The Planning of Pickett's Charge - Anniversary Campfire Talk with Ranger Matt Atkinson and Son

Ranger Matt Atkinson leads a campfire talk about the planning of Pickett's Charge on late July 2 and July 3.
Ranger Atkinson and the NPS hold the rights to the notes and lecture.
A few seconds of the video at ~32 minute and 1:05:00 mark are clipped due to recording problems.

[@jamesa.7604]

Matt is my favorite Park Ranger. I really enjoy all his lectures. Really want to go to Gettysburg and meet him someday.

[@leonidaslantz5249]

Me too.

[@randallwhite536]

I was lucky enough to run into him at the visitors center on my visit last year. Then got to attend his battle walk on Oak Ridge the next day. It's here on KZbin now.

[@billb0313]

I've met him. I visited Gettysburg in the late fall, early winter. I asked him what he does during the off season since he's not giving tours. He said, he goes to the field, does research, looks for artifacts, goes back to the library and writes. Nice man. Very knowledgeable and dedicated to preserving history.

[@stevetye81]

Met him in 2020. He had a full beard. Almost didn't recognize him. Really nice guy. Got a picture with him and everything.

[@leonidaslantz5249]

Ben Lee Atkinson does such a remarkable job and acts like a gentleman throughout the presentation. Matt Atkinson's presentations are so interesting and add a new depth of information that I could never grasp from only reading books at home. Thanks to Ben Lee Atkinson, Matt Atkinson, StuffWriter and GNMP!!

[@TheZayne34]

Matt is the coolest guy in the Gettysburg park rangers. He is dedicated, always seems happy to give his lectures, as all of them are fun to hear. I wish I had known about the Park Rangers when I was young, I am a Civil War buff, and I just might have tried to become one.

[@josephheatherly810]

Matt is a very gifted story teller on all things Civil War !! He delivers expert knowledge that is very clear & comprehensive !!

[@stevenmay2937]

ranger matt is the best ever !!!!!!

[@jackstraw6880]

I watch this at least once or twice a year. Matt is a gifted speaker.

[@kurtsardeson39]

Wonderful talk by a great historian. Matt Atkinson presents material accurately and with great insight. He also meets the other criterion at which so many historians fail: his talks are alway presented in a way which is interesting and memorable. When you hear his talks they have real "life". He makes history fun. I have watched every one of his talks that I can find and I have never been disappointed. I had the privilege of meeting him recently and he is just as warm and genuine in person as you see in his talks. His son, Ben, is a wonderful young man and I was so pleased to see him in this video. Matt's two young daughters are also a delight. Matt, please keep up the good work. You are doing a real service to the public by presenting history as you do.

[@marshallbearing6472]

Matt, sir, you are a national treasure and what you are doing is important enough to be recorded professionally. I'll take what I can get of you with great appreciation, but please....

[@kimberleyannedemong5621]

Another great job Matt. You never disappoint. Ben is a delight. Certainly a son to be proud of. If history were taught in school the way you present it perhaps we would have better educated children

[@donaldwallace7934]

Ranger Matt, I truly enjoy your lectures!! And the assistance of your son, Ben is a delight !! Thanks so much!!

[@marymoriarity2555]

Another thanks to Mr Stuffwriter for. The videos he graciously posts for KZbin viewers to enjoy. The bird sounds in the daytime walks and the nighttime sounds are nice.

[@opensecret4451]

Greatly Enjoy your stories - and sense of humor. Also your camaraderie with those from every region and background. and the capacity thar allows them to be a part of the discussion and all the different ways that can be considered on how to view all these historic moments. Thanks for that Great Southern Hospitaality!!

[@marymoriarity2555]

You and your son make s good team Ranger Matt Atkinson. Hope he enjoyed being in the public eye.

[@kevindelmastro]

I’ve learned most everything about Gettysburg but learned a lot from this lecture. Kudos to Matt and the videographer!

