Troop direction is another role the commander plays in the operations process; the commander issues orders, positions units to maximize combat power, and allocates resources to exploit opportunities13. While the Union Forces awaited the pontoon boats to cross the Rappahannock River, General Lee began directing his units to take up defensive positions. He directed LTG Longstreet’s entire corps onto Marye’s Heights where they occupied positions behind stone and rock walls that provided excellent cover and concealment. Supporting Longstreet’s corps, Lee directed his artillery under COL Edward Alexander to array the majority of his 250 cannons in cluster behind Longstreet’s infantry14. From this passion, the Confederate artillery benefitted from …show more content…
General Lee also was active in directing the committing of the reserve forces during the attack on 13 December by Union MG Meade and BG Gibbons. Due to misidentifying oncoming Union Soldiers as fleeing Confederate Soldiers, the Confederates where routed by the Union attack causing a hole in the Confederate defenses. General Lee understood the importance of not allowing the attack to turn the battle; he committed his reserves under the command of BGs Early and Taliaferro. These forces were able to neutralize the Meade and Gibbons’ attempt to break the Confederate lines15. His ability to direct his subordinates to take action in accordance with his end state greatly supported his ability to lead the Army of Northern …show more content…
This risk could have resulted in General Lee being killed, destroying not only the morale of the Army of Northern Virginia but throughout the entire Confederate States, ultimately causing the Army as a whole to suffer greatly. Despite the risk, Lee insisted on staying near the front lines to increase not only the morale, but also the amount of direct control he had on the battles outcome. He knowingly placed his headquarters at a point that he was so close he could see every move and wave of troops the union forces placed on the field in front of him. This was very encouraging for the men fighting in the field that he trusted his Soldiers so much that he would risk his own life by placing full faith in them and the positions they occupied that he would not leave, even when his own life was threatened on two separate occasions. The fact that General Lee would risk his own death to lead his troops by providing purpose and motivation by his physical presence on the battle exemplifies his ability to lead and accomplish his mission while in