The worst General- North and South

[milhistbuff1]

nbforrest,

Meade was relatively new to command and under pressure from Washington to boot. I am suggesting that Lee would have created a similar fishhook pattern to Meades except facing the south and east instead of North and West. My odds are comment is based on the premise that the corp commanders would want to stick it out like in the original conference, Meade was the only one who even considered retreating.

respectfully
Matt

[Admiral_Porter]

I'm not sure what you mean by tunnel vision.

Longstreet wanted a concentration in the west to drive back Rosecrans. He could think beyond Virginia.

But saying that Longstreet was better in offensive attacks than Lee just doesn't make much sense.

I was not suggesting that at all.

If anyone has a link to an order of battle for Seven Pines I would appreciate it.

[nbforrest]

Originally Posted by milhistbuff1

nbforrest,

Meade was relatively new to command and under pressure from Washington to boot. I am suggesting that Lee would have created a similar fishhook pattern to Meades except facing the south and east instead of North and West. My odds are comment is based on the premise that the corp commanders would want to stick it out like in the original conference, Meade was the only one who even considered retreating.

respectfully
Matt

I guess I just don't see why Lee would be there in the first place. Why would he head to Gettysburg, away from his supplies and endangering his army with the AOP in his rear? I just don't see it as feasible that Lee would hold his army on Cemetery Hill. He would just be dangling there with a town to his back. Seminary Ridge would screen Union flank movements.

Respectfully

[nbforrest]

Longstreet wanted a concentration in the west to drive back Rosecrans. He could think beyond Virginia.


I guess I just never have seen Longstreet as such a strong proponent of multi theater cooperation. Can you give some examples of times when he suggested this?

Anyway, any sort of theater cooperation was great on paper, but the resources weren't there.

Respectfully

[Admiral_Porter]

Can you give some examples of times when he suggested this?

He advocated it after Chancellorsville. He argued that instead of invading the north Lee should stay on the defensive and detach men to the west to drive back Rosecrans.

[milhistbuff1]

Seminary ridge is lower than cemetary hill and the woods on seminary ridge are vulnerable to arty fire. Hard to supply such flanking move with Lee using the Cashtown pike skirting its northern end.
Respectfully,
Matt

[nbforrest]

He advocated it after Chancellorsville. He argued that instead of invading the north Lee should stay on the defensive and detach men to the west to drive back Rosecrans.

Then he wasn't doing anything Lee did not consider. Lee did exactly that when the time came. If Longstreet insisted on a defensive campaign, then he was being very foolish. There was no way a defensive campaign could win the war. Lee knew that.

Respectfully

[nbforrest]

Seminary ridge is lower than cemetary hill and the woods on seminary ridge are vulnerable to arty fire. Hard to supply such flanking move with Lee using the Cashtown pike skirting its northern end.

Troops on the west side of Seminary Ridge cannot be seen from Cemetery Hill. If Lee was sitting atop Cemetery Hill, the pike would be wide open. Meade could easily have swung around into Lee's rear.

Respectfully

[Admiral_Porter]

Lee did exactly that when the time came.

Only when Davis ordered him to. Until that time came he was unwilling to assist other departments.

If Longstreet insisted on a defensive campaign, then he was being very foolish.

I don't see it as foolish.

Hooker was still off balance from his Chancellorsville defeat and Grant was moving against Vicksburg.

I see it as a way of using the south's interior lines to sucessfully defeat one Union army and then another.

[nbforrest]

Only when Davis ordered him to. Until that time came he was unwilling to assist other departments.

I don't put much stock in Davis' generalship.


Hooker was still off balance from his Chancellorsville defeat and Grant was moving against Vicksburg.

I see it as a way of using the south's interior lines to sucessfully defeat one Union army and then another.
The ANV could not perform miracles. Lee knew that only offensive victories could bring about a political solution. How on earth would Longstreet have defeated Rosecrans and rescued Vicksburg? There's just not enough troops to go around. You can't blame Lee for not undertaking an impossible task.

Respectfully