RETREAT FROM GETTYSBURG 

The logistics of an army in the field has always fascinated me and this is an excellent example of how complex and difficult it was just moving men, equipment and supplies.

For all who enjoy this film, based on Mr. Brown's book on Lee's retreat from Gettysburg, please note that the companion volume, a command study of General George Gordon Meade at Gettysburg, will be published in spring of 2021!!

This Documentary is a Gem. I've been obsessed with the Civil War my entire life. 40 Years now. Clear and Concise, I've watched this 5 or 6 times already. Reminds you that the War was far from over and that the killing never stops. These Armies faced logistical nightmare's and I can barely wrap my mind around the fact that they pulled these movements off. Wagon trains that are 20 or 30 miles long end to end moving terribly wounded men in agony with horses dropping dead left and right. I could only imagine what a Turnpike looked like one or two hours after a convoy ran through. Smells and sights....... I wish I could find something like this in regards to the March towards Gettysburg.

I have watched this many times. Can never get enough. Well done.

I’ve often thought Lees retreat from Gettysburg was one of the most Masterful military Operations in American history!

Can’t believe I’m just now finding this. This is a great documentary!

Absolutely 1 of the few masterfully written, accurately detailed, and presented works on the Civil War. Having studied all histories since 1965, this literally brings it to life it's so superbly done.

I drive the roads described from Williamsport - Hagerstown - Gettysburg, all the time. I had no idea of the extent of the fighting and maneuvering that took place there. I guess things are overshadowed by Antietam's proximity. I met Mr. Brown when he came to Winchester and gave a talk at the Old Courthouse Civil War Museum. He was a true gentleman and engaging speaker. These films are excellent!

You have to watch this six or seven times. Like the battle itself, Kent doesn't stop forcing the march on the narrative. Still brilliant of course.

Outstanding documentary. I've been to Gettysburg many times. This part of the campaign is largely overlooked. An incredible operation. The determination and grit of the men of both armies are beyond admirable. The contributions of the horses during campaign can't be understated. Again, very well done and thank you for a fine piece of work.

I can't get enough of these documentaries. Lee was a master of movement. He had a network to help him. Meade still catches flak for not pursuing Lee more aggressively. He knew Lee had thought of putting up defensive screens. And Once again Custer shows up in yet another battle. This man was all over the place. He wasn't even supposed to be in East Cavalry field. But he was.

I'm from Sweden but I've been fascinated by the American civil war since I was a young boy, I watched North and South with Patrick Swayze on Tv and since then I've been stuck. Amazing film/documentary. Please make more of these, absolutly briliiant.

That was absolutely fantastic. Excellent detailed history lesson. Thank you!

This book by Ken has after my beginning the study in 1955 has been placed into my Top 25 Civil War books including Bruce Catton, Shelby Foote, Edwin Bearss, James McPherson, American Heritage Photograpib and Pictorial History with Bruce Catton, Edwin Bearss's Vicksburg Campaign series including Confederate Victoria at Vicksburg his trilogy, the National Geographic Vicksburg and Gettysburg, many volumes of Longstreet's staff officers the best privately for family edited and released by Gary Gallagher.

Thank you for these great documentaries. I started with Daniel Boone and find my thirst for American History that I had as a kid , rekindled by such inspiring work. I have family in Civil War history and believe it’s sacred .

This is amazing and incredibly complex. Living and growing up in this area there is very little that i have seen about this with this level of detail. THank you

Wow! This is done incredibly well. I need more documentaries like this in my life.

Wow love this documentary! Never really heard or read about his retreat

It's a shame that Meade's memory was maligned so badly especially during the war. Meade was being prudent but he did vigorously pursue Lee. Caution isn't timidity.

I find it helpful and more engaging looking at Google maps with the terrain feature while watching video. I get a much better sense of the distances and understanding of the terrain they had to move around.

I love how the states the units engaged were from, is stated in this documentary. To many Civil War documentary's mention only Union or Confederate, living in North Carolina, I learned of the enormous sacrifice that North Carolinians gave during the war. All of the states suffered, they should always be remembered for what they did, and not lumped together as just Northern or Southern.

This is the most FACTUAL video about the Civil War, that I have had the honor to view. Thank you for the explicit narrating. Every American High School child should be Required to watch this video. I had Family, on both sides at Gettysburg. May we Never do this ever again in the USA Constitutional REPUBLIC! Amen?

