American Civil War?

Question

Was Gettysburg a "Close Run Thing" for the Northern Army?
Would it have made much impact if Lee's Army had won the day?
I ask as a British guy interested in that period.

Why are there so many Dick Heads on here?

Answer 1

The Union at Gettysburg was fighting from one of the finest defensive positions of the war. They had superior numbers, the high ground, a wall running for much of their line, and excellent interior lines of supply and communication. Even at the high point of Pickett's Charge, Lee really didn't have adequate reserves ready to effectively exploit a breach in the Union lines at Gettysburg. Much as a Southern boy may hate to admit it, it really wasn't a "close run thing".
Now, Had Lee won the campaign (perhaps had he disengaged, gone around the Union flank and found good ground between Meade and Washington DC, forcing Meade to attack a Confederate defense from the high ground) There is some chance that it may have led to a negotiated agreement between the North And South. However, even Jefferson Davis admitted that France and England were unlikely to recognize the Confederacy with slavery intact. I think that as long as the institution of Slavery existed, the CSA would have stood alone. I really don't think the that the South stood a chance in that war. It really was a Lost Cause.

Answer 2

The real threat of a Gettysburg victory was not that the Confederacy would follow it to a military victory over the North. There was a very real possibility that a major victory on Northern soil would have resulted in foreign recognition of the Confederacy as an independent nation. The South was never recognized as a legitimate government by any major nation (European at that time) during the course of the war.

Many historians believe that a Confederate victory at Gettysburg would have led to their recognition by Britain and possibly France. That major shift in the politics of the war could have meant its ending.

It is also possible that a Confederate victory at Gettysburg could have led to Lincoln losing the election of 1864. His opponent (I believe, I don't recall specifically and could be wrong) was an anti-war candidate and may have negotiated an end to the war.

Answer 3

A Southern victory at Gettysburg could have dealt a decisive blow to the North even if Lee had lost half his men.

Lee's invasion north was as much a political move as it was a military one. The Southern leaders knew that they could not fight a war of attrition against the North. They were already suffering shortages in food, men and arms and no European country would come to their aid. If intervention was not coming from overseas, perhaps it might come from within the North itself.

By 1863, Lincoln was being routinely blasted in the Northern press as an arrogant, war-mongering buffoon, and many claimed it was time for a truce. The Confederates hoped a northward invasion would rally anti-war Northerners and further erode Lincoln's support. Another crushing defeat against Lee, especially one on Northern soil, might have done just that.

It's an excellent question and interesting parallel to today's events, begging the questions "where is the line between dissention and aiding the enemy?" and "where is the line between arrogance and resolve?"

Answer 4

The reality is Gettysburg, like most civil war battles, was not a real victory for either side. Even if Lee's army had managed to push the federals off cemetary ridge they would have had to fight all the way to Washington after loosing nearly 1/3rd of an already ill equipped and poorly supplied army. The South never really stood much of a chance after the early success as they were constantly out numbered and out supplied.

Answer 5

gees people he only asked a simple question, no need to be rude. Gettysburg was a big turning point in the civil war, the north was actually losing the war up until the battle of Gettysburg and Vicksburg. if Lees Army had won that battle, they could have had a victory in the war. and America probably would not be what it is today

Answer 6

It was a very close thing. Both armies suffered over twenty-thousand casualties. The Confederates took heavier loss of life, but the Union soldiers suffered more wounded men. On the battlefield, it essentially ended in stalemate, with neither general willing to press the attack.

In the view of the entire war, however, Gettysburg was a major victory for the Union. Lee's plan was to continue moving his army northward into the urban areas of Pittsburgh and Philidelphia. Doing so would have allowed him to fortify and resupply, as well as put enormous pressure on Abraham Lincoln to end the war as soon as possible. Stopping Lee's seemingly invincible army allowed the Northern forces to rally and reorganize, as well as allowing the political leaders of the north to focus their substantial manufacturing capabilities on war production. Before Gettyburgh, the Confederacy had been extremely successful in mobilizing and gaining territory. The defeat put them on the defensive and led to the Union's eventual victory.

Answer 7

Don't know much about the American civil except to say that
it was a turning point for the entire world in its attitude toward
slavery. While it was a terrible war that should not have never been
fought in the first place(the US should have outlawed slavery
from the American Revolution) it is behind us now, and I believe
America can look back and say that the right thing was done.
Its too bad that the Muslim nations who continue to practice
slavery have not learned this lesson. I expect they will have to
learn their lessons the hard way.
I Corinthians 13;8a, Love never fails!!!!!

Answer 8

I'm not sure because that was one of the "major battles" of that war. Although, I am a Southerner.... so I have feelings of the "Rebel" but I don't really think the south could have ever won the war because the North had all the factories that made weapons, ect. and they had cut the South off. The only thing the South had was crops and cotton. Damn Yankees :-)

Answer 9

Slavery become the overriding problem. States' rights become smoke and mirrors, an excuse, no longer a reason to insurrection. The South needed to steer away from making slavery their stated reason. It become considered as undesirable P.R. They knew that they could favor help from Europe, likely Britain. Many ecu international places ought to have admired that the U.S. be fractured. States had ceded their authority, at the same time as they ratified the structure. The structure become designed to position the federal authority over the states, because the unique plan. of a weaker federal authorities had failed, below the Articles of Confederation. Newspaper articles, from the time of the ratification votes, suggested ratification on condition that it ought to ward off states from secession.

Answer 10

of course! Had lee won, there would have been little organized resistance for a rally straight to Washington.

oh and by the way..qwerty is a moron.