I'm under the impression Lee's blood being up meant he was going to fight no matter what.
As to being sick, thats true, and probably did have some effect on his decisions. However, I think there were too many major faults in his 'planning' during the battle. Look at day 2. Has a recon early morning, finally gets a attack plan in place and the attack starts late afternoon, with no further efforts at a new recon. Did Lee really think that Meade was going to sit and let Lee attack anywhere he pleased, then start moving his forces around? I think not. Lee relied too much on the 'history' of the AoP having the slows. Lee knew that he who moves first and hardest would have the advantage, so why not strike quickly.
Day 3, he had hit both flanks, and done some damage, but now he decides that Meade would have to be weak in the center. Why would this Have to be true. Didn't he consider that Meade might think the same thing, which in fact, happened. At the war council held on the evening of day 2, he predicted Lee would attack at the center, if he did attack. Having the interior lines was a huge benefit to Meade, he could, and did, shift forces very quickly that afternoon, and mostly during the cannonade and after, up to the end of the attack.
There is also some evidence of Lee wanting a 2nd line, in place and ready to go, If a breakthru was achieved, to finish breaking the line. Well, this is one place where Lee's command method failed him. Some effort was made to decided who would be in the 2nd line, but those troops commanders were not informed, IIRC. After Lee had decided the 1st line he stepped back to let Longstreet to do his job, and never checked to see how things were. If he had, then no 2nd line being formed would have been discovered. Also the issue of cannon following held on the evening of day 2, he predicted Lee would attack at the center, if he did attack. Having the interior lines was a huge benefit to Meade, he could, and did, shift forces very quickly that afternoon, and mostly during the cannonade and after, up to the end of the attack.
There is also some evidence of Lee wanting a 2nd line, in place and ready to go, If a breakthru was achieved, to finish breaking the line. Well, this is one place where Lee's command method failed him. Some effort was made to decided who would be in the 2nd line, but those troops commanders were not informed, IIRC. After Lee had decided the 1st line he stepped back to let Longstreet to do his job, and never checked to see how things were. If he had, then no 2nd line being formed would have been discovered. Also the issue of Cannon following the 1 line to assist in the attack. If his chief of Art. had been informed of the use of these batteries, then he would not have moved them off, with no one, not even his boss, knowing where they were.
Chuck in Il.