The ORs: The Sickles Decision at Gettysburg w/ Jim Hessler

Explicit content warning

06/11/24 • 96 min

The "Rally on the Colors" Podcast returns with another episode from the ORs but with something significant and special. The ROTC Podcast welcomes it's first ever special guest. And guest #1 of 1 is none other than the man, the myth, and the legend; Jim Hessler. One cannot have a conversation about Major General Dan Sickles at Gettysburg without referencing Jim's extraordinary life work on the topic and Bill and Steve were honored to have Jim as the ROTC Podcast's first ever special guest. In this episode Jim, Bill and Steve discuss Dan Sickles the man before the outbreak of the Civil War before discussing some of his experience during the Civil War as he rises through the ranks to become a Major General and commander of the III Corps of the Army of the Potomac. Once Sickles' background is discussed, Jim, Bill and Steve dive into the circumstances that are occurring in the morning and early afternoon of July 2nd that ultimately lead to the decision to move the III Corps out to the Emmitsburg Road. Jim gives us the cliff notes about the fight that occurs on the afternoon of July 2nd before the episode closes with a brief discussion about Sickles post-Gettysburg. The Gettysburg Guard and the ROTC Podcast would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to Jim for being the first guest on the podcast. Please give Jim's podcast, "The Battle of Gettysburg Podcast" a listen if you haven't already and we highly recommend picking up all three of Jim's books. Again, we thank everyone for listening and are extremely appreciative of the support. Always Forward!

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Previous Episode

The ORs: The Gunfight in Pitzer's Woods

The ORs have returned with another episode, this episode focusing on the gunfight that occurs in Pitzer's Woods in the late morning / early afternoon of July 2, 1863 at the battle of Gettysburg. In this episode Bill and Steve give some brief biographical information on the founder of the 1st and 2nd US Sharpshooters, Hiram Berdan. The requirements for those units gets discussed before the episode turns into a play-by-play account of what occurs between approximately 1100 hours and 1230 hours on July 2, 1863. The "reconnaissance in force" conducted by Companies D, E, F & I of the 1st US Sharpshooters with support from the 3rd Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment and their fight against the 10th, 11th and 8th Alabama Volunteer Infantry Regiments is discussed in detail including some of the mistakes made during the execution of the reconnaissance. The episode concludes with special announcements about the Gettysburg Guard. We hope you enjoy this episode and we appreciate your continued support! We thank everyone for their assistance as we move forward with our generational commitment to education and preservation. Always Forward!

Next Episode

The ORs: The 2nd US Sharpshooters - Saviors of the Union Left at Gettysburg?

The ORs have returned with yet another episode, this one to cap off our coverage of the Battle of Gettysburg as we head into the 161st Anniversary. For this episode Bill and Steve deep dive into the combat action of the 2nd US Sharpshooters as they are engaged on July 2nd. Some specific aspects about the weather during the march on July 1st are discussed due its potential affect on the combat effectiveness of the 2nd US Sharpshooters on July 2nd. Bill and Steve utilize first hand accounts, reports from the Original Records, and correspondence between leaders of the opposing units to tell a tale not often looked at; the 2nd US Sharpshooters' influence on the battle on the Union left. You might be shocked to learn that Colonel William Oates (15th Alabama) credits the 2nd US Sharpshooters as saving the Union left, not the 20th Maine. Bill and Steve also rabbit hole a theory about the potential wounding location of Confederate Major General John Bell Hood. We hope you enjoy this often overlooked topic about the fighting on the Union left at Gettysburg. Again, we thank you for support. Always Forward!