Pickett's Charge Explained

[@momentsinhistory4114]

Watch the full Battle of Gettysburg Explained video- kzbin.info/www/bejne/aJK7XpeahMunh7s

[@timisaac8121]

"Get off my lawn"???!!! Hahaha. Idea set up for another back story vid. Sorry about the 20 year old girl killed, but this guy scoops up a weapon and ammo and joins in? Talk about flexible recruiting policy.

[@volkerwestphal3746]

I got a whole bookshelf full of literature on the Civil War, including Chernow's "Grant" and McPherson's "Battle Cry For Freedom". Funny thing is - I'm German and live in Germany (Bavaria). My brother and I visited almost all the battlefields in your beautiful country and enjoyed it endlessly. Twice a year, we have our "America Day", wearing tailor-made uniforms of the Civil War, watching "Gettysburg" and films like that, cook American style, drink American cocktails, American beer, and so on. Yes, even here in Europe, there are the odd people who share your country's history, which is, if I may be so frank, quite short (Our city's medieval walls are still standing and are from 1450 [Augsburg!]). Nice job, I wish you success and cheers from overseas.🙂

[@pegrathwol]

Danke mein Freund! From a German American, who enjoys our Civil War battlefields but also tramping around the Rheinland visiting German castles from time to time.😉

[@volkerwestphal3746]

@@pegrathwol You're very welcome! :-)

[@Themaxwithnoname]

"Battle Cry of Freedom" is fantastic. Have you read 'The Killer Angels' by Michael Shaara. Gettysburg, the movie, was based on that book.

[@volkerwestphal3746]

@@Themaxwithnoname In fact, I have. 😉

[@volkerwestphal3746]

@D Sullivan Glad to hear that, mate. And one more time it's time to stick together. But however that may be, take care. 🙂

[@dardalion3199]

Hunt's sneaky strategy of delayed silencing of his cannons was genius. He knew it would draw out the confederate infantry into the open.

[@briscoedarling3237]

Very happy to say that my great, great-grandfather in the 24th VA Infantry of Kemper’s Brigade, survived Pickett’s Charge and lived through the entire War.

[@edlane9882]

Music overpowers the narrative.

[@karencarman8336]

I stood at Pickets Charge and thought how could anybody be so stupid to think 15,000 men could move almost a mile on open ground up hill.

[@stephenbarker5162]

If it was stupid in the 1860's, it was even more ridiculous to use similar tactics in WW1 against troops equipped with bolt action rifles and machine guns.

[@chris93703]

Isn't it suspected that Lee may have had a stoke sometime before the battle? If so then I think his thinking may have been compromised.

Well way back then rifles did not have the same accuracy and rate of firing😂

[@teddyjackson1902]

Easily the best civil war history channel on KZbin

[@chancewebster7953]

Polk invading Kentucky and Lee ordering this attack are two CSA mistakes that greatly helped the Union

[@marknewton6984]

Where was Pickett? In a barn...😮

[@aranksentimentalist]

"Glory be to God! Glory be to God! See the Vermonters go at it!" - General Doubleday

[@josephyodiceyodice5990]

After Vicksburg I think that Lee was desperate for a big victory. He didn't think much of the Union soldiers and thought that his men would overcome the odds. They had a number of times before. He hoped they would again.

[@stephennewton2223]

Vicksburg surrendered the same day. Lee would have known nothing of it.

[@josephyodiceyodice5990]

@@stephennewton2223 Vicksburg was besieged for weeks and everyone in the Southern hierarchy knew it was just a matter of time until surrender. The whole Charge was an act of desperation. Lee knew the South couldn't win a long, protracted, war. It was an act of "now or never" and Lee wanted to threaten the North into suing for peace. Both sides were tired of the war.

[@stanherman5604]

Lee had Victory disease, didn't think his men could be beaten.

[@manilajohn0182]

The historical record is clear enough that Lee's plan of campaign- as well as the retention of all of his forces in the east- was authorized by the Confederate government. That authorization was predicated on the assumption that the AoNV could achieve a great enough success to remove pressure from the Confederate defenders at Vicksburg. To put it another way, Lee did not carry out his campaign to compensate for the loss of Vicksburg. Rather, it was carried out to prevent the loss of Vicksburg.

