What role does

leadership, tactics, and

terrain play in battle?

Battle of Gettysburg

July 1 – 3, 1863

Gettysburg Pre Quiz

• Write down everything you know about…– People– Events– Statistics– Tactics– Places– Dates/Times– Weapons

MILITARY SCIENCE 101

• Levels of Warfare

• Terrain & Symbology

• Principals of War

• Tactics

• Weapons

Levels of Warfare

• Strategic

• Operational

• Tactical

CSA: Win the South’s IndependenceCSA: Gain Recognition from Great Britain & FranceUSA: Maintain the Union

CSA: Threaten the Washington, D.C.USA: Get the CSA army out of the NorthUSA: Destroy the offensive capability of the CSA army

CSA: Destroy offensive capability of Union armyUSA: Get the CSA army out of the NorthUSA: Destroy the offensive capability of the CSA army

Military Maps Colors

• Black = Man-made objects (roads,

building, etc.)

• Brown = Elevation & Contour Lines

• Green = Woods, Vegetation

• Blue = Water

Terrain Analysis

• O bservation

• C over & Concealment

• O bstacles

• K ey Terrain

• A venues of Approach

Military Symbology—Unit Type

xxx

• Friendly Force = BLUE

• Enemy Force = RED

1 1st Infantry Corps

Type of unit

Size of unit

Unit Number

Military Symbology—Unit Type

xx

• Friendly Force = BLUE

• Enemy Force = RED

33rd Cavalry Division

Type of unit

Size of unit

Unit Number

Unit Size Indicators

Squad Team/Section

Platoon

Company I

Battalion II

Regiment III

Brigade X

Division XX

Corps XXX

Army XXXX

Army GroupXXXXX

• Mass

• Objective

• Unity of Command

• Simplicity

• Economy of Force

MOUSEMOSS

Principles of War

• Maneuver

• O ffense

• Surprise

• Security

Terms

• Center of Gravity (Capitols)

• Culmination– Point in which offense is no longer

viable.

• Offense, Defense, Maneuver

• 3:1

• Reserve Force

Gettysburg Terrain

Major Players

• Buford

• Reynolds

• Hancock

• Meade

• Chamberlain

• Sickles

• Lee

• Longstreet

• Ewell

• Stuart

• Pickett

• AP Hill

• Heth

Fortunes of War(a.k.a. “dumb luck”)

• Jackson KIA Chancellorville

• J.E.B. Stuart’s joy ride

• Neither side had sense of size/loc

Offensive Maneuvers

• Frontal Attack

• Flank Attack

• Echelon Attack

• Envelopment

Tactics

• Napoleonic – massing of firepower– Formations

• Rifled Musket

• Rifled Cannon

• Trench warfare (defense)

• Pickets

• Skirmish lines

Weaponry

• Rifled Musket– French Mini Ball

• Rifled Cannon– Solid– Shell– Case– Canister

• Breech Loaders• Cartridge Ammo• Gatlin Gun

USA Order of Battle

CSA Order of Battle

Day 0(Chance Encounter)

• Union Calvary looking for Lee’s Army• Notice some Confederate soldiers north

of Gettysburg• Gettysburg key terrain• Occupies northern high ground and

sends word to Meade• Union consolidate on high ground and

wait for reinforcements

Day I(CSA favor)

• Buford (Cavalry w/breechloaders!)

• Avoid large engagement

• Ewell given option to continue attackdoesn’t

• Union consolidate on high ground and wait for reinforcements

10:00 AM

11:30 AM

Tactics Exercise I

• Analyze Terrain

• Consider Weapons

• Consider what is known about the enemy

• Your first move?

Your Course of Actionvs

The Real World

Day 2(Draw)

• Not allowed to shift right

• Echelon attack not synched

• Ewell not ready until after sunset

• Fishhook• High Ground• Little Round

Top

AM

4:00 PM

4:00 PM

5:30 PM

6:30 PM

6:30 PM

Little Round Top

• Chamberlain

• 6 waves

• 60 rnds per man

• Union flank exposed

• Unconventional Tactic

• Medal of Honor Award

Day 3 (US)

• 7 hr slugfest (am)

• Cannon battle (2 hrs)– 140 miles

• Confederates concentrate on center

• Pickett’s Charge– 12,000– 1 mile in the open– 75% casualty rate

Significance• Gettysburg last time Confederate Army able

to go on the strategic offensive (invade)Culmination point for the South.

• No hope of foreign recognition after loss.

• Meade allows Lee to withdraw and not pursuefighting goes on for another 2 years.

• Provided Lincoln with a big psychological win

Conclusion(notecard)

• It surprised me to learn…

• How does Leadership, Tactics, and Terrain influence battles?

• What did you like about today’s class?