Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Stephanie Widemond | Capt. Matthew Branson, executive officer for 2-349th Logistics Support Battalion,...... read more read more
GETTYSBURG, Pa. -- Since its inception in 1775, the Army has known sacrifice. There have been several wars over the past 239 years; however, the casualties that amassed in the three days it took to fight the Battle of Gettysburg are among the highest. In those 72 hours, the casualties totaled more than fifty thousand. As a matter of comparison, this toll is higher than the casualties of Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan combined.
Recently, 188th Infantry Brigade re-visited the battlegrounds and took time to analyze the decisions made which may have contributed to the devastation during the battle which lasted from 1-3 July 1863.
Commanders and leaders were re-born during the Gettysburg staff ride as participants were encouraged to get into character. Lt. Col. Neal, commander 2nd Battalion 306th Field Artillery Regiment, portrayed Gen George Gordon Meade (Union General) and Lt. Col. Greg Cannata, commander 1st Battalion 306th Infantry Regiment, portrayed Gen Robert Edward Lee (Confederate General).
“I was stifled by Lee, there was not a lot I could do. I think he should not have been so cautious,” said, Lt. Gen. James Longstreet, a Confederate general that fell under Gen. Lee. Longstreet was portrayed by Capt. William Bader, 1-306 Alpha team chief. Bader tied Longstreet’s weariness to current doctrine.
“Did he have concentration: no; he lost all tempo and kept dragging his feet,” said Bader using terms found in the Army Doctrine Publication discussing characteristics of offensive operations. These characteristics—audacity, concentration, surprise and tempo—are components of the initiative required of leaders during offensive tasks.
During the battle, Longstreet had voiced concerns about the battle and was believed to have deliberately delayed the execution of Lee’s orders. Though he was loyal to Lee, Longstreet’s inability to maintain the initiative was detrimental on the third day of Gettysburg.
Walking through the battlefields in Pennsylvania, re-visiting places such as Devil’s Den, Little Round Top, and Seminary Ridge, the commanders remembered the camaraderie of fighting side by side.
“It brought back some amazing facts that I forgot. And it put me in awe of what we survived together,” said Maj. Gen. Winfield Hancock, a Union commander serving under Meade. Hancock was portrayed by Capt. Jamie Pittman, brigade senior logistics officer.
Hancock helped defend against famous Pickett’s Charge, an offensive which lasted only thirty minutes and saw a nearly successful Confederate Army break through Union lines but was driven back. He was seriously wounded in the battle.
The casualties of the Civil War were high, with a disproportionate number occurring during the Battle of Gettysburg. Hancock was not one of the ones honored after the smoke cleared. The most recently honored Soldier was Lt. Alonzo Cushing who was awarded the Medal of Honor 151 years later, on Sept. 15, 2014.
“I did what I had to do to preserve the Union,” said Cushing, portrayed by Capt. Matthew Branson, executive officer for 2nd Battalion 349th Logistics Support Battalion. Cushing was fatally wounded during Pickett’s Charge.
During the Civil War, Soldiers had a 1 in 4 chance of surviving. Thanks to advances in medicine and technology, the survivability rate has significantly increased, but the commitment embodied by the American Soldier remains steadfast.
| Date Taken: | 09.30.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 10.06.2014 11:13 |
| Story ID: | 144365 |
| Location: | GETTYSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, US |
| Web Views: | 106 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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