[@marknewton6984]

One more time!

[@miguelservetus9534]

My GGGrand father, James Devlin, was in the PA 69th, Company E that held the angle. Previously a POW captured at Antitum, exchanged in May of 63. Wounded at Spotsylvania. GGM Sarah, born n 1866. Darn luckily I’m even here.

Long live the Irish😂

[@freedomrulesjavier3904]

I will never understand how Generals of this era and WW1 did not see how charging into modern weapons was mass suicide...at best.

[@mrtecsom6951]

Gen Lee “General Pickett Sir , you must see to your brigade” Picketts reply “General Lee I have no brigade”

[@momentsinhistory4114]

I have that scene in the full Battle of Gettysburg video. I put a joke at the end where Lee replies back to Pickett that Longstreet was in charge, so he doesn't have to worry that in the future they will call it Pickett's Charge :)

[@samcolt1079]

@@momentsinhistory4114 THATS REALLY STUPID SLICK

[@kenbash2951]

Pickett's Division lost 87% of its men to capture, wounding or death.

[@johng6221]

Music is way to loud

[@richardcutts196]

The problem with the Confederate's over shooting is that due to a fire, they had to use shells with fuses from a different source and the new fuses burned longer then the ones they are used to.

[@momentsinhistory4114]

I'll add for anyone reading these comments- The term "over firing" does not necessarily mean that the cannons were aimed incorrectly. A fuse that takes too long to burn is also an over-fire. It can be a bit confusing, but the shell doesn't land and explode- it explodes while it is flying overhead, so the term for a slow burning fuse that causes the shell to explode past the intended spot is also an over-fire. ___ So what Richard is pointing out is that the Confederates cut the fuses to what they were used to for that distance. The fuses burned slower than they were used to, so the shells overfired and exploded too late (past the target). Furthermore, with all of the smoke on the field from all the cannon fire. the Confederates were not able to actually see that the shells were exploding late, so it isn't really like someone 'messed up.'

[@jameslewis9393]

@@momentsinhistory4114 I agree with these points and would add one other, perhaps even more important consideration. I am a former field artillery officer (Vietnam era, 105mm howitzer battery) with considerable direct fire experience and I also have visited both the Confederate artillery line and Union positions across the plain. What immediately struck me when standing on the Confederate positions was the elevation differential between the two positions. The Confederates were effectively firing "up hill," aiming primarily at a ridgeline, thus a good number of their shots would fall short or over-fly the target, which is what happened (in addition to fusing issues). Compounding this problem was the heavy smoke that prevented the Confederates from more effectively adjusting the strike of their rounds. (The elevation differential is so significant that, if I had commanded a theoretical Confederate 105mm howitzer battery at the outset of the battle, I would have fired using max elevation, bringing the shells down high out of the sky against the Union line thus reducing the chance of under- and over-shots, as happened. The Confederate artillery commanders undoubtedly saw and were acutely aware of this elevation-differential problem, but were tacticly limited as to where they could place their cannons within effective range, etc. Truth be told, had I used my modern howitzers in direct fire mode as the Confederates had to do, I probably would have also over-shot a fair number of my targets.)

[@manilajohn0182]

The indifferent effect of the Confederate bombardment had a minimal effect on the outcome of the attack itself. The Confederate attacks of 1- 3 July constituted a variation of the Napoleonic strategic battle- where attacks on the flanks of an opponent would presumably draw forces from the enemy center, thus facilitating an attack on the center. Meade, however, understood this. That is the likely reason why he told Gibbon on the evening of 2 July that any attack by the Confederates the next day would be in his front (the Union center). When the attack came on 3 July, Meade had approximately 20,000 reinforcements move on the Union center. Given the lack of Confederate forces to support the shoulders of any success, the Confederate attack was going to fail, successful bombardment or no. Even if the Confederates had miracled up a successful breach of the Union line, they- like all the armies of both sides in the conflict- lacked the sizeable cavalry forces in reserve to pursue any routed fugitives. This precluded any decisive Confederate Victory on the scale of Austerlitz or Jena- which was what Lee needed to reduce Union pressure on the Confederate defenders at Vicksburg. Unfortunately for Lee, he had no alternative but to either attack or abandon the campaign in failure.

