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Having read this thread, I'm beginning to think that, perhaps, Lee was at least not himself. He may have been sound when he decided the raid was a good idea. He may have figured that the last, best hope for victory was to bring on a major battle with the AotP on ground of his choosing. It was a risky venture from the get go, but Lee seems to have bungled very nearly everything after he crossed south mountain.
He had lots of cavalry with him, but didn't use it in place of Stuart. He had opportunities but couldn't coordinate his plans. And then he attacks an entrenched enemy, without the requisit 3-to-1 advantage over a mile of open country within range of a whole bunch of cannon. Maybe 5fish has something?
ole
__________________ I never knew a man who wished to be himself a slave. Consider if you know any good thing that no man desires for himself. A. Lincoln
Ole, a very thought out statement as usual. To add to his problems was the presents of Freemantle. The pressure was really on him. If he won, maybe he could win suppport from Europe. If not, then the south was doomed to failure.
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I'm guessing Freemantle was no booby and had about as much influence on Parliament as McClellan when he was over there. Even if Lee won, I wouldn't bet on England pitching in. There simply was no money in it. (Slap my face! It wasn't that cut and dried, but England wasn't totally overrun with saps.) Economically, southern cotton was convenient, but it was not worth betting the future on. The people did not like slavery and wouldn't long take the cotton in exchange for enslavement. England has always looked well into the future when meddling with the present. A united America appeared to be a better bet than a divided one. By Gettysburg, it had figured out which side the broad was better on.
ole
__________________ I never knew a man who wished to be himself a slave. Consider if you know any good thing that no man desires for himself. A. Lincoln
England had more loss then win if it recognized the confederacy. Once they found other sources(Egypt) for cotton for their textile mills. England had little to gain in helping the confederacy only the possibility of losing Canada.
You know depression is rather common after a person has a Heart Attack. In the 19th century depression was not known about or the concept of stress. In the 14 weeks leading up to Gettysburg he lost Gen. Jackson and that loss was more then just a good general to him. In many ways they were kindred hearts in war and in god and if Gen Lee was depress this would add to it. The first days of Gettysburg Gen. Stuart was missing and no one knew his where abouts. Gen. Stuart was Gen. Lee's other kindred soul in war and in god. Gen Lee was worried about Gen. Stuart beyond military concerns.
If the Heart attack had brought on depression in Gen Lee these fact may have amplified it. Gen A.P. Hill had his first attack of his mysterious illness at Gettysburg that is why some historians think Stress may be the main factor in A. P. Hill's health. He never had the mysterious health problem until he was made a corp commander.
The questions of Gettysburg lead to What cause Gen. Lee to act so out of character during the battle?
I'm sorry if this qustion has already been asked and answered,but I'd like to know if anyone has any documented medical records of the time which can point one way or another as to Gen. Lee's heart, or otherwise health condition around abouts these times in question?
Otherwise we may be chasing a case of violent indigestion, or whatnot.
At the time there were plenty of other reasons besides physical ailments for Gen. Lee to "depressed" about.
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"It was a very peculiar time." - Franklin D. Cossitt
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At the time there were plenty of other reasons besides physical ailments for Gen. Lee to "depressed" about.
Gee you mean like the fact that his nation was fighting a war it couldn't possibly win but he had to fight and sacrifice thousands of lives anyways? I guess that would depress just about anybody.
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"In mortal combat, a man may and will become so infuriated by the din and dangers of a bloody fight that his heart will turn to stone and his every de sire [be] for blood."
John Hadley, 7th Indiana after the battle at Port Republic
I'm sorry if this qustion has already been asked and answered,but I'd like to know if anyone has any documented medical records of the time which can point one way or another as to Gen. Lee's heart, or otherwise health condition around abouts these times in question?
Otherwise we may be chasing a case of violent indigestion, or whatnot.
At the time there were plenty of other reasons besides physical ailments for Gen. Lee to "depressed" about.
Yes, if you go to google and key "Cardiac Illness of General Robert E. Lee" some of the following comes up.
The Lexington Physicians of General Lee
Douglas Southall Freeman famous work about General Lee as a health history.
Cardiac Illness of General Robert E. Lee, it is a paper by two doctors. I have never read it for the site wants you to join it to read it. the site PUBMED has several papers on General Lee's health.
So there if the information you were looking for.
MY QUESTION IS: Has there ever been a time line done during the battle of Gettysburg of where Gen. Lee was at defferent times during the battle.
When I read about the battle Gen Lee is always by himself like no aids or with him. He visits Ewell he meets up with Longstreet when he is alone or at least no are mention with him. I find this odd for the commander fo an army to travel the battlefield alone.
When I read about the battle Gen Lee is always by himself like no aids or with him. He visits Ewell he meets up with Longstreet when he is alone or at least no are mention with him. I find this odd for the commander fo an army to travel the battlefield alone.
I think alot of times, especially in large scale battles such as Getteysburg, communication was so important that everybody and anybody on hand was used as a messenger. Not for General Lee specifically, but several other generals throughout the war I have read so and so sent his Aide de Camp to carry a message to whoever. In a battle like Getteysburg I imagine messengers were flying all over the place, it's not too far fethced to think his aid was just as busy.
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"In mortal combat, a man may and will become so infuriated by the din and dangers of a bloody fight that his heart will turn to stone and his every de sire [be] for blood."
John Hadley, 7th Indiana after the battle at Port Republic
Lee rode all over the Confederate side of his lines all the way from Ewell's Hqs near Culp's Hill to Longstreet's at the extreme left of the Union Line. Even with direct communications with his senior commanders, Lee was unable to coordinate his attacks.
Gettysburg resembles Antietam, in that like McClellan, Lee seems to have set his attacks into motion and then sat back and let them run down, with no apparent attempt to call off failure or reinforce success.
Does anyone know where Lee was, During Longstreets and Anderson's assaults.
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