A Virginia Cavalryman on Why Pickett's Charge Failed

Rehashing the outcome of Civil War battles emerged as a favorite pastime of veterans long after the fighting ended. They were not alone—this is a common practice following any conflict. The failure of Pickett’s Charge prompted many soldiers to offer opinion and analysis. They include Capt. William Augustine Morgan of the 1st Virginia Cavalry. Here’s his thoughts.

[francisebbecke]

I understand George Pickett was asked why he thought the charge failed. Pickett responded with, "I always thought the Yankees had something to do with it."

[georgeedward]

I've walked the Pickett's Charge field and it's hard to imagine the Confederates NOT being sitting ducks on that ground.

[phillipnagle]

Perhaps one should ask the question, when did Lee ever win a major battle by a direct frontal assault? He had tried one earlier in the war at Malvern Hill and was easily repulsed. He had seen the absolute futility of a Union frontal assault at Fredericksburg. Pickett's charge was just a bad mistake.

[MrThebirddog]

I walked the ground of the charge. It never had a chance, it was way to far out in the open and the blame can only be put on Granny Lee.

[hansg]

It's easy to forget the lack of any battlefield communication beyond: bugles, runners, signal flags and yelling, all of which were diminished or rendered useless in the noise and smoke of battle. However, that still does not excuse the known futility of attacking a fortified position uphill, over open ground.

[charlesjames]

The same reason Burnside failed at Fredericksburg. Infantry didn’t stand a chance against well entrenched riflemen and artillery, given a clear field of fire and competently lead.

[althesmith]

Alexander Hunter, a Confederate soldier, wrote in his recollections "The madness of Pickett's charge! It was superb- like the charge of Balaclava; but it was not war."

[wecandobetter]

The frontal attack was doomed from the start for many reasons. One overlooked fact was new fuses burned longer than previous once causing most of the cannon fire to fall harmlessly in rear of Union artillery and troops. Once the charge began the north cannon fire did its ghastly deed. The courage to walk across is something that amazes me

[hyacinthlynch]

Pickett never forgave Lee, and years later said, "That old man had my division slaughtered."

[billstapleton]

Pickett's charge was an ill-conceived idea just as, the Union attacking the South at Fredericksburg. There was no way Pickett was going to breach the fixed position of the union. The Union was not going to breach the stone wall at Fredericksburg. Both were mistakes made by the commanders that cost too many lives.

[romandacil]

I looked over Pickett's Charge from both sides of the field and thought that it was suicidal. Advance teams should have started out at midnight to clear the obstacles in between (fence rails) and the rest should have advance well before dawn to get as close as possible to make it harder for Union artillery to target them. That would have lessened the ods against them but they still would have been beaten back though with fewer losses.

[robertcraig]

The gentleman believed that if the attack had been made earlier the Union forces would not have been ready. It's my understanding that they were dug in and waiting. The previous evening it had been discussed by the Union commanders and all were in agreement that the next attack would be in the center. I believe no matter what time the attack was delivered it would have failed.

[dadsongs]

I love the format of your presentation. We can "armchair general" until the cows come home, but their words stand as a testimony to what they experienced, and how they chose to remember it. Keep up the great work.

[frednone]

The one thing that always gets ignored is Sixth Corp. It was largely unengaged in the battle and was 16, 000 men strong and was sitting right in the middle behind the Union Line. The Union could have suffered one to one losses in Picket's Charge and the AoP could have just moved up Sixth Corp and they would have been as strong as at the beginning of the charge, or had they penetrated the line would have been in position to counterattack instantly.

[brianmacadam]

I walked the battlefield one week-end, the terrain of Pickett's charge was an offensive nightmare. I can't imagine ANYONE would have planned that assault. I walked the entire thing in late summer ( not particularly hot ) it seemed that the defence had all the advantages. Those that made to the wall would have been dehydrated, fatigued, and shocked by the violence that had been directed on them. Lee had let his calvary get away form the battle ( loosing and important force ) and was believed a single major win could force a negotiated peace; that was a folly given the devastation that had been dealt with on both sides.

[salanzaldi]

Longstreet tried to warn Lee the charge wouldn't work but Lee wouldn't listen.

[philokevetch]

This narrative of history is truly inspiring. Thank you. We must not forget these battles and the men and women who fought them.

[danielsprouls]

Deciding whether to attack early or to wait until your stronger later, meanwhile your enemy may be getting stronger, is a dilemma comanders have always faced. There is never one right answer, only a commander's best guess. War isn't a chess game where every man is ready and fully equipped at all times.

[robkunkel]

My first visit with this site. Love the use of the same photo throughout. It was a good one. You could see John Morgan as a sheriff. I love the detailed description of his regiment at the end. “Pride in accomplishment is hard to silence.” Rob Kunkel, St. Thomas VI 🌴

[chestersleezer]

Yup, Pickett got it right when he said "I always thought the Yankees had something to do with it". Lee took what amounted to a division and a half worth of troops and pushed them right smack into a heavily defended position backed up with artillery. Oh and this was across a wide stretch of open ground as in over a mile stretch of open ground.