Gettysburg Battle Command

The War was in full swing. The Confederate Army was marching north and an opportunity presented itself at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, the sight of the America’s bloodiest battle. The Union and Confederate armies met outside the town of Gettysburg, for what would become the turning point of the Civil War. The fields were covered with blood, men on both sides laid motionless, on the battlefield, 7,550 men were killed, another 27,450 wounded, and 10,515 missing (Battle of Gettysburg Facts). Gettysburg featured numerous critical combat arms units, undoubtedly the most influential being the Field Artillery. The Artillery’s ability to delivery numerous barrages from the initial conflict, defending Little Round Top, and Pickett’s charge, not only …show more content…
This would prove to be beneficial during the second day of the war. July 2, 1863, General Lee thought he saw a target of opportunity during a reconnaissance. During the reconnaissance, the Union lines appeared week around Little Round Top, a hill on the southwest of the battlefield. General Meade being well prepared for the Confederate offensive had established defensive positions along Little Round Top, with six of his seven Brigades that were at the battle. General Lee realized during the second the second day of fighting, the northern Army was able to sustain their positions, in large part to their superior Artillery Batteries. The Northern factories were more advanced than any facility in the south, and their factories were a lot closer than the ones in the south. This meant that the Artillery of the northern army was more advanced and superior weaponry. Knowing the significance of Artillery in the Battle of Gettysburg, General Lee decided to put his best asset in a position on the battlefield that would allow them to try and match the Confederate’s best asset, their cavalry, against the Union’s best asset, their artillery. Although the Confederate’s Artillery was not as modern, it was still used to hit the Union Positions hard at Little Round Top and Cemetery Ridge. General Sickles, Brigade Commander for the Union Army, was unsatisfied with the position; General Meade gave him, causing the General to take up a new position in a peach orchard, on the southwestern flank of the battlefield. General Longstreet, who was ordered by General Lee to take advantage of the target of opportunity from the reconnaissance, did not attempt to take Little Round Top until late in the afternoon. By the time, General Longstreet attacked; General Sickles had the Union Army in a position to hold ground against the Confederates. Artillery was able to