American Battlefield Trust Its a good excuse to watch them all over again. Great work ABT!

This video needed an explanation as to why the battle was fought at Gettysburg, instead of Harrisburg, like Lee planned.

Nuts! If Hoods advice was taken early on they could have won.

@@idunbeezasmart1 Please explain why.

@@henrygerman7858 Every time I try to respond, I end up writing an essay, in the interests of being as thorough as I can. That being said, I have no idea if you'd bother to read a lengthy reply, so I will keep it short and forgo an in-depth explanation and if you wish to discuss it further, I will happily comply. The short answer is; it can be inferred at 1:10 that Lee is already at Gettysburg and waiting for Meade, which couldn't be further from the truth. Gettysburg is not where Lee's army was nor was it ever part of his invasion plan. It's easier to understand why Gettysburg was fought the way it was if we understand the situation leading up to it.

The lines stretched for some good miles whereas the opposition were camped out and facing each other about a mile when not engaged

aye, amazing we can watch everyone on 1 map ... hard to imagine how the generals or the men on the field even visualized things back then the general could be imagining the forces/ground one way, when in reality it is completely different ... (at least without having the high ground where he can literally see everything)

Yes the battlefield of Gettysburg covers some 25 sq miles of land that encompasses the town, fields to the west of town and land directly south of town is the primary area of fighting. The no man’s land between the armies was somewhere between 3/4 of a mile to 1.25 miles depending on the location on the battlefield you are standing.

Check out Manassas battlefield if you like being awe-struck

Right?

Yup and Lee played right into his hands. Longstreet argued a redeployment. He knew the army would have to walk almost a mile and half to attack the union main force. Another words suicide. Just crazy.

amen

Decisive?😂

@@tovarishlumberjack2356 Yes because those treasonous rebels lost the war.

@@tovarishlumberjack2356 it shattered the last bit of offensive power the army or Northern Virginia had. It also ensured Lincoln’s reelection. Not quite Napoleon at Austerlitz, but the Confederacy died that day. They just didn’t know it quite yet.

Only to be giving it away now. What a waste of human life. Those lost souls have to be turning over in their graves when they see what is happening now to their country.

I have actually walked the distance from the Virginia memorial on Seminary Ridge over to Cemetery Ridge. It's a little bit of a walk. To have made that walk, with completely no cover, under fire from massed artillery and then massed (rifled) musket fire and grapeshot or canister, would have been horrific. The men who made it to the Union lines had nerves of steel.

Michah Knepper I know what you mean because like I had some ancestors that were living right behind little round top during the battle and like their houses were used as field hospitals for the union army.

Same as the pallisade cliffs in NJ the bottom park underneath the GWB has an old stone wall with oblong holes every ten feet that was from the patriots shooting at the British ships

@@johnalden5821 I stood on Cemetery Ridge and imagined Pickett's charge coming toward me. I couldn't

Went there about 16 years ago, nothing shows the importance of having the high ground in battle back then like this view did.

It is! I live not too far from there-maybe an hour or so. It's like you can walk around and can just sense the past everywhere. For me it's subtle, shadowed just underneath the surface, as if two parallel realities are happening at the same time, superimposed upon each other. Maybe it's in my imagination, but it feels like more than that.

Well except for all the marble monuments of course!

Spooky too, but maybe that's my imagination!

Want to go back, was there as a kid. Would appreciate it more now…

@@df5295 Not you imagination at all. I felt someone tap me on the shoulder at Big Round Top and again at the Covered Sachs Bridge. The sorrow was so tangible.

Try the Killer Angels book. It will bring to life the Gettysburg history from a perspective you will enjoy.

You're a good man! 🙂

Grant and Sherman are my fav generals of the war for me

I lived within driving distance to Gettysburg. When you visit the park, one cannot be moved enough and feel the tremendous pain. I have a true reverence for those who fought here.

@@holdyourhorses9842 I did the self guided tour several years ago just before my sister's wedding there. The information is incredible but a person can't truly understand the scope of the battle until they actually stand on the battlefield. That's a truly humbling experience.

Unfortunately kids and young adults today wouldn't feel what happened there. They would be too busy mindlessly staring at Tik Tok videos and protesting this great country they live in. Pride for the US and it's history among citizens born after 1995 or so, is dead.

