GDG- July 1 action

[Tom Ryan]

<<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.>>

Thanks, Jim.  Given the vulnerability of the Iron Brigade's position, it is
a wonder that it and Stone's brigade were not pulled back toward Seminary
Ridge sooner.

However, it appears that both Howard and Doubleday were locked into this
position, more for emotional reasons than practical.  In his book, Martin
says that Howard and Doubleday were concerned about the reputations of their
respective corps if they retreated from the position that had been selected
by Reynolds.  Howard was particularly sensitive to the ramifications of a
withdrawal following the debacle at Chancellorsville.

Tom