Theories on why Robert E. Lee sent his troops across a 1 mile open field at Gettysburg?

Question

He was supposedly one of the greatest generals in American history, why would he have knowingly sent his men to slaughter?

Answer 1

1. he felt his boys were invincible

2. the attacks on the left and right the previous two days should have left the center weakened.

3. the preliminary artillery bombardment was the largest of the war up till that time, they were supposed to silence the union guns....unfortunately most overshot their target and wrought havoc among the supply units in the Union rear.

4. Supporting units of confederate artillery were supposed to advance with the rebel lines to support their attack, instead, the unit retreated due to misinformation.

5. Artillery caissons were sent to the rear trying to avoid Union fire, which only lessened the rebel cannonade.

6. The Union artillery fell silent wanting to conserve their ammunition for the main attack, instead it misled the rebels into thinking that the Union guns were silenced by the cannon fire.

7. Ewell was supposed to coordinate his attack on the Union right flank, instead he attacked to early and was driven back. The plan was for him to attack at the same time as the Pickett-Pettgrew assault. Since the Union line was a 'fish hook' shape, they could easily shift reinforcements to the center where they were needed.

So it may look like a blunder some 144 years later, but at the time, there may have been more of a chance to succeed then it appears to us now.

Answer 2

Because Lee was of the opinion that since he had attacked either flank for the past two days, the Union was strongest there and therefore weakest in the center.

What Lee didn't count on was the possibility that his artillery barrage would be relatively ineffective, which it was. He expected the attack point to be cleared of enemy guns, which it wasn't, and the troops to be demoralized by the bombardment, which they weren't.

Had everything gone to plan, I still don't think it would have worked. In the Union's reserve was the 20,000 well-rested veterans of Sedgewick's VI Corps. They would have sent the tired attackers packing even if they would have punctured Union lines.

edit- the rifled musket had an effective range of between 500 and 600 yards.

edit1- My opinion of Lee is that he was very skilled in defense but had an unfortunate to turn defensive battles into offensive ones and as a result he suffered higher casualties than he should have. In the case of Gettysburg, it was an offensive battle against a numerically superior opponent and I have never been impressed with any Confederate general's abilities to command an offensive battle.

Answer 3

(I believe you are talking about what is known as Pickett's Charge.)

Lee decided to strike what he thought to be a weakened Union center on Cemetery Ridge where he observed few troops and only a handful of batteries. If this section of Meade's line collapsed, it would threaten the Union rear and those strong hill positions. He issued orders for a massive bombardment aimed at this area followed by an assault of 18,000 men, coordinated and commanded by his trusted corps commander General James Longstreet. Longstreet's Assault, better known today as "Pickett's Charge", would be Lee's last gamble at Gettysburg.
http://www.nps.gov/archive/gett/getttour/day3.htm

Answer 4

Simply, because he had tried both flanks a day earlier, felt the Union center, if it fell, would be a linchpin to the whole Union line shattering, and most important, he felt his "Boys" could do it. They had never failed him, had never faltered in their task, and could perform miracles in his opinion. If the attack had been slightly better coordinated and had a diversionary attack somewhere else been attempted, the attack might have worked. Might have.

Answer 5

Because his attacks on Meade's flanks were repelled by strong forces, Lee reasoned that if Meade was strong on his flanks, he was weak in the middle.

Answer 6

Because the .50 rifle they were using only had an effective range of a hundred yards or so?
It was the only route?
Practises of Warfare?

Answer 7

yes, he was a good general, but i dont think he would have purposely sent his troops to death, i think there's something missing, some bits of information, history, i know someone like him would not waste troops