GDG- July 1 action

[James Cameron]

<< Yet Pettigrew was able to overwhelm both Union brigades.  It appears that
the Union defense was not well coordinated.  Was this a case of Pettigrew
doing a better job commanding the troops, or did he just have a lot more men
than the two Union brigades?

Why wasn't Biddle brought up to fight alongside of the Iron Brigade rather
than hanging back on the other side of the ridge?  It seems that if the
Union line could have been extended to the south, a much better defense
against Pettigrew could have been made. >>


The Iron Brigade's position in the woods wasn't as strong as it might seem. 
The brigade line was somewhat curved, not overly long, and, due to Biddle 
being well to the left rear, and Stone having to contend with threats from 
the north, not well supported on either flank. Herr Ridge also dominated the 
position, and the Confederates had built up an effective gun line, which 
actually (and somewhat unusually, for Gettysburg) had the upper hand over 
Wainwright's 1st Corps artillery. In effect, the Iron Brigade occupied an 
isloated salient, both dominated by high ground to the front, and very 
vulnerable to being turned on either flank.  Biddle couldn't be brought up 
for much the same reason the Iron Brigade's position wasn't as strong as it 
appeared.  The area south of the woods, where it would have needed to be to 
tie into and extend the Iron Brigade's line, was too open and exposed to 
Confederate fire from Herr Ridge.  Back in the swale bethind the Iron 
Brigade was no bargain either, however, since a line there was enfiladed by 
Confederate artillery on Oak Hill.  (At one point prior to Pettigrew's 
attack, Biddle was actually formed on an east-west line, to lessen his 
exposure to the Oak Hill artillery fire.)

Once the Iron Brigade was forced to withdraw from the woods, the entire 1st 
Corps line south of the railroad cut was immediately untenable, with nowhere 
to attempt to establish a viable line short of the next ridge back, Seminary 
Ridge.

Jim Cameron