AccuWeather.com Photo Gallery: Battle of Gettysburg did the weather play a role Video

Battle of Gettysburg did the weather play a role

Description: The bloddest battle ever on American soil, and the quetion is did weather have an impact on the outcome.

Date Taken: 10/28/2007
Views: 19798
City: Gettysburg

State: pennsylvania
Zipcode:
Country: United States

I sent this to my children who love the history of Gettysburg. My daughter went to Gettysburg college. On the side she did the ghost tour of downtown Gettysburg and she has often seen things she cant explain. The lure that draws one to the battle field, it calls you. I wanted everyone to know that Gettysburg is one place that you should visit. Watch the movies Gods and Generals and Gettysburg, they really cast a new light on why America had this bloody batlle, a batter between brothers. Look at the Irish, forced here because of the potatoe famine, and some went to New York and others to SC, then a year later the war breaks out and you see Irish on both sides of the lines facing each other, having to defend what, they know very little of this new land. -- Roxys

Here is the answer I found please give feedback as I am being graded on same thanks. The following observations of weather conditions at Gettysburg for the period of the Confederate invasion during the period of June 25 to July 4 were recorded by Rev. Dr. Michael Jacobs a teacher at the College and an amatuer meteoroligist. The entire period of the invasion is remarkable for being one of clouds, and, for that season of the year, of low temperature. From June 15th until July 2 -- jodimiller

On the evening of June 25th at 8 p.m. a rain began . . . This rain continued at intervals until Saturday June 27th, at 7 a.m., the perception being in inches 1.280. At all the observations made on Saturday and Sunday, and until the nine oclock observation of Monday night, the entire sky was covered with clouds. On the day before the battle, both at 7 a.m., and 2 p.m., the obscuration was again complete, with cumulo stratus clouds moving from SSE. At 9 p.m., only four tenths of the heavens -- jodimiller

Dr. Jacobs recorded the following details of the weather for the days of the battle, including June 30 June 30 Complete Cloud cover all day, partly cleared by 9 p.m. Wind was calm. July 1 The entire sky was covered with clouds all day, cumulostratus at 7a.m. and 2 p.m., cirro stratus at 9 p.m. A very gentle warm southern breeze, 2 mph. Thermometer 7 am - 72 2 pm - 76 9 pm - 74 July 2 At 8 am, sky still covered cumulo stratus. At 2pm, 3 10 clear. -- jodimiller

July 4 Rain showers at 6 am, from 2 15 until 4 pm, and at 4 am on July 5 totaling 1.39 inches . Thermometer 7 am 69 2 pm - 79 9 pm - 70 There were slight showers on the 5th and the 7th, and on the 8th a rain from 3 am to 11 30 am measured 1.3 inches. The maximum temperature for the month of July 1863 was 87 degrees at the time of Picketts Charge. On eleven days of the month the maximum temperature was in the seventies, on one day the 17th it was only 62 degrees. -- jodimiller

Prior to 1861, the United States of America were known as separate states that created most of their own rules and regulations. An ongoing debate argued whether to have each state or a singular central government decide issues such as taxation, commerce of products and, in particular, the issue of slavery. The northern states opposed slavery while the southern states, whose economy depended on it, supported the institution -- jodimiller

Now the question did weather play any role in the battle at all, I have to say yes. It hot and muggy, I think the dew point is high, these men on both sides were noted as walking for 50 plus miles a day. Seems odd to us today but this is all they did was walk, and the reason the south was ehading to Gettysbugh was to buy shoes. The men had no shoes. This is so hard for me to understand, how any man can walk for miles with no shoes. -- jodimiller

Now think on this why dont you. The men are walking day after day, pitching camp, taking down camp, hauling camp on back, walking in rain and mud, then on both sides they get to Gettysburg, and they go into battle the very instance they get their. You get me to walk 1 mile much less 50 in one day, no way. The weather had to of had some impact on this great battle. Think of this the southern boys had to walk 1 mile, sure no big deal when walk 50 miles right, but an open field, sun beating down. -- jodimiller