[@mikehaws3187]

Lee was wrong. Longstreet right. Thus the union prevailed. Brave bastards on both sides.

[@bcham7373]

Thanks this is great, the music is a bit loud and distracts from the topic.

[@momentsinhistory4114]

Sorry about the sound issues. This video is an excerpt from my full video on the Gettysburg Battle. This was my first time creating a long video, so I did everything in parts. When I put it all together, I realized that part of the narration is really quiet (and some parts were too loud), but the narration files were all split into several dozen little clips that varied in volume, so I couldn't just 'adjust the volume' on them (If you notice, the volume matches pretty well between the music and sound effects, but both are too loud the narration). I tried the best I could to fix the volume, but I am disappointed in that part and will try and do better next time. Thanks for the feedback.

[@TraderRobin]

Turn the music down!!

[@marksherrill9337]

I’ve read Longstreet was decried as the one who failed the battle. Looks as though Longstreet was right after all.

[@davec8730]

lee wrote davis tendering his resignation, and suggesting a younger commander of the ANV after the battle. i've always imagined longstreet was the younger commander lee thought of.

[@johnschannel449]

THe confederate generals should have refused Lees order and arrested him on the grounds his gone insane

[@steveN111333]

3:22 Those bursting shells just look NASTY !!!!

[@bluegrassreb]

Interesting to see that there is a black Confederate at 11:06.

[@TruthFiction]

Slave labor. Under CSA law, no negro, freed or slave was allowed to carry a weapon nor serve in any combat position in the rebel armies. As the CSA secretary of defense stated, if they gave slaves guns, then what was the point in having slaves?

[@HaurakiVet]

If the American military of the day had opted to follow the system used by the British and Prussians (fire tactics) as opposed to the system adopted by the French which placed emphasis on closing with the enemy and making use of the bayonet while using the new rifled musket in much the same way as the old smoothe bore it is conceivable that this charge could have been successful. To advance against artillery which was intact and still firing is never a good option. Troops who are trained in a system such as the one at the school of musketry at Hyde in the UK produced riflemen who could effectively engage at the much greater range than that of canister used by the cannon. They were trained to effectively estimate distance and make maximum use of their weapon's potential. This was shown in the Crimean War where Russian gunners were driven from their guns or killed by effective fire at very long range, where bullets fired at high elevation were able to fall from above, avoiding forward facing defences. If the cannon defending the ridge had been neutralised by a percentage of the attacking force to allow the main body to advance, who know what the outcome may have been. The US did not have the equivalent of a school of musketry untill the beginning of the 20th century and the French suffered for adhering to their way of advancing in the opening months of the first world war.

[@aaronfleming9426]

Interesting. I did not know that about the British and Prussian fire tactics at that time. But...if the Americans had adopted that tactic, wouldn't the Union troops have been able to use it against the rebels as well?

[@AnthonyBrown12324]

@@aaronfleming9426 what about the first day of the Battle of the Somme ; advancing slowly against enfilading machine guns . Partly it was due to overestimating the effectiveness of the Artillery Barrage . There was an element of this mistaken belief at Gettysburg . 60000 casualties were suffered by the allies in just one day in the First Day of the Somme

[@aaronfleming9426]

@@AnthonyBrown12324 Sure, the Somme was a colossal tactical failure...for the British. But a pretty darn good tactical day for the German Army, wasn't it? And as you note, the artillery barrage was a failure. But that doesn't mean there wasn't innovation going on. The walking barrage was innovative, but they hadn't worked the kinks out yet. Eventually, though, the walking barrage improved and British "bite and hold" tactical innovation exhausted the Germans.

