"Gettysburg Controversy? It's Ewell!" Topic

You were asked – TMP link

The Battle of Gettysburg is one of the most talked and written about battles of all time. A number of controversies swirl around the battle to this day. Which of these had the most effect on the outcome of the battle?

And in the final round of voting:

36% said "Ewell's decision not to attack Culp's Hill on the first day of battle."

25% said "Lee's decision to attack the center of the Union line (Pickett's Charge) on the third day of the battle."

16% said "Performance of the Confederate cavalry."

The interior lines and supports of the Union Army and the major advantage of defending from an entrenched position. The fact they were blind to some extent for lacking their cavalry in scouting didn't help either. Piecemeal uncoordinated attacks. Was badly run from start to finish by the CSA in my opinion. They deserved to lose that one.

It was bad ground if you were CSA.

It seemed Lee attempted to do what he always tried to get his Union opposition to do and with the same result. IMHO.

Rustymusket, right you are! Because he had placed himself in the position where the Union usually was: in enemy territory needing to fight and win a battle.

We would say Hooker lost at Chancellorsville not Howard, yet we never blame Lee for Gettysburg. Lee was in charge it was his fault.

Lee even said the failure of Pickett's charge was all his fault. Why not listen to him?

Well … many seem to be of the opinion that Lee beat Lee at Gettysburg. As if the battle was his to win in the first place and he snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. IMHO Meade beat Lee by conducting a masterful defense and delivering a war altering performance often dismissed or ignored by historians.

Cheers!