Hi everybody,
I can understand most of Lee's logic underlying his rationale for striking the Union center on July 3rd. However, the one thing I can't understand is, when Longstreet turns to him and says, "General, the Union army is concentrated and any breakthrough they can plug very quickly. Whereas we need to send troops on a 20 minute march to exploit any breakthrough." What was going through Lee's mind to counter this argument?
Did he think the artillery would literally annihilate the 2nd corps beyond repair?
Was it hubris in that he couldn't possibly imagine the Yankees standing their ground and fighting? And any breakthrough would be followed by a general rout? Even though he knew was charging against Hancock and veteran Cloverleaf units and those people actually fought pretty stubbornly just the day before?
Did he place too much faith in Stuart's plans to gain access to the Union rear and cause havoc?
Did he think that Ewell's attack on Culp's Hill would pin down Union troops and preclude them from sending any reinforcements? Even this doesn't make sense as this was "feint" if you can call it that was over well in advance of the charge, and as far as I know, there wasn't any demonstration on the Confederate right/Union left.
Thanks for the thoughts,
mike
I can understand most of Lee's logic underlying his rationale for striking the Union center on July 3rd. However, the one thing I can't understand is, when Longstreet turns to him and says, "General, the Union army is concentrated and any breakthrough they can plug very quickly. Whereas we need to send troops on a 20 minute march to exploit any breakthrough." What was going through Lee's mind to counter this argument?
Did he think the artillery would literally annihilate the 2nd corps beyond repair?
Was it hubris in that he couldn't possibly imagine the Yankees standing their ground and fighting? And any breakthrough would be followed by a general rout? Even though he knew was charging against Hancock and veteran Cloverleaf units and those people actually fought pretty stubbornly just the day before?
Did he place too much faith in Stuart's plans to gain access to the Union rear and cause havoc?
Did he think that Ewell's attack on Culp's Hill would pin down Union troops and preclude them from sending any reinforcements? Even this doesn't make sense as this was "feint" if you can call it that was over well in advance of the charge, and as far as I know, there wasn't any demonstration on the Confederate right/Union left.
Thanks for the thoughts,
mike