[@aaronfleming9426]

Having recently read a good deal more about British and Prussian fire tactics, I'd say those ideas were still quite theoretical. Accurately calculating distances in combat situations rather than on the rifle range was extremely difficult, and being off in the calculations by as little as 20 yards could dramatically reduce the accuracy of the fire. We also tend to view the French military from the lens of their struggles in early WWI and their profound ineffectiveness in WWII. It's important to remember that the French Army in 1861 was still at the pinnacle of its well-earned prestige, its zouave troops having pioneered rifled musket combat in Algeria and its regular army having just had great success in Italy with bayonet charges. While fire tactics might have been effective at Gettysburg (assuming the Union infantry hadn't adopted them as well), there were plenty of battles in the Civil War where terrain and heavy forest essentially nullified the improvement of the rifled musket and minie ball combination. In 1863 there were still regiments on both sides voluntarily using smoothbore muskets with buck-and-ball loads because of its tactical superiority in certain combat situations.

[@AnthonyBrown12324]

@@aaronfleming9426 This was more a feature of the Battle Of Amien in 1918 . They called it a Creeping Barrage . The allies had not really perfected the use of artillery in 1916 . The Somme battle was more a case of a massive artillery barrage before the advance of the infantry ; which did inflict some casualties . However though the Germans were shaken , they were dug in deep and able to get back in position before the allies could get anywhere near the German trenches . The infantry were cut to pieces by enfilading machine guns . of course this was a much larger scale battle than Gettysburg and went on towards the end of 1916 and resulted close to, if not more than , a million casualties on all sides . Of course you are right by the late summer of 1918 with American reinforcements , the Germans were exhausted , the allies used combined arms including much more sophisticated use of artillery . Even still casualties were perhaps higher than ever on all sides

[@StillChrist]

"... The enemy is there, and I am going to strike him." Can anyone explain how this makes any sense at all, given Longstreet's eloquent assertion? It appears Lee's rumored physical illnesses translated into mental illness, and/or the inability to think through more than one option, including a race to Washington D.C. by racing to every high hill on the way. Did the book, "The Art of War" exist in Lee's day? Instead of Pickett's Charge, should be called Lee's Gamble.

[@typetersen8809]

Sun Tzu.......the Art of War......thousands of years old! Then there was Klaus von Klausiewicz (wrong spelling....too lazy to check it!) and his famous book, On War. That was written after the Civil War I think.

[@davec8730]

lee being an older commander than longstreet wasn't 'as up' on modern weaponry, and tactics as longstreet was. longstreet had seen at fredricksburhg how entrenched troops could take a heavy toll on a massed advance.

[@manilajohn0182]

After 1 July, Lee had no alternative but to attack. By 3 July, Pickett's Charge was the only option left to Lee. Although Longstreet's suggestion was theoretically possible, there was no realistic chance that it would draw the AotP into attacking the AoNV. In any case, Lee was all but out of time. The sole error which Longstreet made was that he failed to realize that the plan of campaign which Lee and Longstreet had agreed upon before the campaign began was no longer viable after 1 July. The campaign was ruined not by tactical errors by Lee or any of his subordinates, but rather by strategic and operational level errors made by Lee.

[@robinmotz5432]

The best book on the Civil War is Ordeal by Fire by Fletcher Pratt, a noted sci-fi writer, and it totally hooked me.

[@JayAr709]

Bring The Jubilee

[@marknewton6984]

And "The Killer Angels" by Shaara.

[@timkellyD2R]

No surprise of interest from Europeans. I have several friends who are Belgian and German who know far more about the Civil War than most Americas, and who have made pilgrimages to famous battlefield sites such as Gettysburg.

[@michaelj.acosta6810]

Good video. It would be nice to have a side by side comparison between Pickett's Charge and the failed assault on Franklin, TN.

[@odysseusrex5908]

10:31 "Union reinforcements arrive." What units were those, and where had they come from?

[@melvynobrien6193]

At the center of the Union line stood the Irish Brigade.

[@agentcooper6361]

Why is it called Pickett's Charge? Why no Longstreet's Charge or Lee's Charge since they ordered it?

