In the Wake of Gettysburg - A Review of "Lee is Trapped and Must be Taken"

jgoodguy

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In the Wake of Gettysburg - A Review of "Lee is Trapped and Must be Taken"

Another book on what Meade should have done. The book is very detailed and carefully analyzed. They included the misinformation, questionable reports, and misreading of the circumstances.

The authors of this extraordinarily well-researched volume are at their best in reviewing all of the options before Meade in the aftermath of the Union victory at Gettysburg. They examine the decision-making process of the upper echelon of command and note opportunities offered and opportunities missed. Drawing from rich first-hand testimony and personal reflections of the campaign, the highly partisan press, the OR, published memoirs and regimental histories, and the voluminous secondary histories (both academic and otherwise) of the battle and its aftermath, the authors present a meticulously detailed account of Lee’s withdrawal from Gettysburg beginning on July 4, 1863 through the South Mountain passes to the Potomac River and the (relative) safety of Virginia. I especially appreciated how the authors couple narrative with careful analysis of the events. They reveal the misinformation, misinformed reports, and misread circumstances that at least partially colored the Union army perspective.​
Gettysburg did not implicitly mean the Confederates were defeated. Morale among the Confederates remained high.
I especially appreciated how the authors implicitly bring the notion of turning points into question. Sure, Confederates were disappointed with a defeat, and Union soldiers were happy with a victory - yet the persistent idea that the war was somehow all downhill for the Rebels from Gettysburg forward does not emerge in this book. Rather, testimony from Confederate soldiers noting their determination and military prowess and from Union soldiers lamenting the continuation of the fight pepper this volume. My own work on the Petersburg Siege shows how Confederate soldiers in the trenches were certain that they would soon see victory…so I would be surprised if many Rebs thought that all was lost in Pennsylvania. Despite the “setback,” as many observed, they remained confident in their commander.​
One thing I find missing from a lot of Meade should have done conversations is the question of what was Meade's mission along with the newness of Meade to command and the damage the Army of the Potomac had taken and the loss of many commanders. This book addresses that.
I really enjoy books like this simply for the fact that they inspire further thought on the campaign. Though there are around 6 zillion books on the Battle of Gettysburg, I never grow tired of discussing it and reading different takes on the action (or lack, thereof…as it were). Readers should find plenty to debate after reading “Lee is Trapped…” What was Meade’s mission? Destroy Lee’s army and close the deal (like Halleck and Lincoln wished) or defend Washington City (Like Halleck and Lincoln wished…). And then there’s the whole “newness” issue. After all, Meade had assumed command of the army only days before the battle - hell, he didn’t even know where all the various pieces were located and had to get up to speed quickly before he took on the Confederacy’s best. I mean…it’s at least possible that he acted prudently in the wake of victory…isn’t it? Remember, his army was knocked around a bit too. Not only had the Army of the Potomac lost thousands killed, wounded, and captured - but he also had three new corps commanders with which to deal and many of his veteran field-grade officers were dead. Suffice it to say…the command structure was a mess. I enjoyed this book for the fact that the authors take all of this into consideration and tend to read the story forward rather than adjudicating from the vantage point of the 21st century.​
 

5fish

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yet the persistent idea that the war was somehow all downhill for the Rebels from Gettysburg forward does not emerge in this book.
I admit at the time no one realized it was the turning point of the war. In time it became apparent it was the turning point of the war.
 

jgoodguy

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IMHO Vicksburg's loss was more intensely felt like a major loss by the Confederates. Meade won and that is what happened. What ifs are always speculative. In my opinion, if Meade is criticized as too cautious, it is that caution that won the battle.
 

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IMHO Vicksburg's loss was more intensely felt like a major loss by the Confederates. Meade won and that is what happened. What ifs are always speculative. In my opinion, if Meade is criticized as too cautious, it is that caution that won the battle.

I argue the Vicksburg only had a psychological effect on the South war effort... The Mississippi was controlled by the Union by controlling New Orleans and by controlling Memphis ... I have pointed out in other places(CWT) the Texas ports were meaningless to the southern work effort for there were no trains from texas to the Mississippi...

I will argue the turning point was Chancellorsville because Lee only took out a Corps and nonthing more... If Hooker had been willing to fight the battle in time would have shifted in the Union's favor due to numbers... Lee hit them and only truely have them a bloody nose... Lee should have realized did not have the ability to win a deceive victory... There was no Canne in his future...

I will argue the Wilderness was again where Lee hit Grant hard but only gave him a bloody nose... but Grant pressed on to victory... The Wilderness could be considered the turning point for it was Lee's last offensive action but cause little damage... Lee was punched out and only if Hooker had fingered it out...
 

jgoodguy

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I argue the Vicksburg only had a psychological effect on the South war effort... The Mississippi was controlled by the Union by controlling New Orleans and by controlling Memphis ... I have pointed out in other places(CWT) the Texas ports were meaningless to the southern work effort for there were no trains from texas to the Mississippi...

I will argue the turning point was Chancellorsville because Lee only took out a Corps and nonthing more... If Hooker had been willing to fight the battle in time would have shifted in the Union's favor due to numbers... Lee hit them and only truely have them a bloody nose... Lee should have realized did not have the ability to win a deceive victory... There was no Canne in his future...

I will argue the Wilderness was again where Lee hit Grant hard but only gave him a bloody nose... but Grant pressed on to victory... The Wilderness could be considered the turning point for it was Lee's last offensive action but cause little damage... Lee was punched out and only if Hooker had fingered it out...
Good points especially only if Hooker.
 

