Battle Of Gettysburg

Redlegs in Gettysburg
SSG Briseno, SSG Moore, SSG Odom, SSG Peralta
13P SLC Class # 001-16

By the start of the American Civil War there were changes on the horizon, some of these changes were not anticipated and affected the operations of the field artillery during the war. These artillerymen were not ready to deal with these changes but knew they had to adapt to continue to be a contributing factor within the scope of combined combat arms. This essay will examine the adaptations and techniques used during the Battle of Gettysburg. It will describe the history of the Battle of Gettysburg and the effects it has on today’s modern artillery.
Throughout history, the field artillery has been referred to as the King of Battle. Operating
The scouts reported back to their commanders with the defensive positions of the Union forces. General Lee planned the assault on the Union with the report that was received. His plan was to attack from both flanks. But once the attack began, the Confederates soon realized that the plan was destroyed. Although the scouts reported an accurate assessment at the time of the initial report, the Union defensive positions had changed and would soon result in mass casualties for both sides. “The result would be three hours of carnage that won nothing of tactical significance for his Army of Northern Virginia. Confederate killed, wounded and missing during the fighting on July 2 total some 6,500. The Union total was approximately 8,750” (History Net: Where History Comes Alive – World & US History Online).
The third day of the Battle of Gettysburg started early in the morning on July 3, 1863. This is the day General Lee and General Meade would determine who would be the more superior tactical commander. This is when most of the field artillery was used to turn the tides at Gettysburg. The third day would be the deciding factor on who would win the Battle of
The Confederates casualty losses were 29% approximately 21,000 casualties. Union forces were slightly lower. The artillery’s significance during the battle can be attributed to its reorganization after the Battle of Chancellorsville. The difference between Gettysburg and previous battles before were the positive contributions made by the artillery with ensured the Union’s victory. This reorganization allowed for the recognition of the artillery was best deployed as a defensive measure than used as an offensive asset moving forward on the battlefield alongside infantrymen. This resulted in artillerymen to be less exposed to small arms fire on the front lines evolving into a lethal, untraceable force, hurling steel rain into the night’s