@@CheekyMenace Kids aren't born that way. Not to mention stereotyping an entire generation or generations of your own countrymen is disappointing. My son loves history because I taught it to him, instead of expecting someone else to do it. The pursuit of the almighty dollar led to more focus on business interests than the necessities of citizenship. Selfishness has won out over community, and that's on the heads of parents who failed to spend time passing on lessons of civics instead of trying to make more money.

Sending our regards to your late countryman Gilbert du Motier , Marquis de Lafayette. I'm a big fan. Who knows, without his help maybe we would still be driving on the road and eating Chips instead of French Fries. He even assisted much so in his home country leading eventually to your beautiful queen's barber taking a little too much when she asked for a shorter haircut.

huh?

Battle of Austerlitz was a one the greatest battle in Europe history! French soilders made a great victory for the France! Gj guys

American fan a of French history here. Vive L'Empereur!

If you don’t mind me asking but what Nation do you live in

Me, i'm Canadian, but i have a tremendous interest in American History.

I know what you mean because I have met people from Europe who are very interested in American history and i am so interested in American history because I never knew that my 6x 5x 4x and 3x great grandfathers were part of American history and also how my 3x great uncle and aunt were part of history

@@chasemurraychristopherdola7108 Hello Chase I'm English.

Gazza 29 oh okay because I know English people fought in the American civil war especially at Gettysburg

You citizens of East Timor greatly suffered at the hands of the muslims some 15 years ago? Hopefully all are living in mutual peace now. Pray to God you are.

@John Francis No, we suffered at the hands of a brutal Indonesian dictator and his oppressive regime. Our struggle was never against Islam, nor ordinary Indonesians (who suffered as much as we did under Suharto). Our heroic war of liberation echoes the valor and justice that lay at the heart of the North's response to southern treachery. Two distant theatres that chime in unison.

The other note about that is Gen. Hunt wanted to stop the cannons like you said and argued with Gen. Hancock who wanted to keep the cannon firing to keep the morale of his men from faltering.. Hunt won.. He had control of the Artillery. Hancock was a junior General at the time. Only taking over the 2nd Corp May 22 1863

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

"That man had my regiment "

Blame Stuart for taking the cavalry for a joy ride. He had taken the cavalry behind Union lines and was not present to provide reconnaissance that would have probably led Lee to a different tactic. Lee lacked the information good cavalry would have provided. As such, he fell back on what he knew and what he could see. What he could see was two strong positions connected by what appeared to be a weak line of men. He had no idea of the reinforcements sitting behind them. Lee went with the standard military training of the day. A maneuver from no less than Napoleon of attacking the weak middle and enveloping/destroying the strong ends in turn. The maneuver was valid and proven, and doomed to failure in the face of the technological advances of firepower since Napoleon first used it. Lee made the plan, and gave the order, so ultimately the blame is his. But several factors came together to contribute to this Union victory.

The only last chance to win the war for the South. Lee knew it.

Exactly. Did we not learn from Fredericksburg? Lee was correct: it was his disaster.

I agree with you because I went to little round top for sunset and it was beautiful

I've never been but I keep hearing rumors that it's haunted. Is there any truth to it?

@Thomas Headley Lol You're right !

@Thomas Headley Yes! True! At 78 I know that! Thanks!

decades of using the little round top as a dump spot in the bushes...sure they will tell you anything to keep on the pavement.

Who said that?

@@couldbeanybody2508 Longstreet

Could Be Anybody General Longstreet, just before Pickett's charge.

Ghandi

@@couldbeanybody2508 Tom Berenger

History of world superpowers : Turkey : 630-1630 England : 1630-1945 America : 1945-Present

Yes also lines of communication... and enemy contact The map is still done well . Also the historical narrative.

its easy to find flaws when you have hindsight and a perfect 2d top view of the battlefield

It is hard to move a land force, cannons and supplies up steep hills which is why having the high ground is advantageous

@@willb8684 I'm not trying find flaw. I'm saying you can't really understand these events if you don't consider the landscape. Everything from where the armies went and why, where Lee went through the mountains, and why the Union Army cavalry moving onto and holding the hilltops around Gettysburg proved decisive.