The sun beating down on these guys, its muggy, they have to carry a heavy gun, yes they were heavy, and bullets, note made of lead again heavy, its muggy, they wear the clothing made out of wool, odds on favorite they are sweating big time, and they are under fire from head on. cannons firing long range casings filled with nails, wire, anything they could find. So my answer is yes the weather had a huge part in this battle, moreso for the south. The Northern boys had a few trees for cover -- jodimiller

I dont feel the weather was a big deal. The men had to of been though a lot already, fighting in snow, rain and flooding. They may of been tired from walking, but that is not because of the weather. The temps were normal for this time of year, it was not like in the 90s,and no big storms. -- karentoth

The weather had some bearing on the out come of the battle, due to the weather being hot and muggy. Sections of the battlefield were wet and the rocks wet as well causing the men to slip on them. It was noted that some of the men fell on the rocks and broke their bones. Also men who were in battle as it rained, could not see all that good cause their glasses were wet and dirty. -- brittneys

Jesse we need your help, do you think outcome of the battle was becuase of weather. If anyone knows or thinks they have an idea here please post. This is a tough question to ask a child. So many factors here, so I feel maybe the weather had some kind of role in how the batlle played out. But then look at the other battles fought, what of them, would weather of played a factor here as well. -- cindythunder

Great video will share with my friends. Thanks -- sethandrews

The good thing about weather in battles - or outside sports - is that it affects both sides equally, unless one is less prepared for certain kinds of weather than their enemy, or there are differences in shelter between both sides. I`m no history buff so I`m not sure I can guess much more than that. -- weathermatrix

The weather must of played a role put yourself in their shoes, how would you feel -- DaFlirt123

Jesse can you find some data to support the weather during this period, or what I found is this the best we have to go on. Question how big of a deal was weather forecasting back in the mid 1800s -- jodimiller

I posed this question to Dr. Rainey here, who is our resident history expert. He had this to say: - Heat and humidity was an issue, but they were used to it - possibly the Confederates were more used to it - The Confederates retreat was well-masked by torrential rain that followed the battle, but gave them trouble when they couldn`t cross the swollen river where they had planned to. -- weathermatrix

Dr. R. also said - as Jodi did - that the weather observer at Gettysburg was the Reverend Doctor M. Jacobs, Professor of Mathematics and Chemistry at Gettysburg College. He noted that the temperature at the start of Pickett`s Charge at 3pm on July 3rd was 87 degrees, with high humidity. For more info, see Thomas L Elmore, `A Meteorological and Astronomical Chronology of the Gettysburg Campaign,` Gettysburg Magazine No. 13 -- weathermatrix

There is also a poem at http://www.bartleby.com/248/995.html but it`s hard to say how much of that was reality vs. poetic license. -- weathermatrix

I love Gettysburg, so much history. I adore your video. -- HayleyR

Thanks a bunch. So even still to cross an open field with all that weight, in wool clothing and its 87 high humidity. These boys were sweatin like pigs. So it had to of had a huge impact. I dont care were your from your still human you have to sweat. -- jodimiller

By far all the way Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious -- BeckyMarie

Gettysburg Flies circle his head like a black halo, lay their eggs near the bullet lodged in the meat of his brain. Scattered among the trampled blades, like broken pottery fragments of skull. Before the colonel gave the order to advance, he pinned a note to his uniform. My name is Jonathan Victor and I love my mother. He imagined her proudly smiling as the morning sun darted off the golden buttons that adorned his blue coat. -- Roxys

They Met At Gettysburg In July of eighteen sixty three History was made for you and me. It was a time of courage and a time Of hate, But through this struggle a nation Was made. There were men of courage and men of Might. Face to face for a cause they thought Right. There were men in blue and men in gray, Waiting for the break of day. When daybreak came with the suns first Light, The cannons roared with all their Might. -- jodimiller

Mens lives were taken and horses fell, From mighty bursts of shot and shell. All through the day they would sweat and Toil, Fighting inch by inch on the blood-soaked Soil. But as night came on and a silence fell, They forgot their fear of shot and shell. There is Cemetery Ridge for the blue that Day, And Seminary Ridge which held the Gray There was General Lee and General Meade They were men of courage and valor, indeed. -- jodimiller

