51: Defending Sickles

Рет қаралды 859

9 ай бұрын

In the early afternoon of July 2, 1863, Union General Daniel Sickles moved his entire Third Corps, some 10,000 men, forward nearly 3/4 of a mile from their original position. The ensuing debate over Sickles's move continues to this very day.
#military #civilwar #history #politics #travel #gettysburg #pennsylvania

Пікірлер: 23

@yamahabiker1937

I appreciate the work. However, I will never be convinced Sickles was in the right. First, his exoneration was purely and politically motivated/backed. There was no " temporary insanity ", and his case has set forth the problems that we have seen with such cases right up to today. He intentionally turned around, went back to the hotel to retrieve his weapons, went up to Key as he was walking down the street and shot him- It was premeditated...period. Dan Sickles should have never been at Gettysburg to fulfill his blunder as he should have been in prison and disgraced. More men of the 3rd Corps would have survived and an easier plan of a salient or killing field could have been created to secure that area without stretching out the troops, causing re-deployment issues, etc...Yes, he was a self-serving megalomaniac that caused many lives and issues, even up to today. His MOH was BS and undeserved as much as many of his accolades, while standing on the bodies he didn't give 2 squirts about. I appreciate a different view point and am open minded enough to listen, but....my stance is unchanged.

@6thmichcav262

I would differentiate understanding WHY Sickles did what he did is a separate proposition from agreeing that his decisions were good. Because he was inexperienced, he overreacted to his Chancellorsville position at Hazel Grove, decided he couldn’t see from his “hole,” and moved forward like a panicky hunter who abandons a sure spot for a place on a hill where he can “see better.” Connectivity with the rest of the army was much more secure than his salient into the Peach Orchard, and his poor decision led to the need for Meade to feed in nearly another whole Corps to deal with Sickles getting flanked from the extended position in which he failed to dig in (had he spent less time waffling, and more time preparing a defensible position a la Greene at Culp’s Hill, he may have had much better results, but that is speculation). Sickles’s story is one of the best ones to read about throughout the Civil War, and if you ask ol’ Dan, he claimed he saved the Union on 7/2/63. If getting routed and needing another corps to save your bacon “saved the Union,” I’ll eat his preserved leg bone without ketchup.

@dennismatthews7060

I've made this point in another video, but Sickles could have extended the 2nd Corps line across the Wheatfield Road and up along Houck's Ridge terminating at Devil's Den. This would have been within the parameters assigned by Meade, been a shorter line to defend, and provided a fallback position on Little Round where he could have established his headquarters with a commanding view of the field.

@DustinWiseM1

Well done Aaron. The information was well presented. It’s difficult for me to argue with any points you made. Really enjoyed this one.

@ProjectPast1565

Well done Aaron. Enjoyed this and enjoyed hearing your thoughts on Sickles.

@2104dogface

Great job on this 1, deff makes you think about things. We both enjoyed this 1 loved the little extra details and what he did

@frankpesco7723

Lee would have beat the Union Army on day two, if Sickles had not moved to the Peach orchard. We might singing Dixie right now!

@karlheinzvonkroemann2217

Wasn't Sickles missing one of the divisions of his III Corps? He only had 2 of his 3 divisions according to the Federal OB.

@frankpesco7723

Is it true that no Union surgeons would tend to Sickles and a drunken assistant had to amputate his leg?

@clarkbuckner4900

Love the post, but if I'm not mistaken, Sickle's wrote nothing comparing Chancellorsville and Gettysburg.

@eldonhagen1257

Sickles would have scored higher ground...just by extending his left flank to Little Round Top, the best observation point of the battlefield. To compensate for the 'hole' that comprised the center of his position, he could have moved skirmishers out to the Emmitsburg Rd, and horse artillery out to the orchard...giving him some warning of enemy approach beyond the trees, without moving his entire core to an untenable, unanchored salient with huge gaps, exposed to close enemy artillery and infantry. He moved further from reinforcement capability, and if his left flank had been anchored at the Round Tops, he would have the advantage of close interior lines.