An historical reenactment of the battle of Gettysburg on Janus (Army)

✍ Scribed by M.E. Tillman; C.B. Engle III

• Book ID: 103929447
• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1996
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 745 KB
• Volume: 23
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0895-7177
• DOI: 10.1016/0895-7177(95)00210-3

✦ Synopsis

Utilizing Janus (A), we analyzed the decision made by LTG Richard Ewe11 at Gettysburg, PA on the evening of 1 July, 1863. At this time, LTG Ewe11 decided not to attack Gulp's Hill. Instead, he waited until the next morning to attack, to permit the mustering of both artillery support and his third division, under command of MG Johnson. Many historians contend that this was a poor tactical decision and was a direct cause of the confederate loss at Gettysburg and possibly the war. We have investigated this issue using a combat simulation model called Janus (Army).

Prerequisite to the simulation, systems and weapons of the time had to be modeled in the Janus database. To keep this relatively manageable, we decided to model only the most significant system types on each side. These included the Confederate and Yankee soldier armed with a bayonet and a non-repeating rifle; the cannoneer and cannon (12 lb ball and cannister-shot) on each side. In total, the simulation represented nearly 200,000 systems engaged at Gettysburg.

Our study employed a two level, two factor experimental design. The two factors were the presence of the carp's artillery and Johnson's division. Both factors were relevant to the decision to delay the confederate attack. The levels corresponded with whether or not each factor was used in the simulation. In all, we conducted three replications of the following four design points (tactical alternatives) from which to base our conclusions: Design Point 1 (B): Situation on 1 Jul 1863 (no change). Ewell's Corps attacks. Design Point 2 (B+A): Corps Artillery supports the attack. Design Point 3 (B+J): MG Johnson's Division participates in attack. Design Point 4 (B+A+J): Corps Artillery supports and MG Johnson's Division participates in attack.

We conclude that LTG Ewe11 made the correct tactical decision. Without either his corps artillery or Johnson's Division, the corps would have faced annihilation should he have attacked on 1 July. Bad he had his corps artillery (6 guns), he probably should have pushed aggressively up the hill. If he had only Johnson's division, he probably could have taken the hill but could not have held it as a tenable position for very long.