"Gettysburg and Lee's Escape to Virginia" Topic

"Gettysburg is the most written-about battle in American history, and yet new interpretations of what happened there have recently taken root. As this work explains, Confederate General Robert E. Lee was fixated on capturing Cemetery Hill, the high ground just southeast of the town, but he misunderstood the position of the Union line of defense. In three days of attacks, Lee lost a third of his veteran infantrymen – the heart of his army – and expended much of his ammunition. With the Union army bloodied but unmoved, Lee had no choice but to retreat, but he was a long way from home with no real supply line. President Abraham Lincoln saw this as the best chance yet to destroy Lee's army. A vigorous Union pursuit might well cut him off before he could return to friendly territory in Virginia, and rain storms caused the Potomac River to rise to unfordable depth just as Federal cavalry destroyed his only pontoon bridge. And while Lee was fighting and retreating: Union General Ulysses S. Grant was besieging Vicksburg, Mississippi, the key Confederate position on the Mississippi River … a scratch-force Confederate army outside that city was trying to find a way to break through Grant's defenses long enough to rescue the Rebel garrison … Confederate cavalry was raiding across southern Indiana and Ohio … And an uprising broke out in New York City, beginning with protests against the newly instituted draft but quickly degenerating into pillage, vandalism, and race riots. Much hung in the balance of history during the first half of July, 1863. If Lee could be forced to surrender just as Grant took Vicksburg, the American Civil War would be all but over"

See here
link

Amicalement
Armand

Didn't we just do this? Let me repeat.

Let's not forget what a command mess Meade had by the end of the battle, with brigades and regiments pulled out of "safe" sectors and jammed into threatened ones without regard for organization. The AoP looked like it had been tossed in a blender. A day to be sure Lee's going and it's safe to do a major resort. A day at least, I'd say to get the Corps reassembled, and possibly a third day to issue rations and ammunition.
And it was never a matter of simple pursuit. The ANV hadn't collapsed like the French Army at Waterloo. Lee had about five divisions which hadn't fought on the 3rd. They'd taken losses earlier, but they were in ranks, properly organized and supplied.
If you want to make a case for a botched pursuit, try either battle of Manassas or Shiloh, not Gettysburg. Lee was never going to be caught before he reached the Potomac.

But Tango, if you think otherwise, that's what wargame tables are for. I'll be very interested in your reconstruction of the starting situation.

I don't think otherwise my friend… I only post the book for those who found it interesting… (smile).

Amicalement
Armand

Thanks for the plug! Yes, that's my book.