The Gettysburg Campaign 1863

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Gettysburg Staff Ride

• Five Objectives
• Comprehend strategy-policy complexities apply
  that to modern operations
• Analyze relationships between the strategic,
  operational, and tactical levels
• Analyze how historical mindedness applied to the
  study of military battles helps one to think
  about war as an instrument of policy
• Evaluate strategic thinking of political and
  military leaders
• Identify and evaluate critical tactical events
  and their impact on the overall campaign

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Policy-Strategy Formulation
Policy
D I M E
Levels of War
War
Strategic
Campaigns
Operational
Battles
Tactical
War is merely the continuation of policy by
other means. - Carl von Clausewitz
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National Policy Objectives
Independence
Preserve the Union
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Aftermath Short Term

• Casualties
• North 23,049 of 95,000 (24)
• South 28,063 of 75,000 (37)
• Confederates Repulsed Northern Victory
• But a Cautious Pursuit to the Potomac Allows Lee
  to Escape to Virginia

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Aftermath Long Term

• Gettysburg Address
• Lincoln gives Political Significance to the
  Battle
• New Policy Aim
• Four score seven years ago new birth of
  freedom,
• Cost in Blood Treasure Beyond Point of No
  Return
• last full measure of devotion- highly
  resolve that these dead shall not have died in
  vain-
• Gettysburg is a Tactical Event with
  Strategic-Political Effect

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Aftermath Long Term (continued)

• Post-Gettysburg Lincoln Finds a (Killer) General
• Grant Understands Lees Army is Confederate
  Center of Gravity (COG)
• Grant Understands Southern Civilians must Feel
  the Hard Hand of War
• Signals transformation in Character of War

Ulysses S. Grant
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Leadership Issues/Challenges

• Commanders (Bosss) Intent/Vision?
• Political landscape?
• Common Understanding throughout?
• How do you get your information?
• Whats changed?? How to adapt?
• Who are your key subordinates?
• Who are the players outside your organization?
• Impact of experience/significant events?
• Risk? How much is enough?

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Questions to consider
Were military strategies consistent with national
objectives? Were operational plans compatible
with military objectives? Feasible? Suitable? A
cceptable? How were tactical decisions on the
field shaped by operational and strategic
considerations?