The confederates were coming. Were able to hatch one of the most audacious plans ever factdered, despite the that they only had 40,000 men on this entire battlefield. Almost 85,000 Union Soldiers. Robert e lee and Stonewall Jackson decided tos there forces in the face of the enemy. While everybody was obvious to the east, Stonewall Jackson took considered; and march in broad daylight, cleaner and the union army. His vanguard was less than a mile away from us in setting up their position. 27,000 confederates soon filled the woods. Stonewall jackson had three divisions under his command. Behind him came jacksonville two reallyd by colston. Largest division was like an behind under the capable leadership of a major general, powell hill, apo. Ap hill. They were ideological opposites. They had profound respect for each other as professionals soldiersprofessional carried by five phone 15 on the afternoon of may 2, 1863, Stonewall Jackson had 20,000 men in line with 7000 closing in behind when he decided the special moment to strike a decisive blow. He yest afternoon, Robert Rhodes if he was ready to go. When he said they were, jacksons he said they made her seat. That at least thousands of confederates through the woods behind us. They were supposed to maintain silent as long as possible. They could not raise the rebel yell. Hey could not use the bugle each commander driving his own men in the direction of the union line. The Kevin Federline is about two miles long from flying differently from flight to from flank to flank. Stonewall jackson himself got close to the road and kid command only a brief portion of the lie that he could directly interact with. The commanders on the flying will have to know what jacksons intentions are. He would have to elaborate to those amber commanders who would collaborate in the woods. That would be critical for jacksons success. All understood that her commander intent before they started. Heading towards the end suspected union right find, their stealth was betrayed by nature itself. Scaredfederate soldiers up the deer underfoot, as well as the fox and the bird and the squirrel. All of them came barreling over the hilltop behind you and directly into the union camp, creating pandemonium. Soldiers were amazed that nature had gone awry. [laughter] until they realized that jacksons men were right behind them. Lets talk about the card the targeted jacksons attack. The line of the 11th core was positioned white right where we are standing. The 11th core had a reputation to overcome. They were known as flying dutchman, dutchman being a mutation of deutsche, german. It was largely a german court. 5000 of them were german immigrants. Is not germanr and that becomes problematic to the men of his or. They cani die identify with him and he cannot identify with them at all. This section had turmoil within themselves. Back here in the rear of the army, these men arent expected to see much action. They are the far right flank, a vulnerable position. All the men here are facing to the south. This is why jackson can this section of the line. As soon as it 00 a. M. , jackson moved west and south. There may be a flake attack make the best heading theryour way. He orders 18 guns facing the os x sends the message back to her, saying he is making these positions and will be prepared. Day, he hasf the not made any significant changes to the line. Large a a message from the army. A clear warning. It gets worse. Troll veterans saying that it is blocked by confederate infantry. The commander complaints he can i get the proper reconnaissance. Line, henter of the a sergeant to look at the territory. He escapes circuitously. Seen. Es to report he has their almost captured and and was turned away. Surely his tail is nothing but a tall tale he reports that had orders that howard has gone south. Howard has himself gone down to five. You know something is coming and he will be ready and waiting for it. Clearly, something is going on at the was ahead. Why doesnt howard pay any attention. Why dont the subordinate officers pay any attention . , knowing information there is a body of confederates in front of you doesnt tell you how many. Should he be concerned or is this a screening movement . A diversion . Until you can get a proper reconnaissance that can tell you how many men are out there, what they consist of, how do you make preparations . Once more, they need heard from headquarters, just like that hookers sent a warning, he later changed his mind. In a show of confidence, emanated that message quite clearly. Under the impression that hooker would have told him that there was danger coming. Subordinates are sure that quite certain that howard would have told them if something was coming. Theyre listening from the top down, not from the bottom up. They are trying to prevent a panic. This case, maybe better to overreact and react. Overreact than under react. Many have these men are eating rations. Ooking what you think their first thought is . Dinner, exactly. [laughter] things become pretty clear that that is not the case. Two artillery shots in their rebel yell as the attack at a line and it becomes very clear that this is not dinner. Something much worse. No time to react. The. Bow line largely brakes and runs. Sergeant auto of the first of the 41st set a panic. Overcame