July 1st at Gettysburg, Harry Heth vs. John Buford: Arrogance and Inexperience against Experience and Cunning Ability

3 responses to “July 1st at Gettysburg, Harry Heth vs. John Buford: Arrogance and Inexperience against Experience and Cunning Ability”

1. James Whitehead

   July 2, 2023 at 08:28

   Dear Sir:

   The record does not show Heth as arrogant. In fact, the limited casualties suggest that very little real fighting was done. Heth advanced without cavalry; deployed his division to avoid anf surprises and Bluford fell back before the advance. I see no reason to disparage one side with slurs that have no basis regarding the generalship.

   Jim

   Sent from Mailhttps://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=550986 for Windows

   Reply
   • padresteve

     July 2, 2023 at 22:28

     Dear Mr. Whitehead,

     At the risk of sounding rude and dismissive, your comments display an ignorance about General Heth and the first day at Gettysburg. I say that he was arrogant because he willfully disobeyed orders not to bring about a general engagement, he, a long with his superior, A.P. Hill ignored the intelligence provided by Johnston Pettigrew the previous night and instead of placing Pettigrew and his brigade who knew the ground at the head of his column, he placed them third in line. Those are not marks of a prudent commander, they are those of an arrogant one.

     Next, you are wrong about the course of the battle. He was not cautious. He only deployed from a column when he encountered the cavalry videttes. Instead of stopping his advance and warning Hill he continued to advance until he ran into Buford’s main body. Buford conducted his defense so well and inflicted enough casualties to force Heth’s units to re-form to attack more than once. His fire and use of his artillery was so good that many of Heth’s soldiers believed them to be infantry.

     Finally, Buford only withdrew when Reynolds’s First Corps withdrew and he was directed to guard his flanks. Of course that is when Heth’s badly commanded Division was mauled. Because Heth got his troops so embroiled he brought on the engagement that Robert E. Lee specifically said to avoid.

     He was inexperienced at handing such a large body of troops in such a critical situation, disobeyed orders, ignored intelligence, and when he realized his mistake he continued on. But of course what can one expect from a man who like his cousin George Pickett graduated last in his class at West Point?

     Sincerely,

     Padre Steve+

     Reply
2. Vic Crain

   July 3, 2023 at 00:47

   This is good, consistent with other pieces I’ve read. It does need editing. Do you want some help?

   Reply