Civil War Articles by Julian WilliamsGeorgians Victims Of The "What If's" At Gettysburg
This article is compiled by Julian Williams.
Not only in war, but in life in general, we all ask ourselves the age-old "what if" question. What if this person had done this or that? What if the other person had reacted in another way? What if this person had waited or pursued? What if that person had made a different decision? On and on. The "what if's" happened at Gettysburg and apparently to such a degree that historians have puzzled since about their nature and numbers. The place had many mysteries.
To begin with - what if Confederate General Heth had possessed an army with shoes for their feet and not had to take precious time looking for them in Gettysburg? He could have used that time in securing a good battlefield position.
What if General Jeb Stuart and his cavalry had arrived in "a more timely fashion" at Gettysburg to inform Lee of the composition and position of the Federal army? General Lee was so distraught he openly asked General Stuart (which he did not often do with his subordinates) - "General Stuart, where have you been? You are the eyes and the ears of the army." Obviously, General Lee was not his composed self at that moment but frustrated with his and his commanders' inability to know the size and movements of the enemy. Going fast was his "feeling of confidence and invincibility brought about by the recent victories at Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville."
What if General A.P. Hill had not been sick at Gettysburg ? Would he have been more aggressive? He did ask General Lee at one point to let him lead his whole 3rd Corps against the strong Yankee line on Cemetery Hill. But Lee refused. Instead, General Pickett's division took the vicious repulse of the Federals and lost thousands of men. He was so bitter about the whole thing he said something to this effect some time later when asked what he thought about General Lee: "That old gray-haired man had my division massacred."
And, while we look at Pickett, would things have been different if he had not been going back and to from the front lines to Virginia to court his teenage fiancee? He was a 38 year-old widower and his fellow officers sometimes thought the romance was affecting his military performance.
What if General James Longstreet had agreed with Lee instead of dissenting, balking and even not giving a distinct command to Pickett to charge? Some say Longstreet just dropped his head when Pickett asked for his order to charge the Yankee masses. Some say he mumbled something. Some say he rendered a half-hearted salute. Evidently, whatever he did, he did so in a most reluctant and less than effervescent fashion. What if Pickett had pressed him for a more distinct and intelligible instruction? Many pages have been written in criticism and defense of General Longstreet who was one of General Lee's closest and most admired soldiers. General Lee called him "my Old War Horse."
What if General Dorsey Pender had not been killed and had been able to give direction to General Thomas and his men (which included the men from Telfair)? As Pender was dying he said, "Tell my wife that I do not fear to die. I can confidently resign my soul to God, trusting in the atonement of Jesus Christ. My only regret is to leave her and our two children. I have always tried to do my duty in every sphere in which Providence has placed me." It is certainly notable the gallant way in which soldiers of the North and South died. If you notice, "duty" carried the day in both armies. For some reason they seemed to be more concerned with their responsibilities than with almost any other item. They evidently figured the other items would follow if they were loyal to duty.
What if the North's men of Joshua Chamberlain had not seen the "ghost of Gettysburg" - and run bravely at the Confederates with only bayonets after running out of ammunition? This remains one of the great mysteries of Gettysburg. These Yankee soldiers actually thought they saw the ghost of George Washington leading them into battle. That's not all. Before that they were lost and didn't know which road to take into Gettysburg. Apparently he even appeared then and led them down the right road. Not defending the South, but folks, it's hard to win against those odds! The Rebs never believed that story because Washington was a Virginian and would not have been over on that side of town in the first place.
But, the Telfair men in Thomas's Brigade fought well when they had a chance to fight.
The following is a summary of what happened to the Company B men of Telfair those fateful days at Gettysburg:
Daniel B. Graham, Wounded.
Frederick Johnston. Wounded.
Robert W. Jones. Wounded and Died from wounds 17 July 1863.
Moses R. McInnis. Wounded.
Lewis W. White. Wounded.
Spencer Brantley. Captured. Paroled at Fort Delaware, DE, 30 July 1863.
William F. Brewer. Captured. Released at Fort Delaware, DE, 16 June 1865.
Joseph D. Bryan. Captured. Received at Fort Delaware, DE, 20 July 1863. Transferred to Johnson's Island, OH, 20 July 1863, to Baltimore, MD, 9 Feb 1864, to Fort Delaware, DE, 23 June 1864, and released there on 12 June 1865.
George Davis. Captured. Released at Fort Delaware, DE, 16 June 1865.
William P. Davis. Captured. Paroled at Fort Delaware, DE, 14 September 1864. Received at Varina, VA, for exchange 22 September 1864. No later record.
Thomas Lasley. Captured.
And it was at Gettysburg that another Telfairian gave the last full measure - Lt. Farquhar McCrimmon of the 20th GA was killed while capturing a hill - one witness said that the young soldier was rushing over the crest and into the arms of victory when he was cut down by a bullet of the enemy. John would have to go home without his younger brother.
With the great slaughter of Pickett's Charge, forever remembered as one of the great massacres of war, the battle was over. Thousands lay dead and wounded on the field. The South had lost a great fight.
General Lee assumed full responsibility and told his troops - "It is my fault." With this, he and his remnant of a beaten army left the little village of 2,400 where at least 120 generals had supervised the maiming and/or killing of over 51,000 human beings from North and South. Over 172,000 men, 634 cannon and 569 tons of ammunition had been used to orchestrate the greatest wreckage of war on the continent, before or since. 5,000 dead horses further emphasized the sad graphic of utter desolation and destruction. General Lee retreated to the south and General Meade, being merciful, did not hotly pursue him. President Lincoln did not share these feelings of benevolence and it would cost the Northern commander his job.