[@curious968]

A cynic might suggest it is the need for Longstreet and especially Lee to be treated as demi-gods and heroes. Not bunglers. Be that as it may, what Gettysburg proved was what everyone suspected. The south really could not afford to frontally assault the union. The union could regroup and rebuild after defeat. The Confederacy had no such luxury. It should have harassed the union with small victories as damaging to morale as big ones. As had George Washington. All that derring do was great when it worked and fatal when it didn't.

[@thomaskreidler3376]

Pickett was the highest ranking general on the field and named for him. If Pettigrew or Trimble outranked Pickett, it would be named for that General. A Charge is advancing with fixed bayonets. Overall it could be called Longstreet’s Second Advance.

[@crojoe99]

Look I’m hard of hearing. What’s with the music it virtually drowned the dialog.

[@HaurakiVet]

Quite likely, depending on whether or not their side had bought into the fire tactics as well. Whatever, it is all speculation, which is easy for us all to do with hind-sight. It could have made a huge difference to the overall conflict and at best we can only guess. One Prussian military theorist described the war (as I best remember)as "two armed bands chasing each other around the countryside from which nothing of military value can be learned".

[@mikesuggs1642]

Where the hell was Ewell's Artillery ????

[@austinbagley4414]

Pickett went to his grave with a grudge in his heart towards Lee. Can’t say I blame him.

[@thomaskosarek9973]

Nothing is said about Jeb Stuart's failure to show behind the Union troops during Pickett's charge that was blocked by General Custer.

[@momentsinhistory4114]

That's covered in the full documentary. The link is in the pinned comment. I cover the entire battle including the East Cavalry Field. "C'mon you wolverines!"

[@michaelrichardson6051]

Lee should have listened to Longstreet.

[@markallen6818]

How True.You would think as good A General as Lee was that He would have listened to His top Generals that opposed this battle because they knew that they were at a Big disadvantage in field position.Sad to see and read about our Southern Soldiers being sacrificed this way.Always makes me sad to hear about this battle.

[@badguy1481]

Did you know that George Pickett got his recommendation letter to the USA's West Point Military Academy, ........by a little know Illinois congressman...Abraham Lincoln?

[@tomjones2202]

Yep, His wife said that,, It's only speculation and probably Lincolns associate appointed him.

[@kenbash2951]

The majority of Pettigrew and Trimble's men turned tail and ran back to Seminary Woods due to the fire coming from Cemetery Ridge. Pickett sent 2 lieutenants to try and stop the retreating troops of Pettigrew and Trimble but they continued their retreat. Afterwards, Trimble said his men never got within 200 yards of Cemetery Ridge before they turned back, defeated. Pickett's Div was the only division not to turn tail and run- THAT"S why it is called Pickett's Charge and not Trimble or Pettigrew's Charge:) Pickett's Div suffered 80% casualty rate. Trimble and Pettigrew suffered 30% casualty rate because most of their men ran away form the battle:(

[@dustytrails1]

fix audio

[@timisaac8121]

Really great music! Thank you!! Could you re record and present without the words which are distracting and often over volumne. Anyone could make this mistake. Thanks

[@momentsinhistory4114]

Your comment was pretty funny :) Sorry about the sound issues. This video is an excerpt from my full video on the Gettysburg Battle. This was my first time creating a long video, so I did everything in parts. When I put it all together, I realized that part of the narration is really quiet (and some parts were too loud), but the narration files were all split into several dozen little clips that varied in volume, so I couldn't just 'adjust the volume' on them (If you notice, the volume matches pretty well between the music and sound effects, but both are too loud the narration). I tried the best I could to fix the volume, but I am disappointed in that part and will try and do better next time. At least you liked the music choices. That wasn't easy either lol

[@timisaac8121]

@@momentsinhistory4114 Thanks for being good nature of it!!! I did notice the step changes, but didn't realize of the pieces. Given the total obstacles? You did fine. Tell me if I am wrong: We are in a time where for many of us it is the first time of these "closer looks". Most people, until a video like yours (sound and all!) didn't consider much of Picketts charge at all. (obviously Hollywood focus, if at all, is 20st Maine and their school teacher). It was pretty cool to hold back the Union cannon, one or two at a time- silent prayer: "Please charge you M-Fers" [prayer to very tolerant NON-Hollywood God would understands these things] I add a subscribe and check out some more. Well, as long as I can complain of your sound. haha. Best!

