The March to Gettysburg and the Union "Pipe Creek" Plan: Gettysburg 158 Live! 

Today I went to the "Gettysburg and Beyond" Museum north of Gettysburg and who did I run into but Tim Smith. I asked him about the scene in the movie "Gettysburg" where Joshua Chamberlain (Jeff Daniels) gives his impassioned speech to the Maine deserters at Union Mills and asked if indeed the 5th Corp moved through Union Mills. Tim could have shrugged me off and told me to go on RU-vid and watch this video. He did not. He went over all the 5th Corp movements and basically presented this video to me as I stood there. I was in awe. He didn't have to do that as he had work to do at the museum but he took the time to answer all my Gettysburg Battle questions. What a great guy.

Wow. Never thought i'd be so enthralled by an accounting of a march! Tim Smith hit this one outta the park!! ⚾️

I could listen to Tim Smith all day. Great historian.

When I bought my house in Manchester I had no idea my property was right on the Pipe Creek Line until I read about the circular. Ever since then I've wanted to get a large copy of the map to hang in my house with a "You Are Here" sticker to put on Dug Hill. This was a great presentation! There is so much to learn about the battle outside of the park boundaries.

I never thought a video about a battle that never happened could be so interesting. Thanks Tim and Gary!

I could listen to Tim all day

Thanks from the UK to Garry Adelman and the Trust for the great coverage of the Battle of Gettysburg, fascinating stuff! It’s my second year watching!

Nice talk. I think that Tim Smith is Outstanding because of his intellect and heart and style. Keep up the good work!

I work for Carroll County roads and this is the area that i work. As i travel the roads on a daily am always thinking how the battle would have gone off. Love the stoy of Sedgwick force march from Manchester. I know his headquarters was on old fort school house rd. the school is no longer there. But its placement talking to old timmers around there. Was past the farm heading towards Manchester from 27. Like to see you give more information if you please of troop layout in the area. Just cant find anything on it when i explain this to people i work with it blows there mind. How many soldiers did not even make it to Gettysburg from this march. Thanks for all your hard work and knowledge so muuch appreciated. 👍🙏

There are other excellent videos out there, but the American Battlefield Trust team delivers the most consistently excellent presentations. Thanks.

This ranks up there with the best video presentations that the American Battlefield Trust has presented!!!!! Thank you Gary, and especially Tim, for bringing this part of the Gettysburg campaign to us. If any viewers are not members of the Trust, this is the consistent educational content that you can expect. Proud to be a member, looking forward to additional videos in the coming days!

Very illuminating about the place of the big pipe creek plan in the short time from Meade's assumption of command leading up to the battle of Gettysburg. Thank you!

Well done as usual, it is not summer without a Gettysburg commemoration campaign.

The gentleman from the Adams County Historical Society provided a riveting presentation and analysis of the personalities involved and events transpiring in this area leading up to the Gettysburg Battle. A really excellent and informative presentation.

Pipe Creek! Thanks for taking us there and making it a real place! Kent Masterson Brown in his excellent discussion of Meade during this campaign finally puts the pieces together for me on “Why Gettysburg?” Meade it seems was no bungling frightened amateur, as the popular narrative seems to portray him (😡Sickles?!). Rather he is a bold and very skilled, professional soldier, whose main battle plan does not survive first contact with the enemy. Or, should we say, first contact with the back of John Reynold’s head. Thanks for taking us there and let us imagine - looking through George Meade’s eyes - at what might have developed on first contact. And thanks to Kent for meticulously weaving the evidence together for us.

My GGG-grandfather was in the Sixth Corps.

Gary and Tim are definitely keen on the civil war and are experts at teaching what they know about it. It was refreshing to witness Tim having such a good time with this video. (Gary always has a good time. )

Thank you so much! I will never, never tire of watching your channel! I’ve learned so much! Each time I visit Gettysburg I say maybe this is the last time. But no, I need to go back, again!