[@48William]

Excellent presentation

[@marymoriarity2555]

Notice the viewers can see the visual aids plus the two speakers. Good presentation. Thanks to Stuffwriter

[@mateowaters7264]

Great presentation, and wonderful job by Ben. Not many other young men his age, much less many adults would have the gumption to read in front of so many strangers.

[@frankofva8803]

Great job, Matt!

[@TheWeatherbuff]

Yay StuffWriter! Thank you Sir! Ben does an excellent job. I miss the fireflies of Pennsylvania, my birth-state. We don't have 'em here in Colorado.

[@donaldsmith4797]

Exceptional. The best talk on Pickett's Charge I've ever heard. Who knew that Alexander could have stopped (or at least delayed) the charge, if he'd said that he'd been unable to silence the Union guns? I'd never heard that before.

[@donaldsmith4797]

I was reading John B. Gordon's memoirs this morning, and he confirmed what Matt (and son) said here: Lee expected a coordinated, early-morning assault on July 3rd. As Longstreet delayed, an the day wore on, Gordon wrote that the chances of Lee's plan succeeded dropped "exponentially." Gordon felt that, if Lee's plan had been executed when he wanted it, and as he wanted it, it would have succeeded.

[@indy_go_blue6048]

@@donaldsmith4797 Did Gordon mention the fact that the Yankees on their right flank had attacked Ewell's men at dawn and fought with them nearly until noon? That half of Lee's plan was kaput before it even got off the ground.

[@markhayden3462]

Thanks Stuffwriter

[@stevent9179]

I was going to go to this but I'd already been on the field for 12 hours, thanks for putting it up.

[@marymoriarity2555]

Now thanks to Stuffwriter you can go there

[@torosdepamplona]

I love this kid. So young and he unmasked the inadequacy of the English language!

[@mecallahan1]

When Matt started talking about a time machine and going back to July 3rd, The Faulkner quote blew through my mind, " it hadn't happened yet".

[@ftargr]

southern birthright

[@jupite1888]

Great to listen to Ranger Matt, Thanks

[@manuelkong10]

I think Longstreet was right, in both requesting troops to guard his R flank from the round tops AND in the insanity of sending troops into cannon fire across SO much open ground an absolute lunatic move He probably saw the titanic blow this would be to the ANV If Lee thought he had "won" day 2, he was insane. He BEAT his units to pieces for VERY few gains that were not really tactically meaningful

[@fateagle4life]

It would have taken Longstreet 24 hours to move troops around that far. Meade would have moved troops to combat that. There was not time to do all of that. If Longstreet would have done what he was told, they may have won the day.

[@jaymzmetalone]

My great-great grandfather was in Fry’s brigade during the charge

[@alanaadams7440]

Thank you for sharing your story

[@leeroy4980]

The fountain of knowledge that young man Ben is getting. I hope he takes up the baton. Imagine a joint talk by these two in a few years time.

[@fireman19841]

Loving the view......i laughed my butt off

[@melodymakermark]

“Cover your ears, Ben!” 🤣

[@Vort317545]

What it looks like is that Longstreet was grieving for his men. He knew as a field commander those boys were walking into certain death. They were going to blown to pieces and ripped to shreds. Longstreet was despite to stop it by continuing diplomatically attempting to have Robert E Lee change his mind about the attack. Lee would have nothing doing. If he could pull this off. Not only would he be hero of the South. But god like and that was what Robert E Lee was concerned about that day. My heart really goes out to Longstreet. Because he couldn't change the mind of someone with a God complex. And hundreds of his men Longstreet's troops died needlessly.

[@kzeich]

I love listening to this man. I want to know his opinions

[@jeffclark7888]

He’s silly. Too many jokes. Annoying.

[@kzeich]

I can't imagine being James Longstreet on 2 and 3. I empathize

[@marymoriarity2555]

Time for more stuff writers good videos. I miss them

[@CoachAndre3K]

Does anyone else find it hilarious that while talking about disputes and tension between a general and his most trusted commander, Matt and his son acted it out!?

[@jonrettich-ff4gj]

Thank you, you always add much. It is important that these things be assessed carefully. I wonder what role the international picture played in Lee’s decision making. He was in the unique position of more or less parity with the Union forces, against an army commander barely days in his job with overwhelming successes against any others. Though he is quoted as saying that Meade would make no mistakes, Sickles did that for him. The gigantic provision raid had gone more than well. And all told the battle was a “damned close run thing” (Wellington, Waterloo). Longstreet after his loss of southern popularity that tried to make him a scapegoat still has shown some questionable actions and was quick to shift blame and not acknowledge deserving others. I think not trying to stop Hooker at Chattanooga and also not assault the Mocassin point landing leave large questions. Knoxville clearly another major issue as well as some Gettysberg issues. He had seen himself as army command material with a very strong ego. I honestly believe he and Bragg suffered something like battle fatigue at Chattanooga. Thank you so much again for the presentation and cause to examine these things

[@CoffeyOutdoors]

awesome

[@tanesha41]

This isn't even a question. Lee was to blame. He had a very bad 3 days, probably was sick, blinded by Stuart's absence, and wanted to end the war with one battle. Longstreet was stubborn but get asked to destroy your divisions in 2 days when there are better options on the table. I really think he was ill during the battle.

[@aisthpaoitht]

Longstreet was derelict in his duties and should have been court martialed.

[@kzeich]

So why wasn't he

[@robertschultz6922]

Monday chair quarterbacking. You don't know and neither do I what Lee exactly knew,, how he felt, or what he was thinking He did the best he thought he could do

[@mcfail3450]

I would add that Lee was at fault even from the planning stages of this campaign. It's Lee's macro managing that allowed Stuart to make the choices he did and Lee approved his ride. Lee was left with the reserve calvary and could have used them but he didn't trust their reports. The other professional calvary was left in Virginia at Stuart's choosing because of a personal rivalry with it's leader. Overall Lee failed to adequately manage his generals and allowed them to make mistakes and let personal issues lead to failures. To top it off he didn't demote Stuart which shows what I mean. These generals saw there was no punishment for putting personal gains in with the war goals. This led to many instances where southern generals and leaders were at parties, cookouts, with women, or otherwise not doing their duty when a fight occurred and their men lost because of it. Lee makes bad decisions from the start of the march.

[@mcfail3450]

Wasnt the artillery ammo not ready? I thought i remember a lecture talking about alexander runs out of ammo because they hadnt yet gotten all the ammo to the area yet. Could it be longstreet wants to delay?

[@willoutlaw4971]

Thank you President Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass for the USA. Thanks also to those who fought to save the USA and end African American slavery in the USA.

[@thegreatunknowns4280]

That damn bird was distracting me lol

[@robertferguson533]

She didn’t like all those people around her nest

[@kimberleyannedemong5621]

Was harry heth really at the peach orchard conference or is it one of those things that the mists of time blurred memories

[@joslynscott466]

Matt, ur son is adorable. Its so cute that he wants to be like u. I have watched a few of ur videos now and have enjoyed every single one. I have a question and I hope u can respond. I have read that Longstreet often lied to his men. That he was not trust worthy. Do u feel this true?

[@youtruckrek5121]

Ben is a fine young man and he learned to read cursive writing ; among other things, somewhere if not by those who were charged to teach him so.

[@jonrolfson1686]

Should it be supposed that Lee's original 3 July plan was intended to be an attack in echelon? If so, the seriously reduced divisions of Hood and McLaws would have been expected to draw Army of the Potomac (AOP) reinforcements from the center toward the AOP's left, allowing Picket's Division, following in close sequence, to attack a weakened central portion of the AOP line on that line's lowest ground. Still seems to an unlikely prospect for the Army of Northern Virginia (ANV).

[@marymoriarity2555]

Even considering the impossibility of the success of Pickett’s charge both men ate culpable for the ensuing man slaughter.

