GDG- war councils

[J. David Petruzzi]

Rick Schaus wrote:

>>Hi J.D.,
Meade may not have been overly well versed on the use of cavalry, but he
knew the meaning of having a unit relieved, and Meade does not specify
that Buford was to be relieved by another cavalry unit.
With Pleasonton close by, Meade could easily have verified if cavalry
units were on hand to relieve Buford, if he had wanted Buford relieved
by cavalry.  Pleasonton could have told him that Buford's, as far as I
know, was his only cavalry at Gettysburg at that time.  Did Pleasonton
have any cavalry available to relieve Buford?>>

Hey Rick,

In reality, Pleasonton admitted at the JCCW that it was he who requested
that Meade send Buford off the field.  Meade was therefore going by
Pleasonton's recommendation.



>>Instead, Meade made the mistake of assuming that other cavalry units
were on hand.>>

Yes, but I would say that Meade made the mistake of assuming that Pleasonton
had prepared for other units to take Buford's place.  Recall that Meade was
livid when he found out that Buford had not been replaced - he sent two
missives through Butterfield reaming Pleasonton for that - stating the he
(Meade) would not have sent Buford away had he known there were no
replacements.



>>Later, he did instruct Pleasonton to replace Buford, which never
happened, but the damage had been done and, IMO, Meade has to bear much
of the blame.>>

I won't dispute that, but my take is that Pleasonton bears the lion's share.
As commanding general, Meade likely assumed that Pleasonton would not send
the only cavalry off of an active battlefield without providing for
replacements.  Of course, Meade bears ultimate responsibility for having
approved the movement, but when it gets down to brass tacks Alf royally
screwed up.



>>Buford wrote that he was relieved by the 3rd Corps, and apparently did
not find his relief by infantry instead of cavalry unusual.>>

I think what Buford was saying here is that Sickles' corps did indeed take
his position, and sent skirmishers out to the Emmitsburg Road - as Buford
called his in.  We just don't know what Buford's opinion was regarding the
status of what was taking place - perhaps he too assumed that Pleasonton had
provided for replacements.  We just don't know.  Buford did, however,
provide two companies (total about 95 men) of the 9th NY Cavalry under Capt.
Timothy Hanley to remain behind with Sickles.  They did, and didn't rejoin
Buford until July 3 - but Sickles used them for nothing but HQ guard instead
of recon.



>>Maybe you can help me out here, I am of the impression that Buford must
have spoken directly with Meade, probably sometime on the morning of 2
July, and related to the CG the condition of his command.  And, that
elements of the 3rd Corps were at the PO area and could relieve his
troopers.
The message on page 490, of the OR, Part III, states in part, "...and
did not understand when he gave the permission to Buford to go to
Westminister;..." indicates communication between Buford and Meade.
Meade's message did not specify that only part of Buford's command was
to move to TT.
That would explain the order coming from Meade's HQ, as well as Buford's
apparent lack of concern of being relieved by infantry.>>

Rick, you may be absolutely right, but I wouldn't read that much into it.
Note that you could simply change "to Buford" to "for Buford" and the entire
meaning would change completely.  I truly don't see Buford going directly
over Pleasonton's head to Meade.  He never did in any other situation with
any other CG.  And, as I mentioned previously, Pleasonton later stated to
the JCCW that it was his idea that Buford be relieved.  Here's Pleasonton's
testimony:

"On the 2nd of July, Buford's division, having been so severely handled the
day before, WAS SENT BY ME back to Westminster, our depot, to protect it,
and also to recruit."  JCCW p. 359 (Emphasis mine)



>>Have you seen a copy of Pleasonton's message to Buford, instructing him
to move to TT and then Westmiinster?>>

Apparently such a one, if it existed, hasn't been found.  However, go here -
where it has been buried in the back of Part III, p. 1086 and says:

"July 2, 1863
Commanding Officer Cavalry Corps:
The major-general commanding directs that General Buford collect all the
trains in the vicinity of Taneytown and take them down to Westminster."
Very respectfully, &c.,
Danl. Butterfield
Major-General, Chief of Staff.

Ever see that before?  :-)

Best,
J.D.




----------------------------------------------------------------
You may unsubscribe by going to
http://mailman.arthes.com/mailman/listinfo/gettysburg

You can add yourself to the GDG map at:
http://www.frappr.com/gettysburgdiscussiongroup

View archived posts from May 2004 -  present at
http://mailman.arthes.com/pipermail/gettysburg/

                   ---------------------------------------------------------
-------
You may unsubscribe by going to
http://mailman.arthes.com/mailman/listinfo/gettysburg

You can add yourself to the GDG map at:
http://www.frappr.com/gettysburgdiscussiongroup

View archived posts from May 2004 -  present at
http://mailman.arthes.com/pipermail/gettysburg/