@@StereoSpace I know what you mean. Watching this, we are trying to follow the decisions that were made but we don''t have much of a picture of what the terrain was and why decisions were made the way they were.

Was that a milk calf or a beef calf? Seriously tho, he's lucky that is all he got. An injury like that seems so small to us now, but these armies marched everywhere, no riding trucks and trains.

Ever been to the Alamo?

I know the feeling I haven't been there but I've been to Dallas to the school book depository building I had a indescribable feeling throughout my body I looked threw the window where the shots were fired from and it is such a easy shot to make with a rifle I got goosebumps

@@coltc5360 Ozzy Osborne has lol.

That's what Hank Hill drinks.

@@coltc5360 Or Pearl Harbor

In my opinion, desperation was the key to many Confederate victories. Many times they were left with no other option's, other than to charge with knives out, or throw rocks, etc. What do they say? "Fortune favors the bold." With that kind of reasoning, it would make sense to bayonet charge, when out of ammo. The 20th Maine evidently decided to fight the same way the Confederates would fight. Charge down hill, leave the high ground, to stop another push. For a Union regiment, it was very rare of them to just think something up, and do it. That was a bold move, using Confederate tactics, and it payed off. On the other hand, Lee took on Union tactics of marching into fire from an elevated position. Now that was brilliant. No matter how much I study the war, no matter how much I learn, I will never understand Pickett's charge.

@@dennismartin5821 To that point, the Confederates had not lost a battle. Some speculate they had an air of invincibility which may have religious and cultural implications, thus leading them recklessly into peril.

Yes, that is possible. Bear in mind, many of them may have just considered themselves superior in strength, and ability, to the Union troops. They may have held such belief in their own star, that in a way it aided them in combat.

Have you been to Gettysburg? If not and if you ever go, I recommend viewing the diorama of the battlefield located in the town itself before traveling the sites. It really helped me to understand what I would see later on. I also recommend getting the guided tour CD to play at you drive from spot to spot. it's excellent and easy to use.

The Great Debate: Could Lee have taken Washington? The simple answer: No. By 1863 Gettysburg was the most fortified city on EARTH. Had Lee succeeded in splitting the Union Army, the southern half would've immediately headed south along the Baltimore Pike directly to DC. Also Lee's army was practically decimated by then. One more thing: The Vicksburg campaign ended the next day and Rosecran's army wasn't yet committed to the Chattanooga campaign; thousands of western troops could've been moved by rail and ship to DC and arrived within 10 days if DC was seriously threatened. However, the political implications are what might have given the South a strategic victory.

My 3x great grandfather survived Andersonville

was he union or confederate

@@c.r.s.6008 union

A lot of people's ancestors fought at Gettysburg.

I think of my Grandfather, who fought in WW1, lived in a time to hear Civil War stories direct from it's veterans. Wish I would have asked him so many questions. I do remember him saying that men who fought in these two wars wished no man to have to fight a war again.

Gettysburg is an incredible movie, though I was always a bit taken aback that it didn't include the cavalry actions.

Gettysburg is a great film. Glory is even better. And Gods & Generals is just awful.

@@damonmosier3651 Would you agree that Gods and Generals is actually a good movie but is let down by the fact that the scope is too big?

@@trajan231 I haven't watched it in forever, and only one time, but I'd say... probably not. Whereas any of the Hobbit films could be a decent 90 minute film, but trapped within a 3 hour bloated mess, I felt G&G was just pro-Confederate propaganda trapped in a 3 hour bloated mess.

@@damonmosier3651 It should've followed Gettysburg and focussed on the greatest Confederate victory in the war, the Battle of Chancellorsville. If they had gone with the back story, then they should have focussed on 1st Bull Run. Either way, they were probably trying to build up Confederate momentum going into Gettysburg.

I missed Cemetery Hill when I was there. ha ha ha.

1039sflem I go to Gettysburg once a month but it feels like I am going every day

I live there. I walk different parts of the battlefield, mostly near Gettysburg College, or over by Culp's Hill. It's an amazing piece of history, and you can feel that history as you walk the fields.

Manuel Parks oh my gosh my ancestors lived in Gettysburg as well the Weikerts and shrivers were my ancestors that live in Gettysburg Pennsylvania

Thank you for your service kind sir

How many did you killed?

truly haunting

Sometimes it's sad when people DON'T die. It's a joke btw. :P

If you're interested in the Civil War you should come to Virginia the whole state of Virginia was a Battlefield why they don't promote history here I have no clue

No one wants to admit that their forebears were Confederates in today's polarized times. Sad.

