Episode 39: The Less-Than-Dashing Abner Doubleday, Part IV

Major General John Reynolds was one of the most respected and loved-by-his-troops officers in the Union army when a bullet struck him down as he was positioning troops onto the battlefield and thrust Abner Doubleday into command of the field on the pivotal first day of the battle of Gettysburg. Reynolds, who was one year ahead of Doubleday at West Point, and Abner had known each other for more than 20 years; Doubleday would have to wait until after the battle ended to mourn the loss of his friend.

The controversy around First Corps' performance at Gettysburg began with an inaccurate report issued by Major General Oliver Otis Howard, Eleventh Corps Commander, to Army of the Potomac commander, Major General George Meade. Howard's Corps had been accused of cowardice and running in the face of the enemy during Chancellorsville and some historians have suggested that his comments about First Corps may have been an attempt to repair Eleventh Corps' reputation.

Whether because of Howard's report, because he just didn't like Doubleday, because of a combination of both, or because of some other reason, Meade didn't let Doubleday keep command of First Corps so for days two and three of Gettysburg, Doubleday led that corps' third division and helped turn back Pickett's Charge - considered the high water mark of the Confederacy.

On July 1, 1863, First Corps, first under Reynolds, then Doubleday, repelled a morning attack on their position on McPherson's Ridge. Eleventh Corps arrived just before the afternoon attacks. Howard, who was senior to Doubleday, assumed command of the field and got his corps on line as the afternoon shots began. Greatly outnumbered, both Union commander's fell back to Seminary Ridge and then through Gettysburg Village and up to Cemetery Ridge, which they were able to hold until the rest of the Army of the Potomac arrived.

After midnight on July 2, 1863, as the rest of the Union troops arrived, they formed the famous fish hook line. Doubleday, now part of Newton's corps, received a few desperately reinforcements who would help bail out American Scoundrel Dan Sickles Third Corps around the Peach Orchard.

On July 3, 1863, Doubleday's Third Division was near the center of the line for Pickett's Charge and helped repel the Confederate advance. It wasn't until 6 pm, after the battle was all but finished, that Doubleday was struck in the neck by a shell fragment and was quite fortunate to not have been killed.

It was only after the battle, after his duty to his division, his corps, his army, and his country had been done that he began to push back against his demotion from corps command.

Today, both General Reynolds (above) and General Doubleday (below) have monuments in this honor on the Gettysburg battlefield.

One of Doubleday's other claims to fame came after the Civil War ended and he was posted San Francisco. He was part of the group that received the first patent for a cable car in the city. This factoid gave this child of the 80s and 90s the perfect excuse to talk about one of my favorite TV shows growing up, Full House. Fun fact, this host had a huge crush on Jodie Sweetin at the time!