Battle Of Gettysburg Battle Analysis

The Artillery of the Potomac Army at Gettysburg, achieved victory through the “King of Battle” and integration of the Union maneuver commanders (Steve, 2014). Combat experience demonstrated seasoned leadership. The superiority of the Union artillery over their confederate counterparts was not only the number of guns employed, but also, it was the manner of how the Union commanders employed the artillery under their command (Steve, 2014). Proper integration of assets can determine the battlefield in moments. Hence, the concept of today’s utilization of artillery supporting the maneuver elements, has not drastically changed. (Steve, 2014)
Union’s Gettysburg.
The total amount of artillery pieces in the battle of Gettysburg is said to be
653 cannons; of those the Union controlled 372 vastly out matching the Confederacy’s 281(Drais). The Union’s cannons outnumbered the Confederacy cannons 3 to 1, achieving superior firepower in the area of operation. On July 1st, 1862 Brigadier General Hunt rode to make recon on the battlefield by fielding where the best positions for his artillery. As he assessed the terrain to better to analysis the action of the enemy course of action. During the Battle of Gettysburg, he thought beyond his time, unbeknownst to him utilizing the Military Decision Making Process. Brigadier General Hunt was able to use a systematic approach to problem solving. As the process had not been created, he was able to refer to his combat experience to facilitate consequently analyze the Confederates. He then began to instruct Colonel Wainwright and Major Osborn on employing their guns to mass fires. The army of the Confederacy had 10 pound parrot guns that had a greater max range than the Union. With this in mind, he positioned his artillery accordingly ensured that all his cannons were mission capable. He covered dead-space on the battlefield as well as having other avenues of envelopment should the situation arise. On July 02 1862 Brigadier General Hunt position “108 cannons from his Artillery Reserve” (Tagg, 1998) ready to establish war on the Confederacy. From the fighting of the second day into the morning of the third day General Hunt came up with three courses of action that the Confederates artillery may act on “One was to free Confederate infantry to support Ewell in his failing attack on Culps Hill; another repel a Union assault should Meade go on the offense; and finally, it may signal an assault on the Union Center” (Gilmore, 1977). This prompted General Hunt to reinforce the Union’s center with artillery. During the battle, Hunt became concerned that his artillery was expending too much ammunition. He ordered the artillery to cease fire to conserve rounds in case of an assault. The halt of the Union fires unintentionally deceived the confederates into assaulting, they believed the Union artillery was destroyed or combat ineffective. This led to Hunts artillery forcing the Confederates to retreat. Ultimately the decisions he made using artillery is what won the Battle of Gettysburg. (Gilmore, 1977)

Unions TTPs.
Brigadier General Henry Jackson Hunt led the Union artillery against the Confederacy in many battles, ultimately showing greater tactical and technical prowess in Gettysburg.
He was able to do so from his extensive education at West Point; as well as making a name for himself in the Mexican war (Tagg, 1998). Brigadier General Hunt was part of reviewing the Army’s Light Artillery Tactics, accordingly , he assisted in the creation of the “Bible for artillerymen on both sides of the Civil War” (Tagg,1998). The battle of Gettysburg Brigadier General Hunt demonstrated superior tactical patience; luring General Robert E. Lee army within devastating reach of the Union’s artillery. If not for Brigadier General Hunt the course of the battle could have strayed from the Union
grasp. Confederacy’s Gettysburg.
After his victory at the Battle of Chancellorsville, Virginia in May of 1863, General Robert E. Lee led his Northern Virginia Army into the farmlands of Pennsylvania in hopes of collecting supplies for his troops. In doing so he also hoped to get a major win on Northern soil to weaken the norths will to continue fighting. Hearing of the Generals plan, President Abraham Lincoln urged Major General George Gordon Meade to move his Union army further north to cut off Lee’s advance. (History.com, 2009) Once Lee realized that Union soldiers had cut off his route north, he centered his focus on the town of Gettysburg. On July 1, 1863, Union and Confederate soldiers collide for the first time with the Confederate coming out on top after having reinforcements arrived to render help. After a day long battle the North is driven to the hills south of Gettysburg formally known as Cemetery and Culp’s Hill. (History.com, 2009)

On the second day of battle, 90,000 Union soldiers were set to defend a range of fish hooked shaped hills south of Gettysburg. The Confederate, estimated to have 70,000 troops quickly surrounded the Union and began its attack on the left flank. Battles soon erupted at Devil’s Den, Little Round Top, The Wheatfield, The Peach Orchard and Cemetery Ridge. While the South did gain ground during the battles, the Union Army held their positions at the end. (History.com, 2009)

On the final day of the fighting, July 3, 1863, battles still raged on. With one last effort the Confederate launches an attack against the center of the Union line led by Major General George Pickett and Brigadier General James J. Pettigrew followed by four other brigades to cover their rear conversely their flanks. This attack was later named Pickett’s Charge. Outnumbered, the Union held their positions moreover repelled the assault with overwhelming rifle and artillery fire. General Lee and his Confederate Army wisely retreated back to the south ending up in Virginia. This battle was a major turning point in the Civil War and also a valuable learning point on how to incorporate the different fighting techniques such as the Field Artillery to gain the upper hand on their enemies. (History.com, 2009)

Confederacy’s TTPs.
Brigadier General William Pendleton was the Confederate counterpart to General Hunt of the Union.
They both attended West Point as Hunt went to war, Pendleton went to become episcopal priest (Tagg, 1998). The strategic prowess became evident in the battle of Gettysburg in the favor of Hunt. General Pendleton was unable to fully exploit the capabilities of his cannons. He employed his gun conversely each Battery had a variety of cannons (Tagg, 1978). The lack of artillery pieces the Confederates utilized were tactically acquired through victory. Due to the acquisition of mixed caliber guns the support of each Battery was hindered (Gilmore, 1977). The logistics sustainment of these mixed caliber guns proved to be a difficult task. (Gilmore, 1977). During Pickets charge the facilitation of ammunition was unable to be met (Gilmore, 1977). General Pendleton ordered the sustainment of the cannons to be moved to the rear prior to the charge. Unable to support their maneuver they were met with an unparalleled Artillery (Gilmore,
1977).
Lessons learned.
The concept of tactical mission of the artillery starts as early as the Civil War. The terms of direct support and general support is used during this conflict. The tactical mission gave a key advantage to the Union forces over the Confederates. Brigades retained their assigned batteries for direct support of those units. Division, Corps lost their artillery and became an artillery reserve, which allowed for greater flexibility on the battlefield. Furthermore the Artillery Reserve became the instrument of the Army commander, consequently served as what we would now call “general support” artillery. This technique ensured Meade and his subordinate commanders had a command of fires throughout the battle. The Army has adopted, developed tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTP’s) that has given the advantage over the enemy; Fire Support in the 21st century has not reached its full potential. Fires as a Warfighting function must be imperative on the battlefield, but consequently leaders at the lower echelons do not have the experience or/and knowledge of the right integration between maneuver and fires. The understanding of the utilization of artillery in the battle of Gettysburg could give a better insight to the leaders of today; a successful coordination of artillery and fire support delivers lethal effects of the fight. Young leaders must have a thorough understanding of fire support integration to employ the “King of Battle”.