“Dan Sickles at Gettysburg” – Frederick County Civil War Round Table

Learn about Sickles’ unauthorized maneuver that altered the largest battle of the Civil War.

Author and licensed Gettysburg guide James Hessler will describe how Sickles openly disobeyed orders in one of the most controversial decisions in military history. No single action dictated the battlefield strategies of George Meade and Robert E. Lee more than Sickles’ unauthorized advance to the Peach Orchard, and the mythic defense of Little Round Top might have occurred quite differently were it not for General Sickles. After the battle he worked to remove General Meade from command of the army and  spent the remainder of his checkered life declaring himself the true hero of Gettysburg.

The museum doors open at 6:30 PM and the presentation beings at 6:45 PM. The presentation is free for FCCWRT members and a suggested donation of $5 for non-members.

Mr. Hessler has been a Licensed Battlefield Guide at Gettysburg National Military Park since 2003. His book Sickles at Gettysburg was awarded the R.E. Lee Civil War Round Table’s “Bachelder Coddington Award” and the Gettysburg Civil War Round Table’s “Distinguished Book Award” as the most outstanding work on the Gettysburg Campaign. His latest book, Pickett’s Charge at Gettysburg, was co-authored with Wayne Motts and was released in 2015. Jim has written several articles for Gettysburg Magazine and other national publications He is a frequent speaker at Civil War Round Tables and has taught courses for the Gettysburg Foundation and Harrisburg (PA) Area Community College.