GDG- RE: But For The Wounding Of Two Men

[James Cameron]

It's been ages since I read Tucker, so this is without refreshing my memory 
about exactly what he had to say.

Hood's wounding can hardly not have had a major impact on the course of 
battle, although since we have no way of knowing exactly how he would have 
handled things, in exactly what way is impossible to say.  Personally, I 
suspect that far from putting more strength into the attack on LRT, there's 
a good chance he wouldn't have let that attack take place at all.  Or at 
least, not in the way it did.  I think he may well have used the regiments 
which ended up attacking LRT to add to the strength of the attcak on Houck's 
Ridge, which was the real Union left flank.  Roll up that line sooner, and 
maybe drive back Birney's whole division before help can arrive, and who 
cares about Vincent's brigade on LRT.

Pender's wounding probably had an impact too.  In fact, it almost certainly 
did, just by virtue of the fact he was a division commander.  It's widely 
assumed that he was trying to get his division into the attack when he was 
hit, and that had he been able to do so, the events of the day would have 
played out differently.  But I think it's an open question as to whether or 
not he would have been able to do so in time to have a real effect on the 
fighting.  The Confederate attack was already in big trouble by then, and 
had pretty much shot its bolt, so to speak.  The ANV had gained some ground, 
to be sure, and inflicted heavy losses on the AOP, but the Union line along 
Cemetery Ridge had held.  Things could certainly have been different had 
Pender been able to attack and threaten CH, particularly if Rodes had been 
able to cooperate, but it was getting very late in the day by then.  All in 
all, I think the impact of Pender's wounding on the battle must remain a 
good deal more conjectural than that of Hood.


Jim Cameron