What If You Had Been At Gettysburg? – Commentary by Dr. Paul E. Bellino

What if you had been at Gettysburg with the knowledge you now have, being able to look back on the outcome of events? I venture to say that the fortunes of war would have favored the Army of Northern Virginia. Let us conjecture for a moment that on the roster of officers of General Robert E. Lee's staff in the Summer of 1863, we find your battle honored name.

It is about three o'clock, the afternoon of July 3, 1863, you are at the field command post of General James Longstreet, General Alexander, Longstreet's artillery commander has entered the strategy session and informs us that after a two hour artillery duel between the Confederate batteries on Seminary Ridge and the Union batteries on Cemetery Ridge, a slackening of fire has been noted from the Union lines. It is at that point that General Lee orders General Longstreet to muster the flower of the Confederate Army. He plans to have Major General George E. Pickett make a bold frontal attack of 15,000 men upon the Union center at Cemetery Ridge. This will be done in concert with an attack made by General Longstreet's force of 30,000 men upon the left flank of the Union center, these are the positions of Big Round-Top and Little Round-Top.

Meanwhile, the "Eyes of the Army", Major General James Ewell Brown Stuart, better known as the famed cavalry general, "JEB" Stuart, will attack the rear of the Union center from the north and join forces with Generals Pickett and Longstreet; thereby, tearing to shreds the main force of Union General George G. Meade's Army of the Potomac. This demoralizing blow General Lee intends to inflict and give as a bargaining tool to President Jefferson Davis which he may use to sue for peace between the two nations at war.

Fortunately, at this moment you obtain information from a spy that the Union cavalry under Generals Pleasanton and Custer is in position to stop General Stuart's northern approach to the rear of the Union center. This would cause Pickett's charge to be a grand failure. However, this is not the only obstacle in the way of victory this summer day, because you have also learned that the position of General Longstreet's troops was recently discovered by Union General Sickles in command of the Round-tops. He has been warned of this by his engineering officer, General Warren, that a large concentration of Confederate troops are located in Pitzer's Woods at the foot of Seminary Ridge, for he has observed the flashes of bayonets in the sun. Therefore, General Sickles has sent 250 sharpshooters to hold off a coordinated attempt upon the Round-tops and the Union center.

After you present this information General Lee slightly revises his initial plan for the ensuing battle. As it was originally planned General Pickett is to attack the Union center. General Longstreet is to take the Round-tops and General Stuart is to make an attack on the Union rear, but he will approach the enemy from south of the Round-tops. First, General Stuart is to attack and destroy the sharpshooters who are on their way to detain General Longstreet's attack on the Round-tops; second, he is to withdraw in a feint to Pitzer's Woods, and then go south out of the woods and at full gallop proceed due east to his destination...the rear of the Union center for a joint effort at the disintegration of the Federal Army.

At about three o'clock that afternoon General Lee realizes the success of his revised plans. Brigadier General Lewis A. Armistead under General Pickett's command with 10,000 of the 15,000 man force making the frontal attack on the Union center leads the initial break of the Union lines by turning the very cannons around that were firing upon him and his men. Mortally wounded, General Armistead places his hat on his sword, and raises it high in the air and yells, "Give 'em the steel" and the Confederacy presses to victory on Yankee soil.

Union Generals Sickles and Warren die at the hands of General Longstreet's troops in their sweeping attack on the Round-tops. Joined at the left center of the Union lines by his subordinate General Pickett, General Longstreet fresh from his devastating victory of the Union left flank was timely greeted by the youthful face of "JEB" Stuart behind a heavy beard. With the Union front rolled up by General Pickett, its left flank made non-existent by General Longstreet, and the rear pierced by General Stuart those of the Union right flank under General Thomas, are routed and force General George G. Meade to surrender to General Robert E. Lee at dawn on July 4, 1863.

Truly, this July 4th is worthy to be placed historically beside July 4, 1776, for on this day is effected by a victorious contest of arms the independence of the Confederate States of America....and thereby, the preservation of the Constitution in practice as the Founders intended....along with the principles of the Declaration of Independence intact.

"The saddest words of tongue or pen, are these, 'It might have been.'"
(Author Unknown)

However, consider these words of Holy Scripture, and take full assurance for we and those of our Southern forebears "are more than conquerors through Him that loved us," the Lord Jesus Christ, our Saviour: "For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: And this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?" (1 John 5:4-5) Amen! Praise be to God for His unspeakable gift!!!

By His grace,
Dr. Paul E. Bellino

Dr. Bellino is the Chaplain for the Activism Seminars held by the Georgia Heritage Council.