መብሬ

It wasn't the first time Americans fought Americans, but it was so costly for so long that you'd think no one would ever want a civil war again. I hope all the blood of those lost lives isn't forgotten by leaders today.

It’s okay that English was great, just remember, when you talk about yourself always capitalize the letter i.

Love Italia 💖

If you get a chance you should visit Gettysburg National Military Park. The visitor's center there is amazing and you can walk over the entire battleground. Plus the park rangers who are guides there really know their stuff.

@@leifjohnson617 you're right! plus it's really humbling walking over the same grass that hundreds of thousands of people gave their lives for only ~150 years ago.

Your English is excellent!

I have never been to Gettysburg but it always wanted to go. I have studied the battles greatly though. When I think about the quality of a man that it took to fight that battle, on both sides, I am amazed that the American Spirit. We can't lift this Union Fall Again under the attack cuz it's going to through now. We the citizens have nothing to do with the political war being raged but we will suffer because of it. We cannot let this happen. The battle needs to be waged at The Ballot Box.

@@donaldcutler721 Amen to that Brother.

@@donaldcutler721 come to Gettysburg, walk the fields and drink in the history.

Bob Griffith I was told by a guide in 1983 that pickets charge was 2hrs late. The plan was to move the troops under the cover of the cannon fire by the time they did it they were in full view in an open field. They were just open targets I forget how many yards. Has anyone heard of this? He was an old guide at the time and forget his name. You could hire him and he would ride around in your car and tell you show and tell you things about the battle.

That’s why Longstreet was sad he knew most of them would die

2 tough battles

I always thought Gettysburg was haunted

Meade remained in command of Army of the Potomac for rest of Civil War. I don't think he was demoted by Lincoln, But Lincoln summoned Grant to command of all Union Armies, and Grant chose to station himself in the field with Army of the Potomac..Thus Meade had his immediate superior RIGHT THERE where Meade was; Meade offered to resign but Grant asked him to stay on.

That's one of the many characteristics that makes Lee commendable, very few Generals in history have openly apologize to there men for there mistakes especially when there mistakes cost lives. They'll regret there decisions and mention it in there memories but they'll never openly apologize and be sincere about it the same way Lee did.

@@sirxavior1583 Lee was a great general but bloodthirsty and greedy. Guess I just don't like generals much.

Away down South in the land of traitors, Rattlesnakes and alligators, Right away, come away, right away, come away. Where cotton's king and men are chattels, Union boys will win the battles, Right away, come away, right away, come away. Then we'll all go down to Dixie, Away, away, Each Dixie boy must understand That he must mind his Uncle Sam, Away, away, And we'll all go down to Dixie. Away, away, And we'll all go down to Dixie.

@@sirxavior1583 ''...there men for there mistakes especially when there mistakes cost lives. They'll regret there decisions and mention it in there memories ...'' OMG! Stop! Please! It's their! THEIR!!! I kept thinking '' where mistakes? where decisions?? where memories?? I don't see them.''

Stonewall would have got it done

That’s a long time

@@dacstudios1168 Not really if you think about it. A good friend from Egypt once told me , that you can see 1000 or 1500 year old furniture being thrown away in outside trash piles in front of homes. ha ha that is older than our country, I guess time is relevant.

I'd recommend the American cemetery in Normandy it's incredibly humbling as well.

I was very humbled visiting the USS Arizona and showing the name of a family member on the memorial to my son and daughter and showing them hes entombed below us. My daugher wept as did I..

Yes , excellent choice ! Thank you !

