quote:

Originally posted by bangfxr:
OLDAO sorry was a misunderstanding on my part.
Have been busy with getting ready for an inspection and the St Patricks day parade here in Indianapolis. Repeating arms in the war (where some people say never were used) I could get in on that.

quote:

Originally posted by OneFatCat:
I must be misinformed ...I thought that I had read in Longstreets book he was quoted as telling Hood that he had questioned Gen. Lee about the over all assualt before the battle was in full swing ...that he thought their plan was to fight a defensive battle and suggested moving towards Washington to make the union army chase them to a better ground ..if this is true then Ole Pete did question the old man at times ...am I wrong?

OFC

quote:

Originally posted by OneFatCat:
Well I would agree that Gen Lee was not in the best of health however I do not think that played into the decisions he made those faithful 3 days in July ...based on what I have read I think that Gen Lee knew he had a short window of opportunity in hostile country with very little previsions...and its my thinking that he saw what he thought was a way to end the war early if he could defeat Meade at Gettysburg ...obviously being an arm chair quaterback we can look at it now as a very bad decision but at the time it must have made since to a very competent General to take the risk as I am sure he knew it was a big gamble..out numbered ..very bad ground ..and his calvery not available ...but then again the entire war was a gamble for the south..however the way I see it he did not have many military choices ...its just this time the dice came up snake eyes for Gen Lee and the ANV...I'm not sure what General Lee's objective was when he left Virgina but I am sure he had his orders from Jeff Davis and Im not sure that he did not have some influence in what occured and should bare some of the responsibility
OFC

quote:

Originally posted by AirDefndr1968:

quote:

Originally posted by OneFatCat:
Well I would agree that Gen Lee was not in the best of health however I do not think that played into the decisions he made those faithful 3 days in July ...based on what I have read I think that Gen Lee knew he had a short window of opportunity in hostile country with very little previsions...and its my thinking that he saw what he thought was a way to end the war early if he could defeat Meade at Gettysburg ...obviously being an arm chair quaterback we can look at it now as a very bad decision but at the time it must have made since to a very competent General to take the risk as I am sure he knew it was a big gamble..out numbered ..very bad ground ..and his calvery not available ...but then again the entire war was a gamble for the south..however the way I see it he did not have many military choices ...its just this time the dice came up snake eyes for Gen Lee and the ANV...I'm not sure what General Lee's objective was when he left Virgina but I am sure he had his orders from Jeff Davis and Im not sure that he did not have some influence in what occured and should bare some of the responsibility
OFC

There can be little doubt that Lee was not in the best of health at Gettysburg, and I believe that was a factor in his decisions. However, Lee also knew that the South was losing the the war, that the Federals had both money and manpower and would have been able to fight a very long war of attrition. The South had neither the industry for producing war material nor the manpower, and money was dwindling rapidly too. In short, the South desperately need a victory in the field to induce foreign interests to support the Southern cause, and this was, no doubt, weighing heavily on Lee's mind as his troops squared-off at Gettysburg.

But victories are seldom born out of desperation. For Lee to enjoy a true victory he desperately needed to interdict the railroad by which the Federals could keep pouring troops and material into Gettysburg, regardless of their own blunders. But it wasn't to be. Lee never did interdict that railroad, and so the outcome was pretty much sealed before the first day was over. Nevertheless, Lee both wanted and needed a victory and his men fought hard to give him one. But before the first day was over he was fighting "mission impossible". Had he realized the futility of his situation, he might have withdrawn and at least saved the army for another day. Even so, this was beyond question, one of the costliest campaigns the South ever fought. Losses on both sides were horrendous, and for the South, the losses were irreplacable. Therefore there is no doubt in my mind that this was the campaign that really decided the war.

Nevertheless, Lee was first in his class at West Point and was, beyond any question, one of the greatest generals of all time. He had a certain bearing and nobility that is so very rare. Also, he had the blessing of many fine generals under him. So the South never lost the war because of lack of leadership, which they actually had in good supply. The South lost due to lack of almost everything else: manpower, arms, food, money, war materiel, industry, and just about everything else you care to name.

quote:

Originally posted by JPope:
Some very excellent posts gentlemen. But I believe the pivotal point in the war was at Antietam. That was the true high point of the Confederacy's hopes because that was when the european powers were still on the fence as to help the south with the war. The CSA was flush with victories over superior Union forces and a victory there would have shown the European powers that it was a nation struggling for independence.
The Southern leaders still hoped that a victory on Northern territory could help bring that level of interest back. Instead Gettysburg helped to seal the fate of the Confederacy in the defeat of the Army of Northern Virginia.