[@raymonddonahue7282]

nice video

[@SenorTucano]

Seemed like a good idea at the time 🤷‍♂️

[@marknewton6984]

Win some, lose some...

[@mattcarter4546]

Thank you I enjoyed your video My kind of humor to my third and fourth great-grandfather were in the 8th OVI my third great-grandfather was wounded that day

[@richarddickinson3795]

9:05 Everything's fine until, out of nowhere, Max Verstappen wins the Pickett's Charge Grand Prix

[@jenningsrozzell7557]

Opposing artillery conduct "duals," not "battles."

[@momentsinhistory4114]

duels* :)

[@murrayscott9546]

Can almost hear the cries of despair.

[@charlesbullghost5491]

Not a smart move. They which gen. stone wall jackson was still alive. Because it had a different out come in the battle field strategy. Plus true hero of the battle. Gen. Custer actually meet his end on that hill called the little bighorn battle field. the Lakota sioux ,Cheyenne and Arapaho Indian warriors victory June 25,1876.

[@pops1507]

Animated mouths are creepy.

[@davidkimmel4216]

Thank You

[@davidbowman4259]

Shout-out to the Ohioans and Vermonters raking them from the side.

[@irafair3015]

What is with the creepy graphics? And the music is way too loud. The audio is terrible. This would be a great video if not for the glaring problems. I do appreciate your attempt but the execution needs to be much improved.

[@momentsinhistory4114]

Audio- Sorry about the sound issues. This video is an excerpt from my full video on the Gettysburg Battle. This was my first time creating a long video, so I did everything in parts. When I put it all together, I realized that part of the narration is really quiet (and some parts were too loud), but the narration files were all split into several dozen little clips that varied in volume, so I couldn't just 'adjust the volume' on them (If you notice, the volume matches pretty well between the music and sound effects, but both are too loud the narration). I tried the best I could to fix the volume, but I am disappointed in that part and will try and do better next time. --- Graphics- The graphics are character animation. Those are real photos (or in a couple of cases, paintings, because no high quality photos were available) that have been animated. The mouths are a mouth set that I added and change the skin tone for each character. Most people find character animation cute, or kind of funny, but some people find it creepy and scary looking. This is known as "Uncanny Valley" (it is worth looking that term up- it's interesting). It was first 'discovered' when some people (adults) found the Tom Hanks kid's movie Polar Express scary. Sorry if it is not your thing, but it is what I am going with :) --- Thanks for the feedback.

[@irafair3015]

@@momentsinhistory4114 Forgive me for being a bit too harsh. I love to study history and I really do appreciate what you are doing. I know I can't do it any better. I'm sure I'll get used to the graphics. Keep doing what you're doing. Subscribing!

[@michaelhenry8890]

Lee is grossly overrated.

[@samcolt1079]

THE SOUTH NEVER HAD A CHANCE. IT WAS WORTHLESS.

[@decimated550]

@@samcolt1079 how many men signed up to serve, only because deep down they knew they'd be branded a coward if they stayed at home to mind their farms and family. stupid herd mentality, out of fear more often than patriotism. Most men didn't think of this, because people look at life with cow eyes. most wars in history have been like this.

[@hudsonribeiro5303]

Excellent!

[@RUNNOFT71]

Longstreet @ 4:35 🤣😂🤣

[@pleiadecca]

Longstreet, and I believe Hood as well, advised Marse Robert who knew full well that frontal assaults on fortified positions make for slaughter, eg Fredericksburg, strongly against this charge. Lee was most often a good listener to his generals, but not this day. I've heard and read that Lee may have been beleaguered by a variety of painful physical ailments as well, and was distracted by these things. The South, had they won, had a straight shot at Washington DC from Gettysburg. The world today would have been unrecognizable to us had The Cause prevailed.

