GDG- If Sickles had stayed put!

[Alan D. Brunelle]

Hi Linda -

The key thing is as always: Obey orders. His orders were quite simple: 
Connect with Hancock on his right, and extend the line down to Little 
Round Top. His obligation as a Corps commander was to follow these 
orders, if he did not understand them as given, why did he wait so long 
to go himself and determine the specifics? (Actually he never went on 
his own to Meade, he was ordered to report by Meade.) Meade had 
responsibility over 7 Corps, calvary, plus Artillery Reserves - not to 
mention the logistics of keeping the army supplied /and/ having to 
understand the strategic demands placed upon his shoulders.

To expect Meade to come over to see if Sickles understood the orders is 
just wrong - the responsibility is on Sickles shoulders to go to Meade 
if he doesn't understand something specific.

Nonetheless, the /general/ nature of the order is exceedingly clear: 
continue Hancock's line down the ridge towards the area of Little Round 
Top. It is interesting reading Sickles division commander reports - 
there are mentions therein where they talk about Sickles ordering them 
into positions initially that are very much in concert with Meade's 
direction. I think Sickles understood the orders well enough to at least 
get things set up correctly.

Secondarily to that, a Corps commander /must always/ be concerned about 
things such as: placing skirmishers out front ("early warning system"), 
ensuring depth & reserves, /and/ (very importantly) ensuring that the 
flanks of /his own/ Corps are well-attended. In the case of his right 
flank, Sickles /must/ be concerned about ensuring that it is connected 
(somehow) with Hancock's 2nd Corps. Sickles orders were to connect with 
Hancock, Sickles /did not/ do that. Sickles left flank was a concern, 
for sure, but again: it is up to Sickles to ensure that it is protected 
with (e.g.) skirmishers & flanking parties up on Little Round Top (and 
maybe even out towards Big Round Top).

You see other Corps commanders worried about this. You see division 
commanders, brigade commanders, and even regimental commanders always 
concerned about connecting their flanks or at least refusing them to 
handle potential dangers to their flanks. Sickles chose to leave his 
left flank hanging in the Devil's Den and his right flank hanging out 
near the Hummelbaugh farm lane.

BTW: Hancock did do what he could once he saw that the 2nd Corps left 
flank was in danger - he did everything in his power to try and gets 
troops to help on that exposed flank.

Sickles did express some confusion as to where Geary's forces were - the 
ones he was supposed to replace, but that was more in the context of 
stating that Geary was never in line, he full-well knew where they were 
in general.

As to expect someone else to correct him - who exactly would that be? 
Hancock did not "rank" Sickles in the manner of being able to go over 
and /order/ him to do something. Hunt (who also wasn't above Sickles in 
the command chart) quite clearly explained that the position Sickles 
wanted was /not/ what Meade asked for. [Or to put it another way, he 
made it quite clear that the movement Sickles wanted was not one that 
Hunt could authorize.] That leaves Meade: And as stated above, Meade 
/told/ Sickles what to do, it is impractical to expect him to go and 
check the specifics of the placements of troops - he had too many 
responsibilities for the army in general. It was probably inconceivable 
to Meade that Sickles could not understand the general nature of his orders.

As to the holes created - Sickles created them, Hancock & Hunt/McGilvery 
(& others) attempted to fill them. Meade himself certainly (at a high 
level) did what he could given the bad situation Sickles created.

Sickles was an intelligent man. He had been commanding at various levels 
for almost 2 years by the time of Gettysburg. He had been a Corps 
commander for a good portion of that. He was quite clear after the fact 
that he made the decision on his own, and basically stuck out his chest 
and said it was the right thing to do. I really don't think he was 
confused, I do believe that he made a decision that he felt was 
justified given the information /he knew at the time./

The big negative is that he didn't look at the large picture, as Meade 
had. Meade fully understood the advantages to keeping his lines compact. 
Meade fully understood the need to have a solid line with no holes. 
Sickles chose to ignore that on this day, and it cost the AoP significantly.

Respectfully submitted,
Alan