Lee Lee lost his cause

[Gerry Seaquist]

Had a chance to do as the South hoped to do, go for a stall mate. After Maryland Lee should have gone on defense. He would force the North to waste many troops and the Dove's cause would have grown larger and caused Lincoln to seek a possible peace, obtain a land or political peace. Lee's ego got in his way.

 

[unionblue]

Had a chance to do as the South hoped to do, go for a stall mate. After Maryland Lee should have gone on defense. He would force the North to waste many troops and the Dove's cause would have grown larger and caused Lincoln to seek a possible peace, obtain a land or political peace. Lee's ego got in his way.

I agree with the concept that Lee was trying to wear down the North in order to gain recognition/independence by a Northern peace faction or by foreign recognition, but I think Lee knew he had to have victories in order to prove the Confederacy's staying power and proving it had a chance of military victory.

He could not do that just on the defensive, but he also had to prove he could carry on winning offensive operations too.

 

[JOHN42768]

I think you might be overlooking also the Dove's cause In the South. Vicksburg's loss was a major nail in the Confederacies coffin. Davis wouldn't or couldn't help with his needs. He was in dire straights with lack of food & supplies and he was loosing men the same as Grant. All the men on both sides were worn down. It was only a matter of who reached the point of no return. Trying to win battles, but seeing the outcome left him only one sensible choice. His ego may very well have cost him dearly at Gettysburg.