us. The rest of the Division Running with us. Confidence, heof followed them. All right, ladies and gentlemen. Can you hear me ok . Yes, sir can hear me ok . Sir, yes, sir , as we join operations everything that can go wrong must go wrong. [laughter] over time, we tribes. E, and we somebody to my speaker. [laughter] voice. Are stuck with my Stonewall Jackson struck right at the most vulnerable moment. But the union 11th core is [indiscernible] the division on the hill where we just came. The Division Commander was shot in the foot. He was brave enough to leave the field. [laughter] his replacement, daniel mclean, had a more serious wound and have to be carried from the field. Matter. At, it didnt the division dissolves and did not exist. The next division in line ballon allstar. Stark. It still belongs to the Hopkins Family today. Thomas down ored lived in the hollow below us. His wife was a hopkins. At the time of the battle, several degrees were around the house. As he stated to get an inkling of some of the things going on in the west, the started to shift one brigade and face them do west. They formed about 75 yards away. Rom the tree line they send skirmishes forward to check out the words where they were met by advancing confederates and drove to the wheel. They exchanged fire in less than 75 yards. Effective rifle ranges about 300 yards. Blankas deadly point combat. Not as quick as you might imagine. With confederates hidden in the trees and the federals exposed in the infield. The difference and give just a little bit of protection to the federals out here. Confederates were stymied for a few seconds, remember that confederate line was two miles. A a brigade of 300 to 400 yards. Easily swept past this ought, promises to come on the flank or rear of the generals located here. When he realized his brigade had been compromised, he immediately went to the troops and ordered them to withdraw. The kernel, the Commanding Officer of the 26 wisconsin, a colonel named jacob decided that he was in a standup fight and would not back off. You infused the order to pull back. It seemed cowardly. Compelled kozlowski was compelled. Screaming at the men, for god sakes, man, run [laughter] they backed up this hill as fast as possible. Wisconsin, that 650 men in this field. Iny left almost 200 of them just a 15foot wide swath. The loss of that one regimen exceeds the losses of at least two entire brigades that solve action. This is a terrible bloodletting for them. You can imagine the men to the test heading downhill into a valley, with the amphetamines having the advantage of height and position. The loss was going to get worse. The pandemonium. And panicles as regiments they try to get off the field as soon as possible. Jackson, we have broken one union division. Now the second is combine. It will take just a little bit now the second is crumbling. It will take just a bit of effort. Ready . Yes. Lets do it. Thousands of people interacting on this field all at the same time. It is confusion at its best. Its leaders that will draw some kind of force or momentum out of that can. Within 10 minutes of making a stand on this property, he is sent really backwards. [indiscernible] it was a very small building. Mr. Downer was not here. Ut his wife was her brother, Alexander Hawkins was. They were taking shelter in this this also building served as the orders for general start. Inaction erected over the hill. It would have been out of sight. You could hear the action without being intimidated by it. Heard the Staff Officers the commotion and stepped out to investigate. The battle came so quickly that he never had a chance to come back and get his stuff. The staff officer left his side ams and his drawers as treasure. You look to back up into the tree and realized what was meant. You could have seen that battle perfectly from the house. Hawkins literally stood at the door and announced for everyone inside, by god, here they come federalster, the fluttered right past year. Past here. The confederates hot pursuit. By the door and encouraged the confederates, urging them on. Has served inins the confederate army. Dischargen given a for health reasons. Ago,his night, 150 years he was rejuvenated, caught up in the electricity of the moment, and he joined the attack as well. [laughter] starting from right here. Confederates have read or smits says they go charging down the hillside. Where is all the dead and the wasded, the landscape scarred and punished in the feud. Though wounded were gathered off the field and brought to the hawkins farmhouse. What had been a home had become a had orders. And now it was transformed into surgeons worked around the clock to save lives. They could not bring everybody into the building. They filled the entire grounds around us, waiting for their turn. Tried to help by putting pup tents over them. It didnt work, but it was a good gesture. , a place ofuffering death. After the war, it became a ofdmark of the battle [indiscernible]. Eterans came back here members of the union 11th corps came here in the 1880s and a met with the survivors of the hawkins family. Ladies of the hawkins family were still full of spite. They said, in honesty, that they were surprised to see these yankees after they were so full rugged you. It seemed absurd. As the soldiers laughed and agreed