Thanks from Australia, great presentations. 🇦🇺

FANTASTIC! Never knew about Pipe Creek! Why is this story not told more!?! This guy is great, love his passion. I too wrote unassigned book reports as a kid lol

I think if both forces met at Frizzleburg they'd both be in happy genial agreement for the first time in the entire war - let's all agree to march someplace else so we don't have to saddle future American students and scholars with a dumb name like 'The Battle of Frizzleburg'. Great video, thanks guys!

It's that time of the year again! locked in to the content.

Thanks Tim & Garry. Learning new things about these battles each time y'all have a presentation. CW nerds unite!

Two of my Grandfathers are Captain Henry J Smith of Co. C in the 53rd Pennsylvania, and Jacob D Wolfgang, a Private in Co. E, of the 81st Pennsylvania. Both were in the Wheatfield, in the same brigade that afternoon on the second of July. These are greatly educationally helpful, and every year you produce wonderful tour content for multiple researchers, as descendants including myself. Hopefully an aspiring author and educator myself in the future. Bless your work.

Good timing for this part of the war. To the day!

Great video as usual. I can't get enough Tim Smith and Garry Adelman videos.

I always thought Tim was from around the Philly Delco area. His accent sounds familiar to me cause I'm from there. I learned a couple new things today! Great video guys

This is my weekend , watching all the videos and just purchased Gettysburg The Directors cut blu-Ray and the History Chanel blu-Ray of it as well! I am planning on a all Gettysburg weekend. Great work to all involved,and love your enthusiasm Gary.

Loving the coverage here in Ireland. Top work.

This is one of your best videos of the series!

nice to see the background around the main battle

From York, Pa. Great videos. Love learning the history.

great job you two I just keep learning more and more 👍

A second comment. I view each of Mr. Adelman’s presentations multiple times. I learn something new, and find something new to consider, each time I view Gary’s presentations. Tim Smith is just wonderful. Thank you for helping to keep your our history stay alive and relevant to our lives today.

Newt Gingrich wrote a very entertaining alternate history of the Gettysburg battle in which Lee takes Longstreet's advice and moves around the Union left after the second day of the battle. Lee takes the defensive position along Pipe Creek that Meade had originally intended to occupy. Meade is forced to attack because this puts Lee's army between him and Washington, D.C., resulting in a crushing defeat for the Union.

Informative video on the leadup to those fateful three days at the beginning of July 1863 .... This is material practically never discussed, and it's very informative and helpful in understanding what happened at Gettysburg ... It's very easy for us to find ourselves an arm-chair analyst with the wisdom and clarity of 20/20 hindsight ... The phrase "Fishhook" is a great example to describe the union position on days 2 and 3 in Gettysburg ... It's my understanding that this term was never used at the time of the battle and only came into being long after the smoke had cleared in the post-battle analysis ... Granted Sickles made some very disingenuous statements which most likely started during his recovery from the loss of his leg on the battlefield. Central to his claim was his allegations of Meade's intention to fall back to Pipe Creek and not fight at Gettysburg - (shame on Sickles) ... as far as his orders to move his corps to what he perceived as the high ground to his front - this was done only after repeatedly requesting clarification from Meade of the position his corps was to occupy (as well as the danger posed by the "high ground" beyond his assigned area ... keeping in mind what happened just two months prior at Chancersville) ... Just as it was shameful of Sickles to unjustly attack Meade ... it seems shameful of us to attack Sickles considering recent history (Chancersville) and Meade's ignoring Sickles repeated requests for clarification on his orders ... (What would we have done - in Sickles' shoes at that moment ?) As a side note ... Sickles' blunder moved his corps right into the path of Lee's attack plan ... we can only wonder what the result would have been had the Third Corps not been where it was mistakenly moved ... Hmmm ...

If we aren't careful, American Battlefield Trust will have new battlefields to be held in trust.

You guys are the best!

