failure frontal a
Post on 02-Jun-2018
217 Views
Preview:
TRANSCRIPT
-
8/11/2019 Failure Frontal A
1/12
THE FAILURE OF THE FRONTAL ASSAULT
a micro analysis of Picketts charge at
Gettysburg
Why did the frontal assault fail ?
How was the assault a foretaste of thefuture 1865-1917 ?
-
8/11/2019 Failure Frontal A
2/12
General Lee its all my fault !
The frontal assault is a directmove against the enemy front tosplit them at the weak point inorder to overwhelm them.
Lee ordered such an attack on thethird day of Gettysburg.
Lee lost 67 % casualties between 3330pm
-
8/11/2019 Failure Frontal A
3/12
Contextfailure to outflank 1st2ndJuly
Cemetery Ridge was not outflanked 1stJuly General Ewell failed to take Culps Hill when the Federalswere at their weakest
2ndJuly General Longstreet failed to take the Tops
A bayonet charge led by Colonel Chamberlain saved Little RoundTop & the Federals from defeat
-
8/11/2019 Failure Frontal A
4/12
Lee the enemy is there & I am going to strike him
Lee was always proactive With Gods providence the troops
could achieve anything
To retreat would mean enduring awar of attrition
Lee had never lost CSA needed a Napoleonic knock out
blow
The centre was weakened due toFederals moving to reinforce theHills & Tops
Longstreet believed in offensive defensive strategy & tactics
Longstreet no 15,000 can take thatridge
-
8/11/2019 Failure Frontal A
5/12
Mass bombardmentdestroy the target
CSA open the greatest bombardment seen in N America Chronic lack of ammunition reduced saturation to 90 minutes
CSA lack of target practice led to overshoot of the target
Did not destroy the target or demoralise the entrenched troops
The long bombardment revealed the point of attack USA Artillery held fire until the infantry assault
USA Artillery used as defensive support
-
8/11/2019 Failure Frontal A
6/12
USA DEFENCECEMETERY HILLTHE
ANGLE
Entrenched behind thestonewall
Unobstructed field of fire
Behind the crest of the ridge
Widespread use of rifledweapons (eg Springfield rifle)where as CSA mostly muskets
General Meade predicted thatLee would attack the angle
US Troops had excellent interior lines
-
8/11/2019 Failure Frontal A
7/12
Longstreet they got the stonewall & good
interior lines
Interior lines is the abilityto move forces through asafe interior to a
threatened area faster thanthe enemy can be supported
Longstreet realised thatFederals could quickly
converge on the angle ,whilst the assault would beunsupported
-
8/11/2019 Failure Frontal A
8/12
Trust in God and pass the ammunition - morale
Lee was overconfident
Morale is the willingness to fight
Lee believed in Gods providence
General Meade had only been incharge 3 days which lessened theeffect of Chancellorsville
Fighting in their own territorystiffened the Federals
Both sides believed that maybetoday will be the last day
-
8/11/2019 Failure Frontal A
9/12
Loss of command & control
Lee made the strategic plan to attack theangle & the entrusted the attack toLongstreet I pray do plan it well sir
Longstreet explained the tactical plan andentrusted the advance to Pickett
Lee & Longstreet are now observers Pickett was 200 yards behind the leadingbrigades whats happening to my boys !
The attack lost all 3 brigade commandersGarnett , Armistead & Pettigrew
With their leaders gone the attackingtroops are in confusion
-
8/11/2019 Failure Frontal A
10/12
The advancea mingled mass
15,000 CSA troops cross mile ofopen fields in close order &
attempt to break entrenchedinfantry Fences , converging on the trees &
loss of leaders mingle theformations
The angle becomes classic columnagainst line
The attack lost 67% casualties Advance at speed means loss of
cohesion controlled advancemeans facing unrelenting fire
-
8/11/2019 Failure Frontal A
11/12
The High water mark of the Confederacy
General Armistead Who will follow me ! 150 Rebs cross the stonewall Armistead falls The High water mark is no more than a slight fraying of the
Federal front at the angle The N Carolinians of Pettigrew got further but did not cross thewall , whilst the Virginians of Armistead breached the wall
Pickett to Lee I have no Division ! Lee Its all my fault
-
8/11/2019 Failure Frontal A
12/12
Crossing the divide or no mans land
Factors against the frontalassault
As true in 1914 as 1863 !
Morale Entrenchment
New technology
Inability to destroy thetarget
Lack of command & control
Lack of cohesive impact onenemy formations
top related