Another great educational documentary from Kent Masterson Brown.War is always terrible but this war was awful because sometimes brother against brother.I have a letter my paternal great grandfather wrote home dated november 1863. In the letter he writes about seeing a confederate spy being hung.He said it was a hard site.I read in his obituary that he was a teamster and at some point he contracted a disease that caused his death in 1908.He declined going to the hospital but wanted to stay with his friends.I always thought that probably saved his life at that time.My brother did some research and found out from the outfit he was in ( company "D" 66th Indiana volunteers) commanded by a General Dodge that they ended up going with Shermans march to the sea. The letter was written from their camp near Polanski,Tenn.

Many laudatory comments on the quality and content of this documentary excellence. But god, the impossible, unjustifiable consequence, the suffering and loss of war, on an inhuman scale, only to be repeated through centuries to come...When will we ever learn.

Thanks for sharing this interesting and informative documentary, having been involved with moving small to medium sized military units and formations in peacetime I can appreciate how difficult and extraordinarily well executed Lee’s plan was, he seemed to have thought of everything, and quickly as well, probably one of the best fighting retreats ever. 😀👍🇬🇧🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

This is a fantastic Documentary. If you are a Civil War Nut like myself looking for a fix of new information. This is really good. I'm so glad I came across this. Bless Everyone........ Preserve and Protect our History Please.

Amazing informative insights as to Lee's retreat. Never had heard such detail. Thankyou

My great-great-grandfather George C. Powell, 20th NC, was in the first day's fighting. The 20th suffered 65% casualties---killed, wounded, captured---and the survivors were placed in reserve. On the third day, when Pickett's charge failed, Lee decided against sending his reserves in a second charge. As a result, George Powell survived and participated in the withdrawal presented here. He was at Appomattox, Virginia on April 9, 1865, when Lee surrendered. After being paroled, he began a long walk to his home in Columbus County, NC. A few years later he moved his family to Middleburg, Florida.

Thanks for this video -- I have never heard of all the Retreat from Gettysburg-- this is really great!

Extraordinarily well done, brilliant

Very good program!!!

Great production.

The retreat from Gettysburg refers to the movement of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia led by General Robert E. Lee following the Battle of Gettysburg during the American Civil War. The Battle of Gettysburg, fought from July 1 to 3, 1863, was a significant turning point in the war and marked a decisive Union victory. After three days of intense fighting and heavy casualties, General Lee's Confederate forces were defeated by General George G. Meade's Union Army. Lee faced the difficult decision of retreating his army back to Virginia. The retreat from Gettysburg took place from July 4 to 14, 1863, as Lee's army withdrew from Pennsylvania and crossed the Potomac River. During the retreat, both sides engaged in skirmishes and minor clashes, but no large-scale battles occurred. General Meade's pursuit of Lee was cautious, and he did not press the attack aggressively. The harsh weather, difficult terrain, and exhaustion also hampered both armies. The retreat effectively ended the Gettysburg Campaign and resulted in the Confederate Army's return to Virginia. The Battle of Gettysburg and its aftermath were a significant setback for the Confederacy, and many historians view it as a turning point in the Civil War, as it marked the beginning of a gradual shift in momentum in favor of the Union. The retreat from Gettysburg demonstrated the challenges and hardships faced by both armies during the war and highlighted the importance of logistics, terrain, and strategic decision-making in military campaigns.

This is one of most epic military movements in all of history.

i have always said this the retreat from Gettysburg was lees greatest achievement of the war to get back across to Virginia allowed the war to continue another 22 months after such a defeat that was taken from the jaws of victory

This was very well done, I enjoyed it! I think I’ll follow up and buy the book.

God Bless these efforts. I fought at Gettysburg. I was the third Confederate over the angle on the third day. They made a poster of us jumping the stone wall in 1992. I fought in the hand to hand combat as we tried to seize the cannon and turn them on the Yanks. I was stabbed. I was clubbed. I twisted and turned and joined the retreat. I bled. I lived to return to my Virginia. I watched my brother fall. We were fighting for our rats.

This was an excellent presentation.

I nave read that Lincoln was furious with Meade for pulling back to Washington instead of pursuing Lee’s army.

Pure genius how Lee, and his army successfully retreated from Gettysburg, while being harassed the entire time.

This video is great. I've been interested in the War of Northern Aggression since I was a child. I never saw anything about Lee's retreat from Gettysburg and just figured they just rode back to VA. I've watched this video at least half a dozen times. THANK YOU for producing this! It's very well done.

Loved the vid. Pure class. Thanx

This was fantastic! Great visuals as well as commentary. Thank you

Best documetary i've seen on the subject.

Incredible documentary.

This was great.