I used to write reports when I was in 5th and 6th grade too just for fun! I fell in love with the Civil War era when in 5th grade I wrote a report on Robert E. Lee (that was an assigned report for school).

Very good. Tim’s in depth knowledge is riveting.

This is great! I learned something today and able to tie it into what I read in “Stars in their Courses.” Thanks guys

I am from north east india i studied history at college and always been fascinated with united states and i am fan of of united states in every way except i support french national football team at international level and Tottenham Hotspur club for the weekend ..

Brilliant move by Meade. A preemptive defensive line knowing he might just scap it if need be. And let's not forget the Brilliant defensive fish hook line set up by the union at gettysburgh but I'm sure that will be talked about tomorrow. Thanks gary and tim. I'll be here the whole way. Two best civil war men ever. Southern Ontario canada nerd. 🤓

Dan groom wasn't the fish hook complete on day two when Sickles moved and left the line vulnerable and Warren hastily got troops to little round top with Vincent and chamberlain. And like I mentioned before Meade made those defenseses at pipe creek your write he may have wanted to fight there but was willing to march if the battle was elsewhere. Anyway thanks for the reply

This is great! Thanks gents

I used to live just a little ways up Old Hanover Rd. My kids waded in the creek and my son proposed to his bride on the bridge in the background of the video.

I love this channel, thank you for all you do!!!

I get a Hugh kick out of Gary. God bless his enthusiasm.

Excellent!

Huzzah for General Meade, the greatest general in the US Civil War!!

Fantastic Video as always!

This was a question that I was asking when Tim was on with Addressing Gettysburg. I think if Lee consolidated the army on the first, would still have clung to a South Mountain retreat plan and I was thinking that we might have been looking at a July 2nd Battle of Emmitsburg, or Frederick.

Enjoy this a lot. I leave near the Kennesaw mountain battlefield park and someone vandalized the Illinois monument. That is horrible

making history live - thanks guys

Love you guys❤️🇺🇸☮️💓☮️🇺🇸❤️

Tim’s account of General Meade has me thinking that all of Meade’s experience as an engineer (he designed and built how many lighthouses, some are still standing!) influenced his approach to battlefield strategy and tactics.

Meade's Pipecreek circular seems to embody a strategy of attack in strength and defend in depth. Let's not forget that cemetery ridge was, itself, a fallback position. The first day battle was west of Gettysburg in the Oak Hill area. If we’re going to play “what if” what if the what turned out to be the “first day” had been a decisive Union victory? Would Meade and Buford then been criticized for planning in advance a fallback position to cemetery ridge? Respectfully, WS

Nicely done!

Very interesting to a son of Westminster from 1948 to 1974. Is there a Battlefield Trust episode on the so called Westminster battle with General Stuart while awandering? P.S. I also appreciated hearing the Baltimorian accent.

Great commentary about the Pipe Creek line. I hope you will do a video about the Confederate retreat to Falling Waters, another neglected part of the battle.

Pipe Creek sounds like a Pipe Dream. Fortunately the Union had nearly four corps nearer to Gettysburg. Lee would have been too exposed if he led troops toward Manchester. He preferred to use mountains as a shield to disguise movements. When Lee discovered Union troops were in Frederick,he wanted to get his divisions behind The Cashtown gap. Gettysburg had several road junctions that could be used to move men and materials. And Union troops could use many of those roads to join in battle.

Not sure about anyone else when visiting Gettysburg, but something feels different when out on the battlefield. The way it has been preserved has a strange quietness that is hard to explain. In certain parts there are no businesses, no roads and very oddly the air feels different.

Thanks . Do u guys do any Vietnam history

So good 😊

I wrote unassigned book reports also. I would give what I wrote to Father Robinson (civil war buff priest) - fr Robinson was a meade fan- also. Fr Robinson was from Alabama and went to seminary in Maryland . He gave me my first book about the battle of Gettysburg and highlighted every mention of Wilcox brigade and wash artillery- my paternal side relatives service. 8 Alabama company I emerald guard-

One of the more interesting “what ifs” is “What if Longstreet had his way, and the Confederate troops had positioned themselves on the Pipe Creek line? Would there have been another Fredericksburg?