[@bradentoncane8830]

Actually no it wouldn’t. Things would have eventually happened. If you think Slavery would have lasted after 1900 you’re a fool. It was morally wrong and eventually the south would have freed the slaves. Time would have healed all wounds. Same can be said about the revolutionary war.

[@pleiadecca]

@@bradentoncane8830 I take your point, but must those with viewpoints off-center with yours be fools? As to my own point, which was not specifically about slavery per se, with slavery dead and gone or not, two separate nations out of the old USA certainly would have made, as I said, for an unrecognizable North American group of nations.

[@bradentoncane8830]

@@pleiadecca point taken. I do believe that if Lee would have taken longstreets advice and went around the right the South would have won. Lee was banking on the north suing for peace after all the blood was shed. He knew the south would eventually run out of supplies. The blockade killed them. If England intervened it would have been over for the north. I like to talk about hypothetical things in the civil war. Makes for great conversation

[@curious968]

​@@bradentoncane8830How? The CSA constitution was written quite deliberately to make slavery perpetual. I can identify zero abolitionist societies in the south. There was no abolitionist faction that I ever heard of in any state congress before or after 1860. Lincoln wasn't even allowed on the ballot in the 1860 south. The same people supporting slavery, the ones promoting it as a moral good in 1860, spent the next 100 after slavery was wrenched from their grasp erecting Jim Crow and making blacks as close to being slaves as was legally allowed. You can't undo something like slavery with sentiment. The slave owning founders assumed slavery would fade away. Meaning someone else would do it. Nobody did. In 1860, it was more entrenched, not less.

[@aaronfleming9426]

To have a straight shot at Washington DC, Lee would have had not only to win, but to win an absolutely crushing victory. He simply did not have the reserves or the fresh cavalry to win such a victory.

[@TheConfederate1863]

Meade was a camper, Lets face it 😀

[@neilpemberton5523]

He camped in the right spot.

[@decimated550]

this was one of greatest comment ever. I showed it to my video game playing and historical nerd lil brother who understood the significance of "Meade was a camper".

[@johnschannel449]

Lee was stupid, The Union side had all the best defensive position at Gettysburg and they wanted the condeferates to attack, Lee shoud have totally bypassed Gettysburg and headed for washington

[@jonkore2024]

He looks Polish

[@stanherman5604]

AND STAY OFF MY LAWN! epic!

[@lostbuffalo196]

VERT GOOD

[@bigbob1699]

Lee lost it big time!

[@jasonchui6350]

The youthful fifth collaterally spill because stepson coincidently precede sans a striped hail. secret, curved chime

[@samhall3821]

What?

[@capnbobretired]

@@samhall3821 Its a zen poem commenting on the futility of war while also pointing out that without bravery on the battle field we would engage in arms even more often "sans a striped hail." "secret, curved chime" is an appeal to the sublime in the Cosmos to preserve us from chaos so that we may arrive at the the appointed time of universal entropy.

[@decimated550]

@@capnbobretired oh really

[@lengthmuldoon]

Lee was massively overrated

[@alexblue6991]

The wrong side won the war

[@artwalsh9844]

Which side was that?

[@mkunes2502]

The new thinking, supported by basic math, is that HALF of pickett’s soldiers cut and RAN!!! They understood the stupidity of the order. They weren’t casualties. They RAN!!

[@aaronfleming9426]

I thought it was more a matter that large numbers of them didn't cross the Emmetsburg Road. Perhaps I'm mistaken. What's your source?

[@TruthFiction]

@@aaronfleming9426 There's been extensive battlefield archeology done at Gettysburg and the locations where large amounts of bullets and shell fragments are clustered demonstrate that the majority of men didn't cross the road. Bullets would be found typically in places where the men were, so large amounts at the road indicate large amounts of men there, both from spent bullets being shot towards them and unspent bullets dropped by the attackers without having been loaded into the firearms. The amount decreases dramatically between the road and the stone wall, indicating less targets being shot at, but more than casualties would account for, so the inference is that most of the attackers never crossed the fences and so most of the firing was aimed at that location.

[@javiergonzalez914]

Vivan los Estados Unidos. El país que es oda a la libertad.