with them, they reached a [indiscernible] when the veterans left, they admitted they left in good stead with the hawkins family. It was that spirit of people who lived here, who continue to live here, who are able to resurrect this out of that wreckage and bring it back to fruition everything. You see around you is a test fruition. Everything you see around you is a testament to a nation that grows stronger. Two Union Divisions have broken. Nd are fleeing for their lives there is one left out here to these. Though once in this area will act like a strainer on the retreating 11th corps. [laughter] howard will ride into the retreating men in this area in attempts to rally the troops. His affective warcry halt halt im ruined im ruined i suspect many of these men are not certain about howards reputation. James peabody watches howard and decided he was completely confused and bewildered, not the most inspiring. Said none of later us cared. It does present to us a comical picture. Howardse stand in news for a minute, we might get a different perspective. You are brandnew to the score command. Your men dont like you. You dont really like them. You dont get a lot of good terms. You had some warning of this, but you did not heed it. Trust did notou think it was true and did not Pay Attention to it. Now you return to your horror to find that it is a complete disaster. Troops are running for their lives. Cant really fix your mistake at this point, can you . The road later that he wanted to die. He said it was the only time i weekend that we my life. But that night delighted all in my power to remedy the mistakes and i found death everywhere to find an excuse to go on the field. Howard is a man in a difficult position. He is trying to remedy the mistakes. Clearly, he doesnt know the best way to do it. Howard is largely ignored as his troops sought practicality and continued to stream past him. The end joseph colonel Joseph Dickinson are firing pistols. The men. Encouraged to fire on his mid. On his own men. In the chaos. Gives us a slightly more conplex view of the man. Expressed better judgement. We have the 27th pennsylvania in the 29 new york near wilderness church. Present a firmer line. Many inederates are too hand. And has momentum on swarmed on either side. Thisow break and run past point. Confederate soldiers looking for a rallying cry. Looking for a place to form. The meadow in front and across the vlley, the sun glints on the far edge of the hawkins farm. Just a brief moment. Position. From his the confederates pressed anyway. Dole foods bush back back. Hus busch back sacrfice, aood along of minutes to form this ridge. Line ise federal theking,th confederates are cracking. Theres a break point. Thought ofd defending this position. Position. Fied this one of the only commanders to form a line perpendicular to the highway. But it did not face west. Toward thest, confederate army. Them goindcipated twelve miles. They encountered a slight line of rifle pit. Position soldiers to a back towards the confederates. Them a psychological defense. Grab menuld stop and in a strict command. They held a front. Force to sizeable face the confederates head on. Jacksons men would have to come across this meadow. Charged thisnad hill, met with blistering fire. Off. Onfederates backed the 11th corps had repulsed and attacked. Think about those words. Some of the commanders perhaps became to getty. Giddy. He told them it was time to back tottacka n and go the hawkins farm. He realized he was alone. [laughter] he came back up here and explained what he expected. He charged off again. The men watched him go. A third time. Ied off defeated. Hi. Soldiers did not follow him. Recognize him. The recognized that circumstances were bigger than their generals expectaions. For thetook a moment o confederates to reorganize. Four brigades, several wouldsane thousand men come charging across. Of north brigades f carolinians and georgians would field for the other union flank. South, the pushback line cannot hold any longer. Friday along the line gets very hot. The flanks begin to collapse. They cant withstand the pressure. Reds werer wrote the so close on to us that we had to run for our sweet lives. Each fly,derates on there is nobody behind this ridgeline . Wjat what will stop the 11th corps this time . From here, the 11th corps is running a gauntlet of fire to the you the rear. Is thea tank flight attack is too overwhelming. And the process, reconnaissance earlier in the day and how he held his battery in waiting. He knew an attack was coming. He set himself up close to the turnpike and held his ground. Holding crucial part of the line here. In the process of overwhelming this line emma jacksons men will and for the canon. It will be a great price. Prize. Members of the 73rd pennsylvania drag two guns away. Left, theres only a lot of space for the 11th corps to run through. For theirare running lives. This is the last round of resistence. By the time it reaches here, it is bery much reduced. Line of resistence, hads men ahd to to fold. Close to johnsons line to trip up and attempted to handle. , think that is worth noting worth remembering 150 years later. The 11th corps casualties were pretty bad. Imagine so many of these men simply swept up. 13,000 total in the court. Attack had effectively wrecked an entire union for. Union core. The effect of jacksons flank attack is a psychological victory as well. Imagine being a member of the first score, the second corps, and you see howards men running back it on your line completely terrified. How would you stand and watch all of your comments were running back toward you, terrified out of their minds. Would you be shaken by what your city . Although this is a big success for the confederates, it does not solve all of the utterance problems. In a lot of ways, it sets up a 3. Of problems for may. Year though it wiped out a core, it failed to wipe out the union army, truly one of jacksons goal\. Of the 1500 or so Union Soldiers on the residence evening in 1863 130 of them never left this spot. Over 500 casualties accumulated on this little ridge. 