GDG- Ewell and the high ground (more questions for discussion)

[JIM COOKE]

Jack, good analysis of the troop movements and the thoughts that may have raced through Ewell's mind. The AOP regiment that ambushed the scouting party near the summit of Culp's hill may have been the 7th Indiana of Cutler's brigade, who had not fought on July 1 and arrived late in the afternoon.
JC
----- Original Message -----
From: Jack Kelly <jmkelly at norwoodlight.com>
To: GDG <gettysburg at arthes.com>
Sent: Tue, 23 Oct 2007 13:45:42 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: Re: GDG- Ewell and the high ground (more questions for discussion)

Esteemed GDG Member Contributes:


Greetings,

Culp's Hill was vacant most of 1 July, but there were no Confederates there, 
either.  About 1700 hours, Ewell investigated the terrain approaching 
Cemetery Hill in the view of an assault on that position (I don't think 
Culp's Hill figured in this early thinking). In the course of this recon, 
General Wm. Smith reported the supposed presence of a large Union force on 
the CSA left (probably XII Corps moving toward Benner's Hill area, which 
later moved over to the Culp's Hill area). Smith advised against committing 
to a CH/CH attack until this threat was met.  At this point, Ewell obviously 
agreed (which, to my way of thinking, was a reasonable hesitation).  Early's 
division had been marched hard from early AM to about 1500, then attacked 
and routed the XI Corps in a 2-3 hour fight and pursuit.  Not only were they 
exhausted,many of the regiments were disorganized and burdened with 
thousands of Union prisoners.  IMHO, they would have been poorly prepared 
for an assault on Cemetety/Culp's Hill.
Johnson's Division was picking its way through the dark to a position 
opposite Culp's Hill after marching 25 miles. in the early morning of the 
2nd, Johnson was ordered to send a recon party to determine how strongly 
Culp's Hill was defended.  In the pitch black woods on the east slope of the 
Hill, Johnson's people ran into an ambush set by the 19th Indiana, the only 
fresh unit of the Iron Brigade on Culp's Hill (the 19th IN had been guarding 
the brigade wagon train in Westminster during the July 1 fighting). The 
Confederates were seriously mauled in this ambush, reporting to Johnson that 
the Hill was heavily defended.  Word got back to Ewell by aboiut 0300 or 
0400 about this recon, so Ewell decided to wait until daylight.  At this 
point, an assault would have been severely handicapped by darkness, and 
would have taken hours to set up (this is evident when considering the time 
to coordinate the evening attack undertaked on July 2).
Therefore, my opinion is that Early/Ewell probably could not have taken 
either hill on the evening of July 1.  There was a substantial Union 
artillery force on Cemetery Hill after the retreat through town, as well as 
both organized and fairly disorganized infantry.  The north side of Culp's 
Hill was defended by the remnants of the Iron Brigade (I Corps), battered 
but still a fighting force. Since most of the CSA was in town, the attack 
would have to come from in the town if it were to get under way before dark. 
Can you imagine trying to organize a line of battle in all the streets and 
alleys of Gettysburg before moving out against Cemetery Hill?

Regards,

Jack Kelly















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