8/11/2019 Failure Frontal A

1/12

THE FAILURE OF THE FRONTAL ASSAULT

a micro analysis of Picketts charge at

Gettysburg

Why did the frontal assault fail ?

How was the assault a foretaste of thefuture 1865-1917 ?

8/11/2019 Failure Frontal A

2/12

General Lee its all my fault !

The frontal assault is a directmove against the enemy front tosplit them at the weak point inorder to overwhelm them.

Lee ordered such an attack on thethird day of Gettysburg.

Lee lost 67 % casualties between 3330pm

8/11/2019 Failure Frontal A

3/12

Contextfailure to outflank 1st2ndJuly

Cemetery Ridge was not outflanked 1stJuly General Ewell failed to take Culps Hill when the Federalswere at their weakest

2ndJuly General Longstreet failed to take the Tops

A bayonet charge led by Colonel Chamberlain saved Little RoundTop & the Federals from defeat

8/11/2019 Failure Frontal A

4/12

Lee the enemy is there & I am going to strike him

Lee was always proactive With Gods providence the troops

could achieve anything

To retreat would mean enduring awar of attrition

Lee had never lost CSA needed a Napoleonic knock out

blow

The centre was weakened due toFederals moving to reinforce theHills & Tops

Longstreet believed in offensive defensive strategy & tactics

Longstreet no 15,000 can take thatridge

8/11/2019 Failure Frontal A

5/12

Mass bombardmentdestroy the target

CSA open the greatest bombardment seen in N America Chronic lack of ammunition reduced saturation to 90 minutes

CSA lack of target practice led to overshoot of the target

Did not destroy the target or demoralise the entrenched troops

The long bombardment revealed the point of attack USA Artillery held fire until the infantry assault

USA Artillery used as defensive support

8/11/2019 Failure Frontal A

6/12

USA DEFENCECEMETERY HILLTHE

ANGLE

Entrenched behind thestonewall

Unobstructed field of fire

Behind the crest of the ridge

Widespread use of rifledweapons (eg Springfield rifle)where as CSA mostly muskets

General Meade predicted thatLee would attack the angle

US Troops had excellent interior lines

8/11/2019 Failure Frontal A

7/12

Longstreet they got the stonewall & good

interior lines

Interior lines is the abilityto move forces through asafe interior to a

threatened area faster thanthe enemy can be supported

Longstreet realised thatFederals could quickly

converge on the angle ,whilst the assault would beunsupported

8/11/2019 Failure Frontal A

8/12

Trust in God and pass the ammunition - morale

Lee was overconfident

Morale is the willingness to fight

Lee believed in Gods providence

General Meade had only been incharge 3 days which lessened theeffect of Chancellorsville

Fighting in their own territorystiffened the Federals

Both sides believed that maybetoday will be the last day

8/11/2019 Failure Frontal A

9/12

Loss of command & control

Lee made the strategic plan to attack theangle & the entrusted the attack toLongstreet I pray do plan it well sir

Longstreet explained the tactical plan andentrusted the advance to Pickett

Lee & Longstreet are now observers Pickett was 200 yards behind the leadingbrigades whats happening to my boys !

The attack lost all 3 brigade commandersGarnett , Armistead & Pettigrew

With their leaders gone the attackingtroops are in confusion

8/11/2019 Failure Frontal A

10/12

The advancea mingled mass

15,000 CSA troops cross mile ofopen fields in close order &

attempt to break entrenchedinfantry Fences , converging on the trees &

loss of leaders mingle theformations

The angle becomes classic columnagainst line

The attack lost 67% casualties Advance at speed means loss of

cohesion controlled advancemeans facing unrelenting fire

8/11/2019 Failure Frontal A

11/12

The High water mark of the Confederacy

General Armistead Who will follow me ! 150 Rebs cross the stonewall Armistead falls The High water mark is no more than a slight fraying of the

Federal front at the angle The N Carolinians of Pettigrew got further but did not cross thewall , whilst the Virginians of Armistead breached the wall

Pickett to Lee I have no Division ! Lee Its all my fault

8/11/2019 Failure Frontal A

12/12

Crossing the divide or no mans land

Factors against the frontalassault

As true in 1914 as 1863 !

Morale Entrenchment

New technology

Inability to destroy thetarget

Lack of command & control

Lack of cohesive impact onenemy formations