Chancellorsville This was not a slam dunk

[rpkennedy]

If Lee hadn't invaded Maryland and Pennsylvania in less than a years time, it's very possible that he could have worn Union resolve down by the time that the '64 Election rolled around. He loses two of the three large engagements his army fights in (South Mountain and Gettysburg) and the one he doesn't lose outright (Antietam) is strategically a defeat that allows the Emancipation Proclamation to come out.

Even in May 1863, the Davis Government was opposed to an invasion of the North and was far more eager for a strategic offensive within the borders of the Confederacy than Lee was.

There's definitely no argument that his invasions did far more to advance the cause of Confederate defeat than most things, but hindsight is a wondrous thing!

Yet that definitely doesn't mean Lee had to just remain on the defensive. We saw that shifting troops West helped knock back Rosecrans. I think had he been focused on a strategic defensive offensive that had him working on dismantling the Union forces across the Confederacy instead of throwing invasions North, we may indeed have seen Lincoln lose the Election. Yet that's a question best answered by alternative history authors.

For me, the invasions were the right call. If Lee had been able to win again in Maryland or Pennsylvania, especially after the beatings that he had administered during the Seven Days and Second Manassