What do you think was the biggest mistake the Confederates made at the Battle of Gettysburg?

Question

Please help!!!
Thanks!!!

Can I have details too please? Thanks!

Can I have details too please? Thanks!

Answer 1

Someone mentioned it above, but Lee's vague command on the first day of the battle, to take the high ground "if at all practicable," was the biggest blunder. Had TJ still been in command, he would've taken the initiative to do so. As it was, Ewell was no Stonewall, he had one brigade guarding his left, which was fresh and could've taken Culp's Hill and
Cemetery Hill. Had Stuart been available to guard the flanks, that fresh brigade would've been free.

Would TJ have taken Culp's Hill and Cemetery Hill on the first day of the battle, hmmmm, that's a no brainer. Of course he would've. The high ground would've been in confederate hands before the entire Union army was on scene.

Meade would've either attacked the high ground or retreated further south to a position he had picked prior to the battle. If he was smart, he would done the latter, otherwise it was Fredricksburg all over again.

TJ was well known for taking the initiative and not following Lee's commands to the 't'. This made him a brilliant commander,....leading from the front, as it were. Too bad he was killed.

Re: Stuart, chances are the rebs would've known the whereabouts of the union army and would've been better prepared to meet them. Even on the 2nd day of battle, a cavalry screen would've been handy on the rebel right flank to speed up Longstreet's attack on Devils Den and Little Round Top. Instead, they attacked in the blind and wasted time doubling back on themselves before the main attack. They may have also seen that the way was open to the Union artillery park and supply train from the rear.

oh well, the fog of war will always git ya....

Answer 2

There were two major mistakes made by the Confederates at Gettysburg.

The first was the late arrival of the Confederate Cavalry under command of J.E.B. Stuart. By General Stuart's late arrival, Lee was blinded in effect as to the movement of the Union lines, and their positions.

The second major flaw in the battle, was with the Confederate Artillery. While initially the Confederates laid down a substantial barrage, it was ineffectual due to poor spotting. The rounds were going over the heads of the Union positions, and were not reaching the Union Artillery positions. The Union was able to counter-battery, and thus make the Confederate barrage ineffectual. The Confederates were forced to move their caissons towards the rear to protect them from Union fire.

Answer 3

The whole battle is discussed in this months issue of Civil War Times. Robert E. Lee has always maintained that the intent of the expedition into Pennsylvania was to forage for horses, food and other supplies. He also wanted to damage the morale of the Union and force them to pull troops from other theaters.

Robert E. Lee and the south viewed Gettysburg as a victory because Lee achieved those objectives. The North viewed Gettsburg as a victory because they achieved their objective of turning back the advance into PA.

Both sides actually achieved their objective in the battle, at the tactical and strategic level. The battle of Gettysburg was not regarded as a major turning point until after the war.

The only mistake Lee made was underestimating how much the Union had learned from being battered around for a couple of years. In 1861 Picketts charge would have worked.

Answer 4

The failure to take Culp's Hill on the first day.

Culp's Hill anchored the right side of the Union line. It was very poorly defended late on the first day of the battle. The Confederate Army was positioned to take the position as Lee had ordered it taken.

Confederate General Richard Ewell was in command of the Corps in that area and ordered an attack that didn't get underway until almost dark. The battle became very confused in the dark and the Confederates backed off to wait until dawn to resume the attack. By the time dawn came the Union had greatly reinforced the hill making it virtually impossible for the Confederates to capture it.

Had the Confederates taken the hill on the first day they'd have been sitting right on the Union's right flank. This would likely have forced a full retreat or led to the total destruction of the Union Army.

I see a lot of the answers after mine are based on things people saw in movies.... all very superficial and speculative.

Answer 5

Not following Longstreet's advice to fight in a different location.

Gettysburg was a battle that never really should have happened. Lee's most successful tactic, time and again, was to find good defensive ground, take it, and let the Union Army batter themselves against a strong defensive position.

At Gettysburg, the Union did that to the Confederates. All the events mentioned above contributed to the finale of the battle -- the failure to take Culp's Hill, the failure to move around the Round Tops, and then the final futile charge at the center. The Union forces had interior lines, and were able to shift forces from hotspot to hotspot fairly easily. The Confederates had to shift their forces on long, circuitous routes around the outside, which contributed to their slow pace on the battlefield.

Too, Lee was reputed to have been ill, and not his usual forceful self. That contributed to the lackadaisical approach his subordinates took to the battle, when everything happened too late to really matter.

The cannonade before Picketts charge was ineffective because the smoke was blowing from east to west, thus into the Confederates faces-- they couldn't see to adjust fire, and as the Union took batteries out of line to resupply ammo, the Confederates thought they'd eliminated them, and sent the infantry forward.

My great-great-great Grandfather was there, in Ziegler's Grove, during the charge (104th NY Volunteers), and he said that the courage of the Rebel forces walking across that open terrain into the teeth of the artillery and musketry was staggering. As was the ensuing carnage.

The Union's greatest mistake was in not following up immediately with a countercharge which would have routed the Army of Northern Virginia.

Answer 6

Seceding from the Union in the first place. They seceded, because the Republicans were against the expansion of slavery to the Western territories, which meant that slavery as they knew it would soon be over. Civil war was fought over should a state have the right to secede from the union, once they are state. Gettysburg was an eventuality, because the Confederacy became so arrogant, that they became over confident.

Answer 7

Not going around Big Round Top. They could have taken Little Round Top, giving them advantage of having major high ground. Pickett's Charge would not have necessary. The Union supply line would be destoryed. Many men would have not losted their lives. Hood thought they should have gone around, but Lee did not think so. One of Lee's few mistakes, most of which were at Gettysburg.

Answer 8

I agree that General Lee allowed himself to get sucked into a battle in a place where the enemy held a strong defensive position and knew the territory.

One thing that people do not give enough credit to is the advantage an army had in the US civil war when fighting in 'home ground.' Something as simple as knowing where the local roads went meant that your movement would be faster and more sure.

Answer 9

Letting Ewell call the shots. He was weak and the Union simply trampled the Confederates, and a good thing for it!

I think the South would fall to the North again if we were to battle.

Long live the Union. Taught them rednecks a lesson.

Answer 10

Picket's charge.A huge waste of confederate man power for nothing.