[@decimated550]

34:34 tree of knowledge

[@marymoriarity2555]

Does Ben live with just Matt ? Did Matt and Angie split ?

[@jaywinters2483]

The Bible says: “ye suffer if one is exulted above measure”. I think General Lee was a great general but he was & is exulted above measure.

[@mikeboeck2667]

I know Chris Robinson. I'm sure that's a direct quote.

[@mcfail3450]

"Pettigrew shouldnt have been in there." Because they needed a rest. But Hood's and McClaws who fought not on the 1st but on the 2nd should have been? They've had no rest while Pettigrew's had at least a day.

[@kimberleyannedemong5621]

I too wish i had a time machine. If i could have a dinner party & invite anyone living or dead it would be lee longstreet grant sherman armistead & hancock. I have so many questions that the answers are lost in another century

[@jimbrew3058]

@StoneWall Jackson He was a great general, but an oddball. Not sure he'd be a great dinner guest.

[@indy_go_blue6048]

They'd learn from you what America has become in 2020 and immediately both armies would march on Washington.

[@decimated550]

@@indy_go_blue6048 And they would hang the democrats from wooden scaffolding

[@willoutlaw4971]

Three Confederate armies surrendered to General Grant: Fort Donalson in February of 1962. Vicksburg in July of 1863 and Appomattox in April of 1865. How many armies surrendered to Lee? ZERO!

[@jeffmilroy9345]

Many an army did do some mighty tall "walking" in retreat even if surrender was not achieved. And my far distant relation General Milroy did not fare so well at Winchester.

[@scottscottsdale7868]

This presentation shows how very difficult it was for Lee to coordinate such a large army in enemy territory. Lee could not coordinate his cavalry. Lee could not coordinate on Day 1. Day 2 was most coordinated day but still huge mistakes were made despite everyone’s best efforts. Day 3 was a disaster. It says to me that the Army of Northern Virginia was just too unwieldy to effectively coordinate.

[@indy_go_blue6048]

You should read "Lee's Lieutenants." It's an older book but well written and researched and explains the effects of Chancellorsville on leadership in the ANV, especially after the loss of Jackson, but also because of the loss of so many company and field officers.

[@decimated550]

Also having a The outer line facing the Union's interior lines, meant that information And men and supplies travel very slowly

[@thomasdudley6514]

Yes but the regement marched north

[@brianrunnels]

Question - why wasn’t there a charge late at night or at dawn? Was there ever use of platoons or special forces who could’ve tried to infiltrate the cannon at the caup of trees during the night?

[@Ruimas28]

Night operations were absolutely to be avoided if not for very special situations. The thing is….they did not have GPS or google maps. Well….the thing is….they were lucky if they even had a proper map of the area. Now just get this together with darkness…..then also compound that there are no radios or safe communications. Remember that the way to coordinate and communicate is to ride a horse and go talk with someone somewhere else. You want to try this at night??? NOT FUN!!!!

[@Ruimas28]

I wanted to also tell you that the armies did not just go to sleep during the night. There were people at work. Staff officers did stuff till very late hours. There were also soldiers placed on watch. Every regiment in line would have a couple guys stationed on watch, some even further ahead from the main line in order to be able to give warning. This was done by both armies and they would be especially doing it when facing each other. They all knew the enemy was there so they were all on their toes, even during the night. It would be different if we were discussing about surprising them from a direction they did not expect. This would be possible (even during the day). But just try and come forward to each other was not going to go without the other side knowing about it.

[@ftargr]

tj is gone

[@wes2262]

Thank you Stuff Writer. If I ever meet you on a tour I’ll give you a hug and a kiss on your cheeks 😘

[@MrAuk929]

Can someone explain to me why Malone did not attack with Pickets Charge. He said Lee told him "to stay where he was" but I do not think that's good enough!

