GDG- Re: Thoughts on Caldwell's Route

[Alan D. Brunelle]

DShultz180 at aol.com wrote:
> Esteemed GDG Member Contributes:
>
>
>   
>> <<Has anybody any thoughts on this?>>
>>
>>     
> I hope the maps within the book depict the farm lane that ran the length of 
> Cemetery Ridge as does Hancock - Sedgwick Avenues today (Hunt's people used it 
> as early as July 1st as did Hancock). And I hope it shows Trostle's Lane as it 
> was and not as U.S. Avenue is today, and lastly I hope it shows the old Jacob 
> Wiekert Lane that is still in use today.   Most if not all of Caldwell's men 
> probably moved over those avenues as did the batteries of Hazlett and Walcott 
> before them. It's pretty simple actually ...   roads were much efficient and 
> easier to move troops over then that of fields and meadows crisscrossed with 
> fences and obstacles. 
>
> Once turning south onto the Jacob Wiekert farm lane from that of Trostle's 
> Caldwell most assuredly sent his brigades into the open meadows west of the 
> Wiekert farm yard with Plum Run and Trostle's Woods several hundred yards further 
> west-southwest. Advancing toward the Wheatfield in the distance his line was 
> stooped to dress. 
>
>  Cross' left flank was in the air not far from the Wiekert Lane, 50 yards 
> perhaps, with Kelly to his right and slightly to his rear. The latter had dressed 
> on Zook I believe.   Brook's people followed in the rear overlapping that of 
> Kelly's right and Zook's left. 
>
> Caldwell indeed entered the fight from east-northeast swinging to front 
> almost due south before advancing. His brigades should be depicted entering the 
> fight from between Trostle's Woods (Zook's right in it perhaps) and that of the 
> J. Wiekert farm Lane. 
>
> I have not seen the book thus will not suggest how that division is depicted. 
> I'm kind of interested, however, to know why one would read that Caldwell 
> appeared to have came in from the Emmitsburg Road if in fact the text says 
> otherwise? ? I'm curious as to why the march was not depicted in increments so as to 
> be sure.   Caldwell's march was pretty significant to leave out if that is 
> the case. Ted Savas has continuously stated accuracy and maps, and plenty of 
> them, are a necessity. I cannot see his published map work being inaccurate.
>
> Or am I misunderstanding something?
>
> Dave S.
>   

Thanks Dave for the details provided above - The map sequences for this 
section look like this:

Map 17.3 (pg 169): 4 "blobs" starting at the Emmitsburg/Wheatfield 
intersection, leading eastwards along the Wheatfield road up to just 
about the end of Bigelow's battery placement (very roughly: about 500 
yards east of the intersection). Under the blobs it states "Caldwell" 
(Why there are 4 blobs, when there were 3 brigades (Cross, Kelly & Zook) 
is also not understood by me.)) At the end of the line of the blobs, is 
an arrow leading eastward along the Wheatfield road.

Map 17.4 (pg 171): Shows Zook's and Cross' brigades (slightly separated) 
heading roughly south/southwest with Kelly's brigade in reserve between 
the two other brigades. Zook's brigade starts just a little 
east/southeast of the eastern part of Bigelow's battery (and just south 
of the Wheatfield road). Cross' brigade reaches to the edge of the 
Wheatfield (with Cross' own "Fighting Fifth" of New Hampshire on the 
extreme left).

Map 17.5 (pg 173): Shows Zook heading south/southwest, and Kelly 
attached to Zook on his left, with Kelly's boys heading almost due west. 
Cross's men are a bit behind, but still heading south/southwest.

Alan
PS. And while flipping through the book last night, I also ran across a 
ghost or phantom-like effect on map 26.2 (pg 253): It predicts the 8th 
Ohio flanking maneuver, and the subsequent breaking of Brockenbrough's 
brigade on map 26.3 (pg 255). (As a computer programmer, I was taught a 
very long time ago: "Cut and paste is a very bad thing." :-) )