GDG- Gettysburg the Second Day

[John Baniszewski]

I believe it is clear that Lee’s management style was a factor in the way the battle turned out.  Lee once said himself to a visiting Prussian officer - “I plan and work with all my might to bring the troops to the right place at the right time. With that, I have done my duty. As soon as I order the troops forward into battle, I lay the fate of my army in the hands of God”.  That style had worked well with Longstreet and Jackson being his subordinates.  But at Gettysburg, Jackson was gone and half of his Corp-level leadership team (Ewell and Hill) were new team members. Despite this, he maintained his "hands-off" leadership style.
   
  Lt Col Freemantle’s description of Lee reaffirms this.  Fremantle said in his book - “Generally (Lee) sat quite alone on the stump of a tree.  What I remarked especially was, that during the whole time the firing continued, he only sent one message, and received one report.  It is evidently his system to arrange the plan thoroughly with (his subordinates), and then leave to them the duty of modifying and carrying it out to the best of their abilities”.
   
  But what I think is key to Lee’s failure to insure the cooperation of his Corp commanders was his health.  His offer of resignation to Davis states “No one is more aware than myself of my inability for the duties of my position.  I am becoming more incapable of exertion, and am thus prevented from making the personal supervision of the operations in the field which I feel to be necessary.  I am so dull that in making use of the eyes of others I am frequently misled”.  
   
  The contrast between Meade and Lee during the fighting on Day 2 is dramatic.  Meade is seen all over the battlefield, directing and coordinating the movement of resources.  Lee’s personal activity is much less.   Lee acknowledged in his own words in his resignation that “personal supervision of the operations in the field” is necessary of a commanding officer.  He also states that “I am becoming more incapable of exertion”, as the reason for his failure to accomplish that personal supervision.
   
  There has not been a lot of discussion in recent years in this group about the effects of Lee’s health on the outcome of the battle.  In the discussion that has occurred in the past, there has been much disagreement as to the state of Lee’s health.
   
  Lee strikes me as the type of person who would not readily complain about the state of his health.  The fact that he would do that so plainly and strongly to President Davis in his offer of resignation says to me that his health at Gettysburg was indeed impaired to the point that it contributed to the Confederate defeat.
   
  I can imagine no activity more strenuous and stressful than commanding one of the armies at the Battle of Gettysburg.  Under such difficult conditions, the health of the commanding officer becomes an important consideration.
   
  Lee's natural leadership style was potentially risky at gettysburg, since half his senior leadership team at Gettysburg was new.  Even if he recognized that there was a need for him to increase his level of supervision, his health made that more difficult to accomplish. 
   
  In short, my belief is that an important factor in the Union victory at Gettysburg was the comparative health of the commanding generals.
   
  John Baniszewski

 		
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