This is the best documentary that I've ever seen,

This guy sounds a bit like Jimmy Stewart, oddly enough.

Wow! This is a great vid!! Lee's retreat from Gettysburg is something I never studied...

That was a brilliant retreat by Robert E. Lee.

Excellent production value

Between 1-2 million horses and mules died in the civil war. The average life expectancy of the horse on the battle field was 7 months

Thank you. I never knew escape of Lee’s army from Gettysburg was as formidable as the three day battle. Where is the report of such battle and honor on both sides in our history?

Excellent documentary- Bravo!

The irony was that it was a lot harder getting "out" of Pennsylvania than it was getting in...

Wow well done, I had no idea of all of this! Thank you.

They say! That when Lee left out of Gettysburg.... The silence was haunting.. for the screaming wounded men dying on the Battle Field.. But John Mosby was waiting for Lee on the South side of the Patomic.

Great video that I use on my classroom along with A Teenager’s Guide to the Civil War: A History Book for Teens.

Unbelievable presentation

Great doc sad to think that the war could have been over there if Meade had pressed the issue and attacked. What a gaff!

To say that Lee had an army chasing him is a large overstatement. The union had lost a lot of men and a lot of officers and needed time before they would be ready to engage the rebels. They were not chasing the Confederate forces. Not immediately at least.

George Pickett was overcome with rage and confronted Lee. Lee told him he should see to his brigade. He famously said, " General Lee! I have no brigade!".

Excellent overview! thanks!

I’m sure Lee wondered if he maybe should have accepted Lincoln’s offer to command the northern army but his two sons had already committed to the south so he was under pressure to go with the confederacy. Also a true Virginian. The agrarian south was doomed to lose in the long run.

i had no idea the south could build and transport a huge bridge like that.

Thank you for the history of America. The saddest part, beside the deaths, is Americans fought Americans.

Fantastic! Film needs to be remastered and the audio re-mixed and mastered. An amazing true story very well done. I always wanted to know what happened after the battle.

This is so well written.

great documentary pard - going to save this one to mp3 to listen on my next wagon (car) ride *LIKED* and *SUBSCRIBED*

Lee was truly a great general

History is full of tragic war wounds

Well done!

I live in Waynesboro pa, there was a rumor that Gen. Lee watered his horse Traveler in the center of town. The army came threw town.

General Lee appears to have used Gen. George Washington's strategy at the Battle of Long Island. My 5th Great-grandfather, Capt. Edward Dimmick, was one of those forming a rear guard tasked with holding off greatly superior English forces while the rest of the Revolutionary Army evacuated across the East River under cover of darkness. They kept campfires burning through the night to give the impression that the entire army was still there. As more soldiers evacuated, the rear guard grew smaller and more vulnerable should the English realize what was afoot. Washington remained with the rear guard, having promised not to leave until all the rest of the army was safely evacuated. My grandfather was with Washington until the last moment, shortly after sunrise, when Washington and he stepped onto the last boat to leave the island.

If Meade had made an aggressive movement late on July 3rd or early on July 4th before Lee, got his forces moving South. Another big Fight would have taken place that could have gone either way. Lee was severely damaged, but Meade's Union Army was also hit very hard and was in no condition to move immediately and challenge Lee's retreat. By refusing to Move and allowing Lee to get on down the road. Meade ensured the War would continue on. But by lashing out at the grievously wounded animal that was in pain and on the run, he made have averted his own disaster.

158 years ago...time flies

Great content and a fantastic delivery and voice by the narrator thereof.

Great info

This is a good even handed video, no side favored. I reckon the author& narrator being from Lexington,KY. helps in that case, seeing that Kaintuck was neutral at the start of the War. But then had men who fought for both sides, the Union having slightly more percentage wise than the Confederates. Usually the only time a "Civil War" video is non biased is when a foreigner is the narrator. But then again, if their "WOKE" watch out.

Any general can win a battle, a great general win a retreat...

This video is so excellent, I’m on my 3rd viewing, 😊 I kinda wonder, how Mr Lincoln would’ve reacted to this information, knowing how he insulted General Meade, obviously needlessly . Have y’all done anything on The battle of Chickamauga?

The retreat is far more interesting than the battle

Lee was that kind of leader after such a battle they went on following if it had been Longstreet hood or any of the others this might have finished it

very well done

Being an engineering majo my knowledge pf history is lacking,and O am very appreciative of the opportunity you gave me to expand it somewhat. If possible I do have a question why did Gen. Meade not send scouts to shadow The Confederates with runners linked to communicate? Was this not feasible? Also, why did Meade not give chase with his army.I have read that President Lincoln was very unhappy that he didn't, nut have never found an accurate account of Meade's reason. Ad I enjoy history anyone knowledgeable please comment.❤The speaker was very good he held my suspense for the entire video , but I suspect its several years old.