20 minutes of combat this was fighting at its worse. Flank,e Union Soldiers they were candid about their leaving. They said it would have been madness to stay any longer that they did and they ran for their very lives. One Union Soldier confronted with this afterwards said, in all honesty, yes, iran. Those who did not run are there yet still. The 11th corps have gotten a in history. We get a glimpse of some of their experience that they did all that could possibly be done under the circumstances. 150 years ago, the confederates gained the upper hand on an overall battlefield where they were outnumbered two and a half to one. Confederates20,000 to confront 11,000 Union Soldiers. Able tol they were bring their fortunes to bear on that minute portion of the union force. The 11th corps had been along the access of the highway, facing south, not facing west into the danger itself. Units try desperately to pull out of their lines to confront the confederates each and every one of them was consumed in turn one right after the other. Thought withtes impunity. This is all attributable to the design of the confederate commander. This was an ideal attack. This was the height of Stonewall Jacksons effectiveness. Stonewall jackson brought something to this attack that he brought to many of his attacks 18 62 urse of 1861, 1862, and now 1863. Jackson had captured and fascinated people all around this globe with the simple knowledge that this man could win and can continue to inconsistently. Jackson also recognized he had some that very few other off suzanne. He was able to take a static thattion or a situation even favored his opponent and able to confound it, create an opportunity out of nothing. He had created all his opportunities here like before. Jackson had found a double edged sword. When the moment had come, he had resources. Is he nothing to exploit. This time, he empowered the units of his flank to exploit any opporutnity. Division. E tu use two had become confused. Inextricablyme mixed. Commanders th estimate is enough in their commands. Success. By their own jackson had a third division,s largest division, the division of ap hill, and they had yet to be engaged. Jackson had used his resources to create the decisive moment. Exploitad the men to it. What he wouldas be able to do with the next. This . S the meaning of why would weaken around here 150 years after the event, to stand in a meadow filled with text ticks [laughter] it has been an inspiration to every generation of soldiers. The United States military still comes out here to studying these movements, to steady the execution, the efforts of the wall jackson and his men. Basis schoolrps come out here many times. Beth and i have had a great privilege and leading them on many of their adventures, learning and learning from them as well. Tthem to tto he know better housem. Of his. Dictated our weaponry gets, in the income all boils down to a young man or a young woman with a pack on their back, a helmet on their head, and a weapon in their hand to go out and finish the job. Would require a leader, a commander to get them there and inspire them to get the job done your jackson did that here, this spot, this moment. Every generation of americans has thought about this and has studied this. The Second World War generation spent a lot of time studying Stonewall Jackson more than any other commander in the past. He discovered that god was robbery lee and that his son was Stonewall Jackson. It still makes sense to the general. The commandant of the u. S. Arine corps they had ancestors who served under jackson. They had drawn inspiration. His grandfather had become a minister following the civil war . Lomd pf a kind of a strange man. Mankind. T have use for but those he loved he kept very dear and close to him. We pray to the god of isaac and abraham in the god of robert e lee and the wall jackson. Jackson was really became a part of their lives, a tapestry of their being, and an inspiration. The most a decorated marine of poehler, lois bill took a dogeared biopsy of stall jackson with him everywhere he went. He used it as a primer on how to be a good leader and to take his men into battle and through the greatest trials of their lives. Captain once said to eisenhower in the next world, you will be my lead and i will you will be my lee and i will be a jackson. That meant something to them both without further collaboration elaboration. We still talk in that term. When he came to desert storm, schwarzkopf attributed his success to the movements of