Meade's Big Plan for Lee!!

[ole]

I have to believe that most of the intelligence activities were put in place by Hooker. Meade, as a Corps Commander, would have been privy to what was out there and likely knew what Hooker knew. It is still to Meade's credit that he took the baton at full stride and ran the last leg so ably. And I'm impressed with the clarity of his message to his Corps Commanders.

ole

[5fish]

Wish you could remember where you read that, Timewalker. My impression has been that the Pipe Creek Line was virtually impregnable. That it could be flanked would change some impressions.

ole

This post might help you are your quest for Pipe Creek, Ole...

[OpnDownfall]

Pipe Creek covered the major roadds that threatened Baltimore or Wanshington D.C.
It was almost impossible to move whole armies cross country for any appreciable distance.
The AoP, for almost the first time in its history, had a whole cavalry corps, operating as a cohesive military force, as Stuart and Lee found out during the Campaign.
Moving around a flank, even if a viable road existed without being noticed and reported would have been almost impossible in Pa. Any large mass of troops moving cross country over difficult terrain was particularly susceptable to harrassing attacks by aggressive cavalry commanders.
Moving any direction out of Gettysburg, would find the AoP on the flanks or rear of the ANV.
If Lee meant to defeat the AoP on Northern soil he would have to do it by attacking Meade at Pipe Creek.