[@indy_go_blue6048]

I've been pursuing this question for several years; basically Mahone refused to move despite the fact that one of Anderson's staff came and directly ordered him to move. (See S. Sears, Gettysburg pp. 317-18.) My question isn't about why he didn't attack, but why wasn't he court-martialed or at least reprimanded, as his failure to move basically ended the en echelon movements, left Rans Wright's brigade without support and possibly caused his penetration to Cemetery Ridge and Longstreet's attack to fail.

[@MrAuk929]

@@indy_go_blue6048 I fully agree with you on this matter, and it is why I asked. Still commanding in the Confederacy years later at the Battle of the Crater, so there has to be an explanation!

[@indy_go_blue6048]

@@MrAuk929 Sorry I didn't read your question correctly, I was referring to his inaction on day 2. I'm still at a loss as for how he "walked" on his disobeying direct orders. Lee and Longstreet just did a crap job on selecting the men who made the charge. From all I've read Hill was pretty much a "no show" for the whole battle. As Longstreet asked in the movie, "shouldn't Gen. Hill be leading this charge?"

[@markcrampton5549]

@@indy_go_blue6048 After the first refusal Anderson should have sent a written order. The blame is on him!

[@decimated550]

@@indy_go_blue6048 I presume that many men lived in his command who would have otherwise died

[@thecivilwardude5852]

Did anyone hear cannonfire? I heard cannonfire. 24:07.

[@decimated550]

Cool yes ghosts

[@bryanwiedeman3154]

Best General EVER.....Lee has no orders meeting with his key leaders and his staff for three stinking days. ...nothing is synchronized but this insane blaming of Longstreet

[@marknewton6984]

Longstreet was slow day 2.

[@bryanwiedeman3154]

@@marknewton6984 Slow like Ewell and A.P Hill or a special kind of slow

[@marknewton6984]

Special kind made of envy...

[@bryanwiedeman3154]

And that's why Lee fired him and never worked with him again.

[@alanaadams7440]

I wonder if Lee was confused bc he may have had a small stroke in the days before Gettysburg

[@marknewton6984]

Seems like Hancock did more than Meade at Gettysburg.

[@NeonDemon88]

@@marknewton6984 Suggest you read "Meade at Gettysburg," by Kent Masterson Brown. The only people that argue against Meade are people who get all their Gettysburg knowledge from the movie. Read the book and enlighten yourself

[@colino5056]

1:04 that’s what I came for.

[@jeffmilroy9345]

Awesome discussion and it explains so much. A dawn attack would have been so much cooler - 20 degrees Fahrenheit of cooler. The use of mobile artillery to support the charge might have been a futile attempt since federal artillery would have targeted the position the minute they unlimbered - but at least getting off a shot or two would embolden the attackers when they most needed a sign of support. The result from Lee/Longstreet failing to achieve a minor CSA success or draw at Gettysburg? No big deal - just perhaps extending the war for a couple years and a few hundred thousand more casualties by the end of the war and the loss of a compromise - a potentially financial solution to ending slavery as well as successful reconstruction and reparations to former slaves with the "40 acres and a mule" in an era when pioneering and homesteading was still needed. The U.S. is still dealing with the aftermath of unconditional surrender and "winning" the war. Tough call - and it goes against my distant relative General Milroy's ill advised failed attempt to defy the northern invasion at Winchester, but I have to think it may have been better if things had gone differently. But its all right I suppose - Milroy was relieved by Lincoln and never commanded again except for defending bridge crossings: but in so doing became the only fellow to defeat Nathan Bedford Forrest troops late in the war. "Milroy's weary boys" did well later on (under different leadership) and did illicit a famous and quite humorous quote from an annoyed Grant in the balle of the Wilderness. All told, things could have been worse...

[@genenoud9048]

But it would have been a all day fight. Men get tried, the sun comes out . Summer days are long.

[@marymoriarity2555]

Matt’s son is a nice looking young man nice spelling voice

[@matthewdelamater2927]

Memphis in May, Black Crowes

[@bertosborn8290]

You didn’t cover JEB Stuart’s part in the overall plan. If Stuart had made it into the union rear Pickett’s charge may have succeeded.