lee and jackson, maneuvering to success. What is the movement of lee and jackson . Specifically, it is the flank mark around chesters bill. They strike out a weak point and strike it with overwhelming force. In desert storm, the leader of that strikeforce with general freight. Member of the civic core. Frank attributed his movemento a jacksonian , which i think is one of the greatest phrases ever to come out of this. Jackson has his own movement. Most commanders studied the last movement. These men draw inspiration from a war they came a century and a half ago, a jacksonian movement. Think about that. You have walked in the very footsteps of it. Jacksons days are numbered. His hours as a commander are over him jackson will drive this attack as far as he can take it. He would driving into the woods. He would drive it into the night. He would drive it literally of to his last ride. Thank you, everyone. [applause] you can watch this or other american artifacts programs anytime by visiting our website, cspan. Org history. Weekend, American History tv is featuring portland, maine. Tour staff recently visited many site. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and the and stephen king are natives upon the. Learn more about portland are here on American History tv. On important part of maines economy. That oftenate struggles because we have lost a lot of our manufacturing businesses. We used to make shoes and fabric and paper and more would products. There has been a real shrieking of those places. It is starting to fill in with this resurgence of the world economy. We are the center of lobster fishing in the world. Of course, our lobsters taste that it than anyone elses. In thes a real change level of the sophistication of the farmer and the consumer and raised to master point that organic food today is a 40 billion to 50 billion business. We are spilling a very important market that did not use to exist. On the policy side, we have to do a lot more to make this possible further farmers, particularly ones that want to transition to it. You have to make it easier for them to get into this market. You are paid better. You dont have to handle toxic event toxic chemicals. It is good for the environment. This is a winwin. When my three kids were growing up, i decided i wanted to get involved in local politics. My farmwho i knew from stand suggested to me i should legislature. Tate i just got it just did in the idea of being engaged and a participant in the endemic attic suspect in the 1990s. Iran. F on a wild idea, in 1992, i won. I love the back and forth, working on tough issues, a chance to represent the things i care about. Here it is 25 years later and im still there. That, if just learned you have a career in your life. Like agriculture. And me on the policymaking side. It is truly the best of both worlds. The history that we have, you just fine. People saying, wait, that is where i want to live. We are a very safe state. We are a friendly state. We just have a real feel of authenticity. Beautiful views. They are historic. Old buildings, a lot of brick buildings. It makes you feel like a new england in the 1700s. You are always up against the history here. I think that makes people feel like its an unusual place to live, but the kind of place you want to not just vacation, but stay. Are cities tour staff recently traveled to important, maine. Learn more about portland and other stops on our tour at cspan. Org city tours. Are watching american we american we can. You are watching American History tv all weekend every weekend on cspan3. To join the conversation, like us on facebook at cspanhistory. I wasn i first went in, barely able to get back to the surface. A bunch of them jumped in and there was a picture which im sure you will show of them pulling me out the lake. You could say my arm was broken. Once they pulled me out, they were very happy to see me. Why not . Because i just finished bombing the place. [laughter] so we got pretty rough i broke hurts my media again i dont blame them you are in a it, when youlike are in a war and captured by the enemy, you can expect to have you cant expect to have tea. John mccain talks about the impact of the vietnam war on his life in the country today at exit and 00 a. M. Eastern on american tv on cspan three now we return live to petersburg virginia for the civil war symposium. Next, the final session of todays event, a Panel Discussion on the controversial generals of the civil war. Is ok, we are ready to get started, here. Lets get everybody in their seat. Ok, have you got me . No . Well, this is the part of the program that i have been looking forward to the most. The Panel Discussion. We have some Great Questions here. You will note that i on purpose have separated george and will. [laughter] i am not saying we are doing a pointcounterpoint, but i expect that to happen at any moment. I have all the questions here. The are really good ones. Not surprisingly, there are four of them that are basically the same, but with a little bit of a twist. There was a question i was planning on asking anyway, and what i would like to do is start over here. One at a time, tell me who you think was the most hated it general of the war . Rethink we all pretty much know this answer already. I think we all pretty much know this answer already