John Sedgwick checking in here, I’d like more information on the greatest Corp of the Civil War, the 6th. 😀

Wow the pipe creek land is the prelude plans for Gettysburg WOW

Hooker had the army concentrated around Frederick. Ewell's move to Carlisle and York feinted a threat to Harrisburg and set up a move south on Baltimore and DC. Meade moved the army on a broad front to cover the approaches from Hanover and Gettysburg, which were Lee's two best options for concentrating his army for a move south. Pepe Creek was therefore the best natural position on the map for Meade to defend against the two possibilities. Unsure of where Lee's main body was located, Meade pushed forward his left wing under Reynolds to Gettysburg to find it. Reynolds was then supposed to retire into his position on the left flank of the Pipe Creek line. However, Lee could have then moved south on the Emmitsburg Rd. and would have easily turned Reynolds' position, or just bypassed it and proceeded to Frederick, threatening DC, at which he could dig in behind the Monocacy River and wait for Meade to attack him. Lee's maneuvers had put Meade on the horns of a dilemma and Pipe Creek was Meade's solution to the problem. Reynolds took the decision out of Meade's hands by forcing the action at Gettysburg. It then became a matter of which army could concentrate the fastest and Meade won the race.

Meade had learned from Glendale, and Malvern Hill back in 1862 which went down today and tomorrow

Including the v corps sykes among them is the 20me and the Vincent brigade, first Div 3,Rd brigade

Did he forget to tell Slocum or did the messenger get lost? Why was Slocum so adamant to follow the Pipe Creek Circular?

Hi Gary ... I enjoy your explanations and insight on the Civil war and it seems like you you'd want to remain neutral on what caused the War. Since you have so much knowledge about the Civil war I think one day you should make an episode about your personal feelings and belief as to why this horrific event happened in American history. Thank you

What about Stewart's skirmish at Cooksville, Howard county Md, just prior to Westminster. That too was a delaying action whhich kept Stewart from GB on time.

I firmly believe Grant to be the best general in American history, but Meade doesn’t get a fraction of the credit he deserves.

Meade is incredibly underrated

He used the principles he developed in the Pipe Creek circular and transferred them to Cemetery Ridge, in my opinion.

Suppose that Lee had occupied Cemetery Hill in Gettysburg, but then Meade had refused to attack. Could Meade have held Lee in place long enough for additional Union forces to reach Gettysburg?

WOW? June 29 the his Army marches... Robert e Lee hoped to concentrate around Gettysburg, 35 miles union corps ll formerly Humphrey and Sumner now Hancock

Did the terrain of Gettysburg give the Union any advantages that Pipe Creek did not? Would it have been easier to concentrate the Union army at Pipe Creek as opposed to Gettysburg?

Only mistake Abe made was not replacing that Mcclullen sooner☮️🇺🇸

Love the ll V corps among them you guessed it 20th me vol INF, and orhers

Along the line he issued the order however, the battle of Gettysburg began July 1

Great video. I wonder what Lee would've done if Meade had pulled back to the Pipe Creek line after day 1. The position was TOO strong....I don't think Lee would've attacked it. He could've flanked the position behind the mountains and emerged between Meade and DC in a 2nd Manassas type maneuver, which would likely take too long. Or he could've just kept on marching north, forcing Meade to pursue. I agree Meade is one of the most underrated generals. He finally started using the power of the Army of the Potomac. Instead of retreating after day 1 he stayed in that strong Cemetary Ridge position and challenged Lee to attack him, which he did.