Here is Round Top and Devils Den, And the Valley of Death for many men. Then suddenly came a famous march, Known to us as Picketts Charge. His soldiers were men of both young and Old, Men of courage and mighty Bold. They marched in ranks facing shot and Shell, One by one they stopped and Fell. Now the battle is over and peace has come, Those who survived will be marching home. But still today we all can see The monument to Meade and Robert E. Lee. -- jodimiller

The opening of this video indicates that the south lost in Gettysbutg and continued to go down hill loosing all battles from there. This historically and in every account is not true. Out of these battles: Gettysburg, Chickamauga, Chancellorsville, Spotsylvania, Antietam, The Wilderness, Second Manassas, Stones River, Shilo, and Fort Donelson. The Union won 5 and the Confederacy won 5, hardly a string of winning battles. www.civilwarhome.com/Battles.htm -- kzac

We love this video, thanks -- Hermoine

kzac hello yes you are right. You know that in schools today we students are taugh the in fact the south got their behinds beat bad and that they in short lost the will to fight. Thanks God I am homeschooled, because I have researched more about this civil war and VA. was in the war for one reason and one reason only protect thy land and thy home. Watch God and Generals, it opened my eyes, Lee was aksed to command the Northern armies, I was not taught this in school. -- jodimiller

And chech this out General Lee lasted the whole war, unlike the north who had over 8 commanders I think. Then you have Longstreet, who I think was in fact hear the words of the Holy Spirit often, he knew. Then The one man who was God fearing and a great family man, Stonewall Jackson, a great man, and I think the best commander ever to fight any war for American. -- jodimiller

I just signed on and I am watching this movie. I also read some of the comments that have been given. Most history being taught to children to day states that after Gettsburgh, the south went down hill. I feel that it should be left in our past, only that we should remember one important concern, we are one nation. During the war of the states both sides had big losses, and the nation grew stronger after the war. I agree watch Gods and Generals, it will make you rethink the civil war -- mellyfeather

All the work I did on this video, people check it out great stuff, better yet take a trip to Gettysburg, for me, it was an eye opener. I also just had a thought,the south knew what they were doing, look how far they made in north ward. -- jodimiller

Hey Jodi great work, being form both the south and north, I feel this way. The war was really stupid, then again I feel that any war is stupid. But, I can only say true watch the movie Gods and Generals, I learned a lot. The south is and contiues to hold true those values set forth by our forefathers, The south still places I think more God into their life and family. I hope you undersatnd what I say here, the south has always been about family and laid back, where the north has been driven -- natasha

The norht ha sbeen driven by God sure, but I think change, and being able to get to the future faster. Look at how fast industry moved forward. Im sure if we all look back in our family tre we will see men who died in battle, for this cause, that to us today seems like nothing more than a petty fight. -- natasha

By the way Jodi, my old school teacher was really into the civil war and he said that the weather reall did play a big role in many of the battles fought during the war. He said, these guys often walked not only n dirt but snow and ice for miles and miles. Many of the men had frost bite missing toes fingers, they really had it rough. -- natasha

Thanks Ron we love this video, it made me cry. -- tabby

Yes it is well done, but you know the south for the most part kicked butt. Generals like Longstreet and Stonewall not to mention Lee were and will forever be the best. You know Longstreet knew he knew not to fight at Gettsburgh, he knew don't ask me how but he knew. -- BlueJay

Thanks I love this video. I have been to Gettysburg about 8 times, and it still gives me the chills. Does anyone think American will ever fight this way again? Talk now is that state military in hiding will fight our goverment one day. -- judymack

It's out past and maybe our future... I pray not. -- cindyhorn

Fourscore and seven years ago our father brought forth, upon this continent, a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation, so conceived, and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battlefield of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of it as a final resting place for those who died here, that this nation might live. -- BeckyMarie

But in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate we cannot consecrate we cannot hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us, the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. -- BeckyMarie

It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth. President Abraham Lincoln, November 19, 1863 -- BeckyMarie

I love the music but more so the information within -- wendi

Very well done, thank you! -- Gettysburg Visitors Team

Uploaded on 10/29/2007
by johnstownwildfire

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