Generals in Gray: Ewell

Richard S. Ewell

but Ewell did not believe he had time to position his artillery to support an infantry assault against the hills held by General Howard's outnumbered corps, and he determined that his troops were too exhausted and in disarray. By dawn the next day, General Hancock had arrived on the scene with reinforcements to strengthen the Union positions along Cemetery Ridge. Similar instances of weak leadership occurred in the Wilderness Campaign and Lee relieved Ewell from command in June 1864. "Old Baldy" returned to command in the final weeks of the war and was captured at Sayler's Creek during the retreat from Richmond to Appomattox. He retired to a farm near Spring Hill, Tennessee, where he died in 1872.
*Some critics argue that Lee, knowing Ewell's limitations, should have been more direct. The controversy would haunt both Ewell and Lee for the rest of their lives.
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Born in Georgetown, D.C., in 1817, Richard Ewell graduated from West Point in 1840. He spent two decades as a company commander in the Southwest, including service in the Mexican War. He joined the Confederate army as a cavalry colonel in 1861, then advanced to brigadier general in command of a brigade in Longstreet's division at First Manassas. In 1862 he was promoted to major general in command of a division under Stonewall Jackson. Ewell was in the Seven Days battles, and he lost a leg at Second Manassas. He returned to duty (with a wooden leg) as a corps commander after Jackson's death in May 1863. Unlike his predecessor, who seemed able to read between the lines of Lee's orders and was bold enough to seize the initiative when opportunity struck, Ewell sometimes seemed obtuse and cautious as a corps commander. At Gettysburg he was reluctant to exceed R. E. Lee's discretionary orders on the evening of day one, costing the Confederates Cemetery Hill.* Lee had instructed Ewell to take the high ground "if practicable." Jackson would have tried and might have succeeded;

© 2003 David C. Hanson, HIS 269 - Civil War and Reconstruction, Virginia W. Community College

Richard S. Ewell
	but Ewell did not believe he had time to position his artillery to support an infantry assault against the hills held by General Howard's outnumbered corps, and he determined that his troops were too exhausted and in disarray. By dawn the next day, General Hancock had arrived on the scene with reinforcements to strengthen the Union positions along Cemetery Ridge. Similar instances of weak leadership occurred in the Wilderness Campaign and Lee relieved Ewell from command in June 1864. "Old Baldy" returned to command in the final weeks of the war and was captured at Sayler's Creek during the retreat from Richmond to Appomattox. He retired to a farm near Spring Hill, Tennessee, where he died in 1872. *Some critics argue that Lee, knowing Ewell's limitations, should have been more direct. The controversy would haunt both Ewell and Lee for the rest of their lives. Generals >
Born in Georgetown, D.C., in 1817, Richard Ewell graduated from West Point in 1840. He spent two decades as a company commander in the Southwest, including service in the Mexican War. He joined the Confederate army as a cavalry colonel in 1861, then advanced to brigadier general in command of a brigade in Longstreet's division at First Manassas. In 1862 he was promoted to major general in command of a division under Stonewall Jackson. Ewell was in the Seven Days battles, and he lost a leg at Second Manassas. He returned to duty (with a wooden leg) as a corps commander after Jackson's death in May 1863. Unlike his predecessor, who seemed able to read between the lines of Lee's orders and was bold enough to seize the initiative when opportunity struck, Ewell sometimes seemed obtuse and cautious as a corps commander. At Gettysburg he was reluctant to exceed R. E. Lee's discretionary orders on the evening of day one, costing the Confederates Cemetery Hill.* Lee had instructed Ewell to take the high ground "if practicable." Jackson would have tried and might have succeeded;