The Gettysburg campaign...

[Capt Dizle]

Was Lee correct to try this? Was it not the best and maybe only chance for Southern independance?

[Boris Godunov]

At that point in the war, it was a reasonable strategy, and was certainly better than sitting around waiting to lose to the North's war of attrition.

However, the choice to fight at Gettysburg itself was a bad one. He should have retreated to better ground.

[Al B. Sure!]

Lee could have easily won at Gettysburg, despite his numerical inferiority, except with Stuart going around like a mercenary who know's where, Lee did not have sufficient reconnaisance to gauge his best strategy, and lacked the cavalry that would've been able to outflank the Union troops.

[Al B. Sure!]

Oh yeah... if Lee would have been able to gain much from a victory at Gettysburg is doubtful though. Once Philly or DC was threatened, the Union would probably muster a force that the invading Confederates would not have been able to hold off, let alone manage to besiege the northern capital.


thanks

[Chris 62]

The campaign was sound, a strike into the North was designed to sway Europe into recognizing the Confederacy.

The engagement and Gettysburg was not planned, it just happened, mainly through JEB Stuart, Lee's cavalery comander being out of touch, and not giving scouting reports (like he was supposed to).

Had stuart reported where the federal army of Meade was, Lee might not have selected to fight on such unfavorable terrain to an offensive.

[Capt Dizle]

Longstreet was of the opinion that the Federals would have attacked the ANV even if it had entrenched on favorable terrain but Meade was a cautious general and he could have simply refused to offer battle.

[Chris 62]

Lee and Longstreet disagreed about this battle for years, in fact, a number of southern appologists tried to blame Longstreet for the defeat, despite the fact he advised against Picket's attack on day #3.

[Capt Dizle]

And it is clearly established that the opening of the battle occured when one of Lee's generals advanced thinking that he was opposed by only cavalry and/or milita. When the initial clash broadened into a major engagement Lee appraished the situation and ordered an attack that resulted in a Confederate victory on the first day.

[Capt Dizle]

Longstreet was accused of not prosecuting the attack vigorously because he was opposed to it. This in fact could have been a case of self-fulfilling prophesy.

But the issue to me is not whether or not Lee managed the battle correctly. It's whether he should have been in Pennslyvania in the first place.

[DinoDoc]

Can someone give me an opinion on the veracity of this article: Lee and Gettysburg?

[Capt Dizle]

Veracity? This article uses facts to present an opinion of Lee and not a favorable one at that.

I disagree with the conclusions.

Example: The author compares Lee with Patton and concludes that Lee was a bad general because he took heavy casualties. This is flawed on its face because in the 1860s warfare favored the defense and this continued through WW1, but by WW2 the offense had the advantage and warfare was much more mobile.

The author also pans Lee for giving his commanders the freedom of inititive and for not being able to ensure that the attacks on the 2nd and 3rd day of the battle were properly coordinated. This is cheap and ignorant Monday morning quarterbacking.

[orange]

somewhat related: I visited Gettysburg this summer with a friend who lives out that way. It was an awesome experience. So full of history, and they do a great job of showing exactly what went on and where. Devil's Den was the most amazing, by far...definitely recommend visiting there if you're ever in the area. Well worth it

[Capt Dizle]

Oh please tell us more of your impressions of the Devil's Den?

[chequita guevara]

In Lies Across America one of the things I found interesting is that the battlefields are now kept in park like conditions (not so od seeing as they are parks). It said you don't get a real sense for what the battle fields was actually like, with thickets and tall grass and swampland. The battlefields don't seem as hellish as they should.

[Capt Dizle]

At the time of the war there was a lot more farmland than there is now.

There are more trees now. Fancy that.

I understand that on many battlefields the streams would run red with blood. I don't suppose they should simulate that do you?