Comments on: Did Lt. Gen. Richard Ewell Lose the Battle of Gettysburg http://www.historynet.com/did-lt-gen-richard-ewell-lose-the-battle-of-gettysburg.htm From the World's Largest History Magazine Publisher Wed, 22 May 2013 17:59:23 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Deal with it. http://www.historynet.com/did-lt-gen-richard-ewell-lose-the-battle-of-gettysburg.htm#comment-1003124 Deal with it. Fri, 05 Apr 2013 03:54:08 +0000 #comment-1003124 You make it sound like the attack on Mcpheresons ridge was the first time the rebs had been to Gettysburg, when actually elements had been in and out of the town for atleast a week prior to that. And held pretty good knowledge of the ground directly around the town. If Ewell would've placed Johnson in the correct position, the Union army would have had to either deploy in more of a straight line, on partially unfavorable ground under enfilade fire, or fall back toward pipe creek. How can you not blame Ewell for this? You make it sound like the attack on Mcpheresons ridge was the first time the rebs had been to Gettysburg, when actually elements had been in and out of the town for atleast a week prior to that. And held pretty good knowledge of the ground directly around the town. If Ewell would've placed Johnson in the correct position, the Union army would have had to either deploy in more of a straight line, on partially unfavorable ground under enfilade fire, or fall back toward pipe creek. How can you not blame Ewell for this?

]]> By: Jester http://www.historynet.com/did-lt-gen-richard-ewell-lose-the-battle-of-gettysburg.htm#comment-826475 Jester Thu, 06 Dec 2012 21:05:20 +0000 #comment-826475 It's kind of hard to take a debunking article seriously when it starts by repeating the canard that the battle started because of a search for shoes. It's kind of hard to take a debunking article seriously when it starts by repeating the canard that the battle started because of a search for shoes.

]]> By: Jeb http://www.historynet.com/did-lt-gen-richard-ewell-lose-the-battle-of-gettysburg.htm#comment-819632 Jeb Tue, 02 Oct 2012 21:50:59 +0000 #comment-819632 Most students agree unless Ewells attack continued thru town immediately on the heels of the retreating Federals it probably would have failed . The town became an obstacle . Ewell had no artillery postions to beat down the Federal fire on the hill and he would have had to advance thru the main street ....in front of the Union batteries . Ewell's fatal mistake was not taking CULP'S HILL when it was unoccupied . No doubt he assured Lee it would happen but Johnson failed to get there in time . Jubal Early probably helped confuse Ewell as well . None of his subordinates wanted to move . Lee of course issued the infamous controdictory " discretionary " orders and would not allow any of AP Hills troops ...specifically Anderson's men... to move on the Union positions on the hill . Ewells troops were in no condition to take the hill on their own . The lack of competent calvary also sapped Ewell's manpower. Extra Billy Smith's yankee sighting on York Rd created another diversion that served to slow the entire operation . Ewell got a raw deal . Most students agree unless Ewells attack continued thru town immediately on the heels of the retreating Federals it probably would have failed . The town became an obstacle . Ewell had no artillery postions to beat down the Federal fire on the hill and he would have had to advance thru the main street ….in front of the Union batteries .

Ewell's fatal mistake was not taking CULP'S HILL when it was unoccupied . No doubt he assured Lee it would happen but Johnson failed to get there in time . Jubal Early probably helped confuse Ewell as well . None of his subordinates wanted to move .

Lee of course issued the infamous controdictory " discretionary " orders and would not allow any of AP Hills troops …specifically Anderson's men… to move on the Union positions on the hill . Ewells troops were in no condition to take the hill on their own . The lack of competent calvary also sapped Ewell's manpower. Extra Billy Smith's yankee sighting on York Rd created another diversion that served to slow the entire operation .

Ewell got a raw deal .

]]> By: John Bonquezen http://www.historynet.com/did-lt-gen-richard-ewell-lose-the-battle-of-gettysburg.htm#comment-363285 John Bonquezen Fri, 12 Nov 2010 19:22:58 +0000 #comment-363285 I LOVE GETTYSBURG!! I LOVE GETTYSBURG!!

]]> By: Ken Utada http://www.historynet.com/did-lt-gen-richard-ewell-lose-the-battle-of-gettysburg.htm#comment-317775 Ken Utada Thu, 12 Aug 2010 05:18:07 +0000 #comment-317775 I too watched the movie "Gettysburg" and saw the scene where Gen Ewell was portrayed as the indecisive commander who failed to take Cemetery Hill when he had the opportunity. However in the Nat Geo special on "Sun Tzu", one of the narrator, an instructor at War College, used the battle of Gettysburg to illustrate one of Sun Tzu's dictum s: If a commander give a clear and concise order and if it is not followed, the fault lies with the subordinate; if the commander gives an order which is not clear or confusing, the fault lies with the commander. I too watched the movie "Gettysburg" and saw the scene where Gen Ewell was portrayed as the indecisive commander who failed to take Cemetery Hill when he had the opportunity. However in the Nat Geo special on "Sun Tzu", one of the narrator, an instructor at War College, used the battle of Gettysburg to illustrate one of Sun Tzu's dictum s: If a commander give a clear and concise order and if it is not followed, the fault lies with the subordinate; if the commander gives an order which is not clear or confusing, the fault lies with the commander.

]]> By: Jeffrey B. Olson http://www.historynet.com/did-lt-gen-richard-ewell-lose-the-battle-of-gettysburg.htm#comment-309471 Jeffrey B. Olson Wed, 14 Jul 2010 04:56:00 +0000 #comment-309471 Thank you for the thoroughly informative information about General Ewell. I have visited Gettysburg twice and was confused by the scene in the movie "Gettysburg" where General Trimble castigates Ewell for his cowardice. Having visited Culp's Hill, I had thought the formation of "the fishhook" including Culp's Hill, had been occupied fairly early in the battle, and even if it had not, the thousands of approaching troops would quickly reinforce it if the Confederates began a charge that even if ordered, would be difficult to complete due to the trees and slope of the hill. Watching that scene, it implies the Union was lucky and did not deserve to prevail. Your article affirms what seems common sense if one has any first hand idea of the geography and proximity of Culp's Hill to the massive Union forces. Thank you for setting the record straight and educating me about Ewell who seems to be one of the Confederacy's most underrated Generals. Thank you for the thoroughly informative information about General Ewell. I have visited Gettysburg twice and was confused by the scene in the movie "Gettysburg" where General Trimble castigates Ewell for his cowardice. Having visited Culp's Hill, I had thought the formation of "the fishhook" including Culp's Hill, had been occupied fairly early in the battle, and even if it had not, the thousands of approaching troops would quickly reinforce it if the Confederates began a charge that even if ordered, would be difficult to complete due to the trees and slope of the hill. Watching that scene, it implies the Union was lucky and did not deserve to prevail. Your article affirms what seems common sense if one has any first hand idea of the geography and proximity of Culp's Hill to the massive Union forces. Thank you for setting the record straight and educating me about Ewell who seems to be one of the Confederacy's most underrated Generals.

]]>