[@hvymettle]

Stuart's role was to prevent the Union cavalry from attacking Johnson's flank as he assaulted Culp's Hill, which he accomplished. A secondary objective would have been to control the Low Dutch Road so he could pursue Union forces down the Baltimore Pike had Pickett's Charge dislodged them from Cemetery Ridge/Hill. Attacking the Union position on Cemetery Ridge from the rear was never in the cards.

[@markcrampton5549]

There was no plan for Stuart to attack Union rear .He was to watch Baltimore Pike & follow any Union retreat if it happened!

[@ftargr]

he has a presentation on stuart regarding brandy station etc

[@douglyons2678]

As commanding general Lee alone is responsible. If he felt Longstreet was dragging his feet or not faithfully executing the plan it is up to Lee to rectify that. Lee was not as great a general as he has been made out to be. He wasted his army on meaningless victories and Grant bottled him up in 6 weeks, after which the outcome was never really in doubt.

[@ftargr]

you might be on the wrong channel

[@bryanwiedeman3154]

LEE was crushed every time he was out of his hometown

[@mcfail3450]

Agreed. I think to me the most baffling attack on Longstreet is Lee's aid later claimed the attack on day 2 was meant to happen in the early morning. People use that account to attack Longstreet but the account fails on so many fronts. 1. The planning on the attack wasn't until 8am at earliest. 2. Lee's own aids screwed up in leading Longstreets men to the front and caused hours of delay. Might have been also hindered by Lee keeping a small staff. Less staff means less communication and people to help cordinate. 3. This account means that Lee sat for over 8 hours wondering why Longstreet wasn't attacking without sending anyone to find out why until much later. This would mean Lee is a bad general. So even if his account is true it shows Lee in a bad light. 4. This attack on Longstreet completely discounts that Johnson's scout report was completely wrong by the time the planning was done because Sickles had now moved into the forward positions. So Longstreet would have not only likely disliked the plan but then seen it blow up before the first shot was fired.

[@marknewton6984]

Grant lost 50k men in the Wilderness against Lee's army of 60k. Lee won more with less.

[@tanesha41]

Ewell was attacked early that morning

[@marknewton6984]

Ewell was no Stonewall. Or Forrest...

[@LeesTexan]

Longstreet deserves such a small monument at Gettysburg. His actions on day 2 and 3 lead to the Confederate defeat. He was sulking because the thought he was replacement of Stonewall Jackson with Lee, and that Lee would take his recommendations. When Lee did not, Longstreet sulked on both days and men died without success because of him !!! Ewell had NO problem following orders. ON BOTH day 2 and 3 Ewell attacked on time !!! Longstreet sulked and did not attack on BOTH days as ordered, but much later in the day after Ewell wasted his men in TWO useless attacks because Longstreet sat on his ass ! And the attacks on BOTH days Almost broke the Union lines. But Longstreet NEVER attacked even CLOSE to when Lee wanted to attack !! Because Longstreet was sulking and cost the Army the battle. That is why it is SO appropriate that his monument is SO small !! HAD he FOLLOWED Lee's orders and did the work necessary to attack when Lee directed as Jackson would have done, they would have won on either day 2 or 3 !!! ONE man, Longstreet was THE reason the Confederate Army did not win the Battle of Gettysburg!! Longstreet did not want to attack on day two or day three and was LATE on BOTH attacks wasting Ewell's men, he should have just left the Army, he was NO value to Lee at Gettysburg and he does not even come close to being another Stonewall Jackson for Lee !! PS, Lee did take responsibility, he told Pickett it was ALL his fault !!! But Longstreet by sulking and NOT being aggressive like Jackson, contributed significantly to the defeats on BOTH day 2 and 3. Like I said, Ewell had no problem following orders, ONLY Longstreet did AND it so cost the Army of Northern Virginia !

[@steeltown825]

I believe you are correct, but in a simpler way for me I believe Longstreet knew they couldn't win a war fighting the enemy in an offensive campaign. He always wanted the Fredericksburg set up. And by the way, he was right in the end.