Didn't we all write book reports that wren't assigned? I must have written 50 of them on various topics. My teachers were impressed :_)

First of all, thanks so much for the videos. I respect your passion and attention to detail. However, I disagree with your assertion that Meade is somehow dictating the terms of battle with his "aggressive" movement order. Quote: "Meade has this idea to create a plan and a defensive position to bring Lee to battle (02:54-03:01)." The reality is that Meade was reacting to Lee's plan, not the other way around. Meade, who as you say has been in command for less than 48 hrs and has to deal with a.) Halleck's order, b.) the confusion of setting up his command, and above all, c.) locating Lee's army, has the time to construct a "grand strategy" as you call it. What exactly do you think Lee has been doing in Maryland and Pennsylvania for the last two weeks? Maneuvering without intent? It is Lee who is on the offensive and Lee who is manipulating the situation. Lee's movement east to York has had the effect of dispersing the Federal infantry out across a long line, because he wants to collapse on a part of it and thereby achieve numerical superiority at the decisive point. It is Lee's movement east that has caused Meade to react and defend the road to Baltimore. It wasn't Meade's idea and his movement on 29 July was purely reactionary. Just look at the fact that on 29 July Meade was dispersing and Lee was concentrating. That is the key to understanding Lee's strategy, which is borne out by the Confederate victory on the first day. Luckily for the Union, CSA Gen. Johnson's division was out of position and could not deal the decisive blow at Culp's hill on the afternoon of 1 July. That being said, I do believe that Meade deserves more credit for winning the battle. He did an excellent job on the field moving his forces around to ensure that he always had a check on what Lee was doing. Meade definitely did well at Gettysburg. Thanks again.

Wow pipe creek MD union Mills, WOW? This could be a great position

WOW??? I never knew that, on June 30th, 29 1863 June 28 the halleck orders gen Jorge George Meade to command the Army of the Potomac

Buford had arrived in Gettysburg? And was waiting??

I'd have to agree with some qualifications that Meade is one of, if not the best tactician in US history. I would even argue that his decision to keep Sickles in command and where he put Sickles and his troops was intentional and that he fully expected that would be the flash point for the initial fighting and that it drew that fighting into the geography that worked to his advantage strategically.

"General Meade was the greatest General in American history"!....... Who would have guessed?

Gettysburg Vicksburg 1863 158, Glendale 159, 1862

Sickles would have been great to have a beer with!

If Ewell had taken the hill on July first, than Pipe Creek becomes feasible for July 3.

Shoutout to Frizzellburg!!

Buford's scouted the Gettysburg ground

born in carrol county 1962

Q: IF General Hood had gotten his way and was able to swing to the right, Could Meade have been able to implement this plan???🤔

I want to read through blood and fire again ...I'll tell my friend, to read this

I consider Meade among our greatest heroes and I’d just like to add this. Meade was trained as a topographical engineer, an elite group trained to map the US and discontinued roughly at the beginning of the Civil War as that job was done. Because he banned newspaper reporters for giving too much info they decided to keep him out of the news except negatively. He was roughly 30th in Union line of succession and roundly disliked by Hooker’s adherents as well as those who were envious so he found himself in an incredibly difficult position when command was thrust upon him. Even Lincoln is quoted as saying something to the effect that Meade would fight harder as he was defending his own dung heap (PA). Lee is quoted as saying Meade will make no mistakes on my front. Meade is quoted that Lee is the greatest counter-puncher. Meade faced closer troop numbers in battle with Lee than any other general and with many of Lee’s best commanders available to him. At the end of the battle he tried to develop a counterattack actually sending Sedgwick looping north as part of the pursuit, worse he had lost a number of the commanders he truly trusted, few enough, his chief of staff being the instrument of making Pipe Creek what it was never meant to be, and his army was extremely disorganized, most important, he could not really judge Lee’s resources. Sickles had ingratiated himself with Lincoln while Meade had no really strong representative at “court.” He was extremely experienced and unwilling to waste lives, he immediately ,when promoted, understood his mandate completely and operated brilliantly within it. Thanks for an insightfully presentation and an opportunity for me to salute Meade