who else thinks that Lee was responsible for the loss at Gettysburg.?

Question

I am so sick of hearing what a great general that he was. He beat the union early, because of the idiots that they had running there army. If he would have listened to longstreet, and went around the union army, and got between them and washington, they could have fought meade on the ground of there choosing.Instead he sacrificed most of Pickets men on an ill conceived military maneaver.

If grant had been in charge of the union army, instead of MCclellan, the war would not have lasted more than one year.

Answer 1

I do. The arrogant general in search of glory should have tried to help out his buddies and win at Vicksburg instead of his glorious idea of invading the North.

Answer 2

There was never any questioning about Lee's mis-judgment at Gettysburg and his responsibility for the outcome.

Hindsight tells a lot, except for what actually happened. And what happened was that Lee only had a short time he could stay up north for logistical reasons, had the largest size army he would ever have (75,000) vs. the fewest the Union ever had (90,000). He needed a crushing victory, but that risked being devastated himself, and that is what happened.

The real blame is that Lee had no cavalry for the first 2 days of the battle because Jeb Stuart detached from the Army of Virginia and went raiding through Pennsylvania for no real strategic benefit for Lee.

Answer 3

There were several reasons why the greatest tactician of the war blundered at Gettysburg, namely:

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 too 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 4

I think you are right - if he would have flanked Meade off the good ground he could have broken him on ground of his own choosing. But remember that Lee had used entrenchments early in the war and was jeered at by the southern press as "the king of spades". He was reluctant to go onto the defense after that. Longstreet was the best tactical thinker the south had.

Answer 5

I agree. Lee was a great General, but he blew it at Gettysburg. If he had won that battle, Lincoln might have been forced to sue for peace. Instead, Lincoln got a well-needed victory and the Union was saved. Also, the Union Army could have pursued the Confederates as they fled Gettysburg, and inflicted more punishment on them.

Answer 6

Bear in mind that Stonewall Jackson died two months prior to Gettysburg. That sure didn't help Lee's cause.

Lee would've been very dangerous on a level playing field. Meade and Grant, much more so than McClellan and Hooker, realized that war isn't about playing fair and not exploiting your numerical advantages.

Answer 7

You are forgetting the fall of Vicksburg. You ought to take your study to another level before rushing to print. The fall of Vicksburg cut the south in half and doomed the cause. Lee knew this and gambled for a big win rather than a slow bleed. He was fighting from desperation and any subsequent battle would not have changed anything. He had to play the all or nothing hand as he had no choice.

Answer 8

If Jeb Stuart had been with Lee at the beginning of the battle instead of showing up two days latter the out come might have been different.

Answer 9

lee was one of the greatest generals ever. including all armies. It was partly his fault. if you would read some books you'd realize that. the reason the confederates lost the war was because of the naval blockade that the north set to keep the south's supplies from coming in. the south a much stronger will for fighting but less numbers.

Answer 10

Come on, Picketts charge was stupid. It should have never been allowed. For that reason alone, Lee was a failure for allowing it.