GDG- Longstreet should have attacked at dawn as he was told to.

Alan D. Brunelle alan.brunelle at hp.com
Fri Dec 7 07:11:44 CST 2007


The Mills wrote:
> Esteemed GDG Member Contributes:
> 
> 
> What about on July 3rd?
> 
> I know the attack on dawn on July 2nd is a fabrication, but wasn't there an actual order from Lee to renew the attack at dawn on July 3rd that Longstreen ignored?
> 
> Thanks
> Andy

Scott Hartwig in the PCN video concerning Culp's Hill (7/3) makes the 
case that since Ewell was told to attack at dawn (in conjunction with 
Longstreet), that Longstreet must have been told to do so as well. He 
also notes that Ewell received further instructions after the battle had 
re-opened on the morning of the third that Longstreet would be attacking 
at 10am, and thus Ewell sent down instructions to Johnston that caused 
the fatal final push around that time over Pardee field...

I also seem to recall that E.P. Alexander knew there would be an early 
attack on the 3rd, and that his instructions were generally to have the 
artillery prepared for that.

I think that Longstreet's scouting & attempts to prepare for a flank 
movement around the Union left might have been in line with how 
Longstreet interpreted such an order (if one existed).

Alan


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