Bravo!

32:13 - "Kill Cavalry" (so called by his troopers for his general lack of concern for their safety) and Custer did not see eye to eye, or so it is told, and Sherman called the future governor of New Jersey, "a hell of a dammed fool." Sherman, however, judged him to be just the sort of cavalry commander to help make Georgia howl. He was.

Did not know that Jimmy Stewart did narrations.

Well Lee’s retreat from Gettysburg can be debated from several different viewpoints. First off Meade did not immediately pursue him, but waited several days before doing so. And that arguably was one of the biggest mistakes of the war for the union. Certainly it infuriated Lincoln, and was responsible for him making General Grant the Union army commander. And since Lee was allowed to recross the Potomac river and get safely back to more friendly territory, it enabled the war to continue for several more years.

Some say it wasn't about slavery but about an economic struggle between North and South. Edmund Ruffin was a Mississippi plantation and slave owner and he was allowed to touch off the first cannon shot against Fort Sumter.

What Does It Mean When They Say Form The Line At Right Angles?

Great!

Hey Colonel, Great episode, I recently found your channel and have been binging ever since. I live in Toronto Canada so the only people who carry firearms are bad guys and police so I love hearing tales of vigilante justice in the wild west. Unfortunately under our communists government has done everything it possible can to demoralize and disarm our population and now you have 33,000,000,000 sheep living next door. Anyway....thanks for the great content!!! P.S....You sound exactly like Tyrus from the WWE, I fact that's what caught my ear when I first heard you. Please accept that as a compliment 😁

4:35 Good thing he had Meade pursuing him.

Lee's entire Army of Northern Virginia was 58 miles long counting the wounded train, hospital train, supply train, artillery trains, and Cavalry and Infantry men marching. This also includes the ambulatory wounded men not riding in suppy wagons and ambulances. 58 miles and a flooding Potomac River. How many of you Fool's realize that Eastern Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland and ports of later West Virginia and Virginia had suffered from droughts lasting much more than a year, the June and July temperatures of the entire campaign reached 100+° and therefore when it rained at Gettysburg the grounds were too hard to soak but the movement of so much wagonry turned crap roads to mud and the ford's across the Potomac River were flooded and the worst move that Lee did was failure to leave enough troops to protect his pontoon bridges. Only 200 men protected each and I believe that roughly 3,000 green troops marched out from Washington DC and destroyed the entry points of the bridges. Justice Scheibert a Prussian observer assisted with directions to fix the bridge as he was an engineer

It still amazes me how Lee's usual strategic judgement failed him thinking his Confederate army were superior to the Federal army under Meade. Lee's belief in the hubris of the Confederate fighting ability was part of his undoing along with JEB Stuart's failure in providing battlefield intelligence of the Federal defensive positions.

It should be noted that the union medical corps treated the wounded confederates as best they could. To mistreat a wounded enemy who could not defend himself was considered cowardly by most soldiers. The civil war was fought, in general, by a code of honor that sadly exists only in diminished form today.

ANOTHER WOW! I have wondered for a number of years about lee's retreat, AND FOUND LITTLE ON IT. THIS WAS JUST FULL OF INFORMATION. THIS WAS THE GENIUS OF LEE AND HIS SUPPORTING GENERALS. BUT IT WAS THE SOLDIER WHO STOOD HIS GROUND THAT MADE IT A SUCCESS. iT WAS TOO BAD PRESIDENT LINCOLN DID NOT SEE THE GENIURS OF MEADE'S EFFORTS AGAINST THE WEATHER AND HIS STARVING HORSES AND MEN THAT WERE PUSHED BEYOND ENDURANCE. I STILL WONDER HOW MANY DIED OF WOUNDS, DISEASE AND BATTLE IN THE RETREAT. IS THERE ANY NUMBERS FOR THAT?

Halleck's role is interesting. How many soldier had Halleck in Washington DC? I think the first cavalry attact would have been stronger if Halleck sent a divison infantry with artillery to help Mead's cavalry! Lee should have bigger measures to hold the Potomac's bridgehead. Halleck fantasic mistake was at Corinth in 1862 not to attact, but Grant got information through the railroad expert the train came empty to Corinth!

"Draw the enemy to us, and then smash them" said Lee. After picketts charge was smashed, lee wanted the enemy to do the same costly frontal attack that he was "drawn into".