In the previous article I stated three questions that pertained to Ewell's decision on July 1,1863. First, was General Ewell right in not attacking Cemetery Hill? The answer to this question may fully depend on that of the next: what were his reasons for not attacking the heights? And finally, was Richard S. Ewell to blame for the South's loss at Gettysburg? Let's look at these question individually.
Ewell's decision not to attack may seem cowardice and insubordinate on the surface. Looking at the raw numbers, the Confederate forces maintained numerical superiority throughout most of the day's battle, and by the time Ewell's decision had to be made, the South had roughly 45,000 men to the Union's 20,000. However, these figures don't necessarily reflect the situation that Ewell found himself in. Of his three divisions, two were heavily engaged during the day, while one was still yet to arrive on the field. He had only about 4,000 fresh troops available to him, and there was no help to be sent from anywhere else on the field. Ewell stared up into the heights where 20,000 Union soldiers were digging in preparing for the defense of the Hill. With his men outnumbered five to one, and the hill in which he was to attack being heavily fortified, Ewell acted in the best interest of his men by deciding against an assault.
Another factor that led to Ewell's decision was Lee's unclear and often contradictory orders. At the beginning of the day, Ewell (as well as all other corps commanders) was under the order not to bring on a general engagement until the army was fully concentrated. When the Union troops were retreating to Cemetery Hill, Lee issued an order to Ewell to attack the heights "if practicable," leaving much discretion to Ewell. Immediately following this order was another reiterating the warning against bringing on a general engagement. Being new to command, and not quite used to receiving such vague and confusing orders, Ewell made a decision based in not only the numbers he faced, but also the general engagement order he was bound to obey.
Did Ewell lose the Battle of Gettysburg? I don't believe so. Ewell is no more to blame that A.P. Hill, Longstreet or Lee himself. Ewell's performance was not flawless, but neither were the other corps commanders' by any means, and neither was Lee's. To point to one individual and blame him for the loss of a three-day battle for a decision made on the first day is absurd. He did make some mistakes in the following two days as well, but I don't believe that they had as much impact on the battle as other mishaps committed by Longstreet on July 2. Moreover, I do not believe Ewell should be scrutinized any more than any other commanding general at Gettysburg.
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