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Lee never had enough men to finish off the AoP... He always needed another 20,000 or more men to finish off the AoP...
 

jgoodguy

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Lee never had enough men to finish off the AoP... He always needed another 20,000 or more men to finish off the AoP...
It was hard to finish off Civil War Armies in the Civil War. The ANV was finished off after it was bled to death and ran out of food.
 

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I really enjoy books like this simply for the fact that they inspire further thought on the campaign.
Meade won the battle through inaction on his part. He wanted to retreat by his officers demanded he stays and fights. Gettysburg is a case of Meade meeting Lee, Longstreet, and Stuart having a collectively bads day leading their men...
 

jgoodguy

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Meade won the battle through inaction on his part. He wanted to retreat by his officers demanded he stays and fights. Gettysburg is a case of Meade meeting Lee, Longstreet, and Stuart having a collectively bads day leading their men...
Not retreating was the key to victory for Grant. He stayed on the battlefield and forced Lee to retreat. Lee kept on fighting another day until he couldn't
 

5fish

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I want to show you this...

https://www.history.com/topics/amer...ysburg, fought,Pennsylvania in late June 1863.

his hopes of a victorious invasion of the North dashed, Lee waited for a Union counterattack on July 4, but it never came. That night, in heavy rain, the Confederate general withdrew his decimated army toward Virginia.

https://www.history.com/topics/american-civil-war/battle-of-antietam

The next day, as Lee began the painstaking job of moving his ravaged troops back to Virginia, McClellan, surprisingly, did nothing. Despite having the advantage, he allowed Lee to retreat without resistance. From his point of view, he’d accomplished his mission of forcing Lee’s troops from Maryland and preventing a Confederate win on Union soil.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Chancellorsville

On the evening of May 3 and all day May 4, Hooker remained in his defenses north of Chancellorsville. Lee observed that Hooker was threatening no offensive action, so felt comfortable ordering Anderson's division to join the battle against Sedgwick. He sent orders to Early and McLaws to cooperate in a joint attack, but the orders reached his subordinates after dark, so the attack was planned for May 4.[100


Notice the inaction if Lee was losing he still stay a day before he started his retreat... At Chancellorsville, Lee stopped pressing the attack... He was waiting for them to retreat or attack or do nothing...
 

jgoodguy

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I want to show you this...

https://www.history.com/topics/american-civil-war/battle-of-gettysburg#:~:targetText=The Battle of Gettysburg, fought,Pennsylvania in late June 1863.

his hopes of a victorious invasion of the North dashed, Lee waited for a Union counterattack on July 4, but it never came. That night, in heavy rain, the Confederate general withdrew his decimated army toward Virginia.

https://www.history.com/topics/american-civil-war/battle-of-antietam

The next day, as Lee began the painstaking job of moving his ravaged troops back to Virginia, McClellan, surprisingly, did nothing. Despite having the advantage, he allowed Lee to retreat without resistance. From his point of view, he’d accomplished his mission of forcing Lee’s troops from Maryland and preventing a Confederate win on Union soil.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Chancellorsville

On the evening of May 3 and all day May 4, Hooker remained in his defenses north of Chancellorsville. Lee observed that Hooker was threatening no offensive action, so felt comfortable ordering Anderson's division to join the battle against Sedgwick. He sent orders to Early and McLaws to cooperate in a joint attack, but the orders reached his subordinates after dark, so the attack was planned for May 4.[100


Notice the inaction if Lee was losing he still stay a day before he started his retreat... At Chancellorsville, Lee stopped pressing the attack... He was waiting for them to retreat or attack or do nothing...
How many battles did Lee lose?
 

5fish

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I would say Gettysburg, Antietam, and South mountain, oh Cheat mountain... Because the field of battle was left in union hands...
 

jgoodguy

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I would say Gettysburg, Antietam, and South mountain, oh Cheat mountain... Because the field of battle was left in union hands...
What did Lee do in those cases?
 

5fish

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What did Lee do in those cases?
South Mountain was a battle for the gaps... after a day-long fighting Lee chose to pull back... He did not even have most of his army at this time... pulled back to collect the rest of his army... he achieve the goal of delaying the union army's advance...

Though Lee, Longstreet, and D.H. Hill agreed to abandon South Mountain before daylight on September 15, the bloody, day-long struggle bought the Confederate army valuable time to consolidate its position—and ready itself for the coming battle along Antietam Creek. McClellan had lost his best chance of destroying Lee's army in detail.

Cheat Mountain... a badly organized battle... it just fizzled and Lee in the days following left area within the month... He still waited around...

The battle had little effect on either the campaign or the war; both forces after the battle were in positions similar to their positions before the battle. Lee called off the attack and, after maneuvering in the vicinity, withdrew to Valley Mountain on September 17.
 

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Good to hear this is a very thorough work, and seemingly a fair one rather than someone either being an apologist for or axe grinder against a commanding general. I'm definitely interested in reading it, although I will probably have to wait a year for an ILL.
 

jgoodguy

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Good to hear this is a very thorough work, and seemingly a fair one rather than someone either being an apologist for or axe grinder against a commanding general. I'm definitely interested in reading it, although I will probably have to wait a year for an ILL.
I'm looking forward to reading a comprehensive exposition of the subject of what Meade could have done. I will probably have to wait for an FLB though, a former library book.
 

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What did Lee do in those cases?
I can not find the moment "Grant goes up to the wilderness and looks over the line at the Confederate lines and is surprised to see Lee's army still there"... I read before but can not find it... I was trying to point out both generals were use to their opponents after a tough fight to be retreating and both were still there waiting... They both knew than they were in a different contest than ones that had come before...
 

5fish

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Lee's escape was due to Meade's inaction to not acting in a timely manner... There is no excuse ...
 
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