Friday, July 3, 2009

Spotlight
Pickett's Charge was repulsed on this date in 1863 on the final day of the Battle of Gettysburg. Union troops, under General George Meade, triumphed over General Robert E. Lee's Confederate soldiers, in the bloodiest battle of America's Civil War. General George Pickett's division attacked the Union center at Cemetery Ridge. Confederate casualties numbered over 7,000 — more than half their forces. Though the war went on for nearly two more years, the Gettysburg Campaign was considered to be its turning point. Years later, when asked why Pickett's charge at Gettysburg failed, Pickett was said to have responded, "I've always thought the Yankees had something to do with it."

Quote
"Up men to your posts! Don't forget today that you are from old Virginia." — George E. Pickett

Question of the Day
Why did Lee order Picketts Charge?
Pickett's division was only one of several Confederate units ordered to attack that day. To understand why Picketts charge was ordered, you have to understand the larger picture.

The reason for Robert E. Lee's campaign against the North at this time in the war was his desire to follow up his victory at Chancellorsville with a successful invasion far enough into the North that the northern politicians would be convinced to give up their support of the war. In other words, he hoped to destroy their morale and their will to fight by gaining so much ground that they would think their cause hopeless.

His advance into the north was stopped at Gettysburg where a fierce battle took place over three days. On the third day, Lee hoped to finally win the battle. He ordered the union lines bombarded with cannonfire and then 12,000 confederate troops were to charge across the open field.

Picketts charge was just one part of that attack, but has gained historical significance due to the 50% loss of Confederate soldiers, including nearly all the officers who participated that day.

Word of the day
hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia

or sesquipedalophobia

Fear of long words.

(© Answers Corporation)

Today's History

Great Auk

• Quebec: city was founded by Samuel de Champlain (1608)
• great auks: the last pair of the extinct species, found incubating an egg, was killed (1844)
• Algeria: became independent after 132 years of French rule (1962)

Today's Birthdays

Dave Barry

• Franz Kafka (1883-1924): author of The Metamorphosis; writers M. F. K. Fisher (1908-1992), Tom Stoppard (72) and Jay Tarses (70) share this birth date
• John Kundla (93): basketball hall-of-famer and coach; baseball outfielder Moisés Alou (43) was also born today
• Pete Fountain (79): jazz clarinetist
• Dave Barry (62): humor writer who won the Pulitzer Prize for Commentary
• Montel Williams (53): former TV talk-show host
• Yeardley Smith (45): the voice of Lisa on The Simpsons; other actors born on this date include Kurtwood Smith (66), Jan Smithers (60) and Tom Cruise, Thomas Gibson and Hunter Tylo (all 47)