Addressing Gettysburg- The Gettysburg Shoe Myth with Scott Hartwig

Great episode as always!

I was surprised there was little discussion about how AP Hill was a novice at corps command at Gettysburg and many of the Confederate mistakes on July 1st (and on July 2-3) could be blamed on Hill. Hill seems like a non-player for the remainder of the battle and Lee gives command of the assault on July 3 to Longstreet, not Hill, despite 2/3 of the force coming from Hill's corps.

I would argue that Reynolds swiftly and ably brought his 1st Corps onto the field, but Reynolds's actions during the short time he was on the battlefield was most unimpressive. He should have managed the deployment of his divisions, especially his 1st Division, rather than leading individual companies and regiments into the fight (which results in his death). As a result, the 1st Division is easily flanked on the right side by Davis's brigade, and in the process decimates Cutler's brigade, imperiling the entire corps.

Good episode

I could listen to Scott all day long. I actually took notes on Heth and Buford. Great stuff.

The Confederates were there to rob, kill, and steal anything that wasn't nailed down. It's not hard to believe they were there to steal shoes and anything else that wasn't nailed down.

Watching the first part of this got me thinking if anyone has ever written a history about the Gettysburg Battlefield guides.

If anyone hasn’t, well there you go!

Another fruitful topic for a Gettysburg history (or PhD Dissertation).

Aloha 😊🤙🏼

Terrific interview. Thank you both.

Putting on my Gettysburg Movie nerd cap, the line that kept running through my head through this interview: "Things will get out of control, Mr. Heath. That is why we have orders. Perhaps you misunderstood them?" And then almost in the next breath, Lee says, "I cannot understand what has happened to General Stuart. I have heard nothing. Do you understand me, sir? I have no idea what lies in front of me. It may be the entire Federal army!"

They came looking for shoes, and anything else they could get their hands on.

I read about the 'Marsh Creek Skirmish', which happened on June 26th 1863, the same day the rebels raided Gettysburg for supplies. Confederates encountered Pennsylvania State Cavalry & Militia between Cashtown and Gettysburg, and after a brief skirmish they took a few hundred of them prisoners. The rebels ultimately let them go, but before they did they confiscated the PA state militias' newly issued boots and muskets.
Maybe it was this type of 'shoe shopping' that Heth had in mind on July 1, they did think it was state militia in Gettysburg, even after Pettigrew reported the presence of union cavalry. It seems plausible that they would send a small force into Gettysburg to overpower the supposed 'state militia' and steal their boots, guns and rations...but.....it wasn't PA State Cavalry...it was Buford, and a bit later...the Iron Brigade!