Lee was the military leader of a group of people who believed in the Constitution of the United States, and did not want the country to be ruled by a dictator and his friends. They did not want the government to grow into the monster it has nor did they want it to control every facet of our lives as it does now.`They had the right to secede from the union the same as they do now,but Lincoln over stepped his power and caused and supported that horrible war. The issue was State's Rights, not slavery as some are trying to say. As horrible as the situation was then, slaves were no more than beasts of burden and no one would fight over them any more than they'd fight over horses, mules, or oxen. It was not the issue then as what it is made out to be since, by the politicians and other lowlives since. Lee was first in his graduating class of the US Military at West Point, Grant was last in his. So much for intelligence, the way I see it.But Grant had all of Lincoln's power and taxpayer money behind him. I was born in Ohio and grew up just across the line in Pa,this is my home. Have been all over the county and parts of the world, both as a military person and as a civilian. Had I lived then with the knowledge I have now, I would have been a Southern sympathizer and probably would have fought on the Confederate side, I am proud to say. And still would. When John Wilkes Booth jumped onto the stage at Ford's Theater the last thing he yelled was "Death to Tyrants" in Latin. I don't wonder why. Imagine that.

"Follow Me" the order given by Col. Chamberlain's bayonet charge is still used by The US Infantry as a motto.

George Floyd would have been proud.

Minnesota also never returned the Virginia Flag Colors they took at Picketts Charge to Virginia I believe it's the only taken flag that was never returned to Virginia.

2nd highest casualty rate in the war The first being the 1st Texas at Antietam, around 82.3%

Yellow Panzer unfortunately, they weren’t US Army so the previous comment still stands as true.

Thanks! Greetings from Green Bay, WI, USA!

I know what you mean because my 4x and 3x great grandfathers were living behind the line that the 16th Michigan held and they owned the land on which Joshua Lawrence chamberlain made his famous famous famous bayonet charge

@@chasemurraychristopherdola7108 it's a weird feeling for sure.

Another Michigander here who has been to Gettysburg. I've also taken pride in the fact the 16th Michigan was up there on Little Round Top, eventhough I had no ancestors there (mine all got off the boat from the Netherlands later in the century).

It’s so interesting but a soldier named ziba graham who was in the 16th Michigan said bad stuff about my 4x great grandfather like he called my 4x great grandfather a mean Dutchman and in reality I think this mister graham should have not said that stuff about my ancestor because from what I have heard about my ancestor is that he was so nice to people like his family especially my 3x great grandma because while my 3x grandfather was building a house nearby his dad let my grandmother give birth to my 2x great uncle Edward in my 4x great grandfathers house and he even let my 3x great aunt and her two girls and a neighbor stay at his house while my 3x great uncle was fighting with coles Calvary but sadly my 3x great uncle was captured and sent to Andersonville prison where he sadly passed away leaving my aunt and my cousins molly and Sadie who both died young

The Grand Army of the Republic!

The only saving grace they 'Could have received' was from her Majesty across the pond. The Brits took interest in the Confederacy but I don't believe there was much help. Wild to think that on the other side... many Irish immigrating would get off the boat and put on Union Blues. You're right. for the Union it was a flood of reserves, the Confederacy prevailed early due to Leadership and tactics but it could never hold. It was a ticking time bomb. Gettysburg or not.

So true. And "Union" is the USA. 👍🇺🇸

I just added that Bio info on Joshua L. Chamberlin in as a comment today and then I scrolled down and saw your comment. So we think alike. Joshua L. Chamberlin, Horatio Viscount Nelson, Hannibal Barca, Richard H. O'kane, Erwin Rommel, Arminius. These are some of my heroes from military history.

The video was clearly too short to name individual regiments. Others are arguing that it was the 1st Minnesota that saved the day and won the war. The reality is that Meade had 90,000 men, fighting occurred over the course of 3 days, there were a lot of close calls, and it's not really possible to single out the actions of one single regiment as the most vital of them all. But the 20th Maine is still super cool :)

they were there...my sister owned a house haunted by a red coat in Westchester, PA...they had to disclose the haunting during the sale...it was rough....he showed up 1 month a year and was angry about his death...but he was cool with her kids...I didn't believe it until my skeptical sister visited from NYC, was haunted by him in her guest room during the night...and she bolted the next day back to NYC scared to death...those ghosts are real

When you get back to Gettysburg, I hope you get on a tour with Ranger Matt Atkinson. Your whole family will love it!

Attended a re-enactment at Antietam with my brother and we were also amazed. The battlefield smoke was crazy thick and with so much going on we had regiments walking right up on us visitors. We were like dang this was serious!

I read the 3 books and quite agree. The video gave me a better comprehension of what I had read.

Thanks Xavier. Glad you enjoyed!