[@SantomPh]

Ewell was the one that could not take the hill on Day 1.

[@steeltown825]

@@SantomPh I agree with that as well. Ewell was very cautious when we all know Jackson would not have been if he were alive.

[@sartainja]

The attack was worthless and Longstreet told Lee that it was a hair-brained idea. Lee’s mental capacity was suffering from the heart attacks earlier. It was a waste of Confederate Army lives.

[@jaywinters2483]

General Eisenhower studied Lonstreet’s actions. General Eisenhower knew more about armies and logistics than you do. Eisenhower said it was impossible for Longstreet to get that attack off before 3:30.

[@jasonroberts6080]

The bird sound is annoying

[@PaulRobert474]

Indeed and hate to mention this but Ben's voice projection isn't the best...

[@ftargr]

similar to bs lincolnite comments

[@0351nick-ch8ee]

They didn't want to "admit" they were guidi g on the fence or that it was used like that because that is what livestock does. Its to admit they were akin to mindless and soulless animals. Not God fearing Christian's...

[@douglyons2678]

My understanding is that it was the Union who took the initiative and attacked the Confederates at first light on Culps Hill, leading to the longest sustained fighting of the battle.

[@ftargr]

thats why you arent giving the lecture

[@fieryweasel]

Yeah, the sound makes this unwatchable. A shame, this has the potential to be really interesting.

[@manuelkong10]

the sound didn't keep me from watching it

[@decimated550]

Try it again I don't know that sound is fine. Maybe you're hearing is bad

[@Yausbro]

@@manuelkong10 me either

[@ftargr]

lots of 95 IQ lincolnites in the comment section here. maybe just go watch glory again

[@Yausbro]

seriously Bubba

[@BurnedSpace]

😂😂😂

[@kzeich]

How'd you manage to miss the point entirely

[@sergepetrov7973]

@@kzeich perhaps you could KZbin The myth of little round top with Gary Alderman - battle of Gettysburg podcast - he points out the vast difference between the number of Confederate soldiers to the Union army and how different the geography was for that Hill at the time of the battle - in the original reports shortly after the battle they didn't place any kind of emphasis on the importance of the Confederates not taking it - It seems like what we know of that part of the battle is different in hindsight then at the actual event

[@albertgarza1372]

Longstreet was right. Lee did have have a god complex. Lee did not give a damn about his men. He even wanted another charge by Pickett after seeing his slaughtered troops saunter back.

[@indy_go_blue6048]

No he didn't want Pickett to attack again, Lee wanted him to rally his division so it could help against a counterattack. Pickett didn't stop his men (or himself) until he was back where he started his movement the night before.

[@ftargr]

yes. no. absolutely no. yes.

[@willoutlaw4971]

​@@indy_go_blue6048😊

[@douglyons2678]

Who knew slavery was a higher principle. A little heavy on the Lost Cause …

[@ftargr]

maybe read the bible doug

[@willoutlaw4971]

This lecture is noteworthy for its disregard of facts, conjecture, baseless assumptions and presumptions. It should begin with "Once Upon A Time". Another UDC/SOCV ( United Daughters of the Confederacy and Sons of Confederate Veterans) approved presentation.

[@howardclegg6497]

You lose all credibility with your statement. Go away.

[@ehsfb20011]

So you want it to be based on conjecture and baseless assumptions? You should learn to express your ideas coherently.

[@carlalorch8650]

@@howardclegg6497 He can't help it; there is something not right with him.

[@SantomPh]

What exactly can he say otherwise? Moron.

[@jeffreytenly9399]

@@carlalorch8650 He's not even human. He's a troll trolling as trolls do.

[@CoachAndre3K]

Does anyone else find it hilarious that while talking about disputes and tension between a general and his most trusted commander, Matt and his son acted it out!?

[@marymoriarity2555]

andre mastrogiacomo I didn’t notice but maybe you’re right.