Unite the Right

[Smitty-48]

The thing about the High Water Mark of the Confederacy is not how short they fell, but how close they came, they took a pounding to get to the high ground, but they got there, in Napoleonic warfare terms, they were on the threshold, they had the agression, they had the elan, they got into a position where, the Yankees could have broke and run, and if they had, it would have been a rout with the AONV upon them, running them down from behind, so it's not so insane what Lee did, Napoleon did it as well, at Waterloo.

This is where Joshua Chamberlain and the 20th Maine really earned their pay, at the Little Round Top, it could have gone either way, if the AONV had got in there, they could have rolled up the flank, so Maine saved the Union at the breach in the end.

[Alexander PhiAlipson]

Let's suppose Lee won at Gettysburg, that Pickett's Charge succeeded, they capture all the supplies they need to continue their march, and the remains of the Army of the Potomac retreat in confusion toward Washington. Does that stop Grant at Vicksburg?

Or, let's suppose that JEB Stuart stays in close contact with Lee and Lee is better acquainted with the movements of "those people." Lee might have won another offensive/defensive battle, just like the one he "won" at Antietam only not at Gettysburg, but at a place of his own choosing. However, Meade--for all his plodding faults--was no McClellan; he was a cautious man without much faith in his own abilities as the last commander of an oft-beaten army. Washington itself was far from unguarded--only later would Grant strip its defenses--in sharp contrast, Richmond was nearly open. Lee went north rather than transfer troops west in hopes of obviating that necessity by causing sufficient panic to relieve the siege of Vicksburg obliquely, not to inflict a crippling blow or to capture Washington--though, you know, that wouldn't have been impossible.

[Smitty-48]

The Siege at Vicksburg ends, if the political support in the Union for continuing to prosecute the war ends, they're never going to beat the Union head to head, they need a Tet Offensive moment, to get the Yankees to come to the table and treat for terms.

They're playing for an armistice, a stalemate is a win, if they can get the Yankees to decide they've had enough, then it's a victory by default.

[Penner]

[Smitty-48]

That's why they made their move at Gettysburg, if they don't beat the Army of the Potomac decisively within striking distance of the Capitol, to get the Yankees to sue for terms, then Appamottox Courthouse will come eventually, if they run, that is the final destination, this is what Lee knows, so he's going for the win by manuever, because a war of attrition is doom.

[Penner]

That's why they made their move at Gettysburg, if they don't beat the Army of the Potomac decisively within striking distance of the Capitol, to get the Yankees to sue for terms, then Appamottox Courthouse will come eventually, if they run, that is the final destination, this is what Lee knows, so he's going for the win by manuever, because a war of attrition is doom.

Gettysburg was the turning point of the war. For most of the war before that, the South was fighting on their home ground and were mostly winning the battles. Gettysburg changed that and marked/signaled the time that the South started to lose the war. Plus, the events leading up to Gettysburg had more to do with coincidence than some strategic planning on Lee's part. He was in the area to get shoes for his men (during the time Gettysburg, PA had two main things happening in it- pig farming and shoe making), and his army also need other supplies in dire need as well- and both armies just stumbled onto each other.

[The Conservative]

Sherman was a great general.

Prefer Patton myself.

[Smitty-48]

That's why they made their move at Gettysburg, if they don't beat the Army of the Potomac decisively within striking distance of the Capitol, to get the Yankees to sue for terms, then Appamottox Courthouse will come eventually, if they run, that is the final destination, this is what Lee knows, so he's going for the win by manuever, because a war of attrition is doom.

Gettysburg was the turning point of the war. For most of the war before that, the South was fighting on their home ground and were mostly winning the battles. Gettysburg changed that and marked/signaled the time that the South started to lose the war. Plus, the events leading up to Gettysburg had more to do with coincidence than some strategic planning on Lee's part. He was in the area to get shoes for his men (during the time Gettysburg, PA had two main things happening in it- pig farming and shoe making), and his army also need other supplies in dire need as well- and both armies just stumbled onto each other.

I'm aware, but in the moment, having been stumbled upon, Lee decided that this was the moment to go for all the marbles, even if them Yankees had the high ground.

He was wrong, but anything is possible, we beat them Yankees when they had the high ground at Queenston Heights, General Brock attacked uphill, he was killed, but then then the Canadians got fired up at the sight of it, and the Grand River Mohawks came screaming in from the flanks, and them Yankees were driven off the Heights, to be dashed upon the rocks below.

Them Yankees can be whupped, you gots to just go for it, against the odds, and God willing, them Yankees will break and run.

[The Conservative]

That's why they made their move at Gettysburg, if they don't beat the Army of the Potomac decisively within striking distance of the Capitol, to get the Yankees to sue for terms, then Appamottox Courthouse will come eventually, if they run, that is the final destination, this is what Lee knows, so he's going for the win by manuever, because a war of attrition is doom.

Gettysburg was the turning point of the war. For most of the war before that, the South was fighting on their home ground and were mostly winning the battles. Gettysburg changed that and marked/signaled the time that the South started to lose the war. Plus, the events leading up to Gettysburg had more to do with coincidence than some strategic planning on Lee's part. He was in the area to get shoes for his men (during the time Gettysburg, PA had two main things happening in it- pig farming and shoe making), and his army also need other supplies in dire need as well- and both armies just stumbled onto each other.

I'm aware, but in the moment, having been stumbled upon, Lee decided that this was the moment to go for all the marbles, even if them Yankees had the high ground.

He was wrong, but anything is possible, we beat them Yankees when they had the high ground at Queenston Heights, General Brock attacked uphill, he was killed, but then the the Canadians got fired up at the sight of it, and the Grand River Mohawks came screaming in from the flanks, and them Yankees were driven off the Heights, to be dashed upon the rocks below.

Them Yankees can be whupped, you gots to just go for it, against the odds, and God willing, them Yankees will break and run.

It's called luck. Plain and simple.

[Smitty-48]

It's called luck. Plain and simple.

You make you own luck, the Yankees outnumbered General Brocks's forces and they had the high ground, but they were counting on a walkover, they weren't expecting a stand up fight, their commanders had told them it was going to be a cakewalk, when it wasn't, they lost their nerve, and luckily for the Crown of Canada, them Yankees were terrified of Indians, so when the war cries of the Grand River Mohawks reached their ears, they panicked, they were literally jumping off the cliffs to be dashed upon the rocks below rather than let them Mohawks get a hold of them, once they broke and ran, Canada lived to tell the tale, and here I am to tell it, from amongst the red and green maples, in the True North strong and free.

Never know what might panic them Yankees, could be the Grand River Mohawks, could be the Viet Cong, only way to find out, is to make your move and let it ride.