GDG- Re: Gettysburg Digest, Vol 27, Issue 1

[Tom Ryan]

Curt and Dave,

	J. Irvin Gregg said in his report of August 5, 1863 (OR, 27, I, p. 977) as
follows:

"On July 4, 5, and 6, my command was engaged in pursuing the enemy as far as
Marion, on the pike leading from Chambersburg to Greencastle, Franklin
County.  During the pursuit, a large number of prisoners were captured...."

	Maj. Avery of the 10th NY cav (part of J. Ervin Gregg's brigade) adds this
in his report of August 13 (OR, 27 I, p. 981):

"On the morning of July 5...nearly the whole of the regiment was...scouring
the country and arresting the numerous stragglers of the enemy, who, singly
and in squads, were endeavoring to make their way into the mountains.  Owing
to the wholesale capture of prisoners, and the necessity of the column
following as rapidly as possible the rear of the enemy, I am unable to make
any accurate estimate of the number taken.  Each detachment under my
command, on accumulating as large a number as could be safely guarded,
proceeded to Gettysburg, and turned them over to the provost-marshal."

	That sounds like they garnered a sizable amount of POW's.  Hundreds?  A
thousand or more?  Hard to tell, but still sizable.

	As I recall, other captures were made along the route as the wagon train
progressed toward Williamsport and was attacked at various locations by
detachments of Union troops.  It does appear that Lee's concerns in his
report to Davis came to fruition.

	While this straggling may not be in itself an indicator of demoralization
among Confederate troops, I think the trend toward desertion that picked up
after Gettysburg and continued to expand as time went on is a factor that
should be noted.  I saw some evidence of  desertion taking place in some of
the BMI reports that were written in the weeks following the battle.  Also,
Ella Lonn talks about increasing desertions in 1863 in her book "Desertion
During the Civil War."

	About 10 to 20 percent of the army was not that committed to begin with
because of the way in which they were absorbed into the army then add to
that the war weariness that was beginning to set in, and the seeds for
demoralization were undoubtedly sprouting.  How much of a factor it would
have been if a fight had taken place at Williamsport is altogether another
question.

Regards, Tom Ryan






-----Original Message-----
From: gettysburg-bounces at arthes.com
[mailto:gettysburg-bounces at arthes.com]On Behalf Of ccj at infionline.net
Sent: Tuesday, August 01, 2006 6:12 PM
To: GDG
Subject: Re: GDG- Re: Gettysburg Digest, Vol 27, Issue 1


Esteemed GDG Member Contributes:


Dave,

The short answer is that missing in action (MIA) includes prisoners of war.
Simply, it is a category for personnel known to have been in action with the
enemy and whose whereabouts and actual fate cannot be ascertained.  This is
the way it was and the way it is today, although today (the last time I
looked) the category is called CMIA (captured, missing in action).  There is
another letter from Lee on the 5,000 who slipped away with the trains at
Tulane University, and he of course deplored this, but it is not necessarily
a true index of demoralization.  Nor can we conclude that these folks were
all captured.  The Confederate straggler was a wily character and had a
knack for sticking with his buds.  We need to remember that there were large
hauls of PWs on the first day (Archer, Davis) and the third day (PPT
charge), plus WIA left behind.

Curt Johnson

----- Original Message -----
From: "David W. Gaddy" <dwgaddy at crosslink.net>
To: <gettysburg at arthes.com>
Sent: Tuesday, August 01, 2006 3:57 PM
Subject: GDG- Re: Gettysburg Digest, Vol 27, Issue 1


> Esteemed GDG Member Contributes:
>
>
>
> Tom,
> This (from Chapter XII) is another one of Freeman's tantalizing statements
> w/o citation as to source or basis. The number is remarkably close to that
> he uses on p. 190 (Chap. X) as the total missing (5150)--which, in itself,
> is part of an odd tally, assessing losses in terms of killed, wounded,
> missing, but no statement on captured. I failed to find substantiation for
> the statement in LL in Kent Masterson Brown.
>
>
> Dave Gaddy
>
>


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