“General, I have been a soldier all my life. I have been with soldiers engaged in fights by couples, by squads, companies, regiments, divisions, and armies, and should know, as well as any one, what soldiers can do. It is my opinion that no fifteen thousand men ever arrayed for battle can take that position.” –General James Longstreet to General Robert E. Lee
The quote above, provided as a recollection many years after the War by General Longstreet, was most likely referring to Longstreet’s thoughts immediately prior to ______________.
Group of answer choices
The firing on the Federal fortress in Charleston Harbor, Battery Wagner
The Union advance through the cornfield at Antietam
Pickett’s Charge on the third day of the Battle of Gettysburg
Scott’s Anaconda’s final act at the Battle of Vicksburg
Is it c?
Right
To answer this question, we need to analyze the quote given by General James Longstreet. In the quote, he mentions that no fifteen thousand men can take a certain position. This suggests that he is referring to a specific battle or military action where a position could not be taken by a force of fifteen thousand men.
To determine the most likely event that General Longstreet was referring to, we can eliminate the answer choices one by one based on historical context:
1. The firing on the Federal fortress in Charleston Harbor, Battery Wagner: This event took place during the Civil War, but it does not match the description of "fifteen thousand men" trying to take a position.
2. The Union advance through the cornfield at Antietam: While the Battle of Antietam was a major engagement in the Civil War, it does not specifically mention "fifteen thousand men" trying to take a position.
3. Pickett’s Charge on the third day of the Battle of Gettysburg: This answer choice is the most likely. Pickett's Charge was a significant part of the Battle of Gettysburg, and it involved approximately fifteen thousand Confederate soldiers attempting to break the Union lines. General Longstreet, as a Confederate general, would have been present during this battle and would have had firsthand knowledge of the situation.
4. Scott’s Anaconda’s final act at the Battle of Vicksburg: While the Battle of Vicksburg was a major campaign during the Civil War, it does not mention "fifteen thousand men" trying to take a position.
Based on the above analysis, the most likely event General Longstreet was referring to in his quote is Pickett's Charge on the third day of the Battle of Gettysburg.