American civil war Quote by Michael Shaara
“I've been a soldier all my life. I've fought from the ranks on up, you know my service. But sir, I must tell you now, I believe this attack will fail. No 15,000 men ever made could take that ridge. It's a distance of more than a mile, over open ground. When the men come out of the trees, they will be under fire from Yankee artillery from all over the field. And those are Hancock's boys! And now, they have the stone wall like we did at Fredericksburg. - Lieutenant General James Longstreet to General Robert E. Lee after the initial Confederate victories on day one of the Battle of Gettysburg.”
About This Quote
Source Historical Speech: Gettysburg, July 1 1863, Confederate command
A commander warns that an upcoming assault on a well-defended ridge is doomed due to terrain, enemy fire, and numerical disadvantage.
In simple terms: The attack will likely fail because of strong defenses and heavy artillery.
Key Takeaway
Avoid costly frontal assaults on strong positions.
Themes
military strategy
leadership
risk assessment
Mood
tense
reflective
Type
historical
military
When to use this quote
- civil war battle planning
- defensive positioning
- assault tactics
Key Concepts
terrain analysis
firepower
command decision-making
Questions to Reflect On
- Did you ever ignore a warning that proved costly?
- How can leaders balance aggression with caution?
A Different Perspective
The warning may be ignored due to overconfidence or political pressure.
![“The triumph of the Confederacy... would be a victory for the powers of evil which would give courage to the enemies of progress and damp the sprits of its friends all over the civilized world... [The American Civil War] is destined to be a turning point, for good or evil, of the course of human…” quote by John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/645/john-stuart-mill-477_affair_the-triumph-of-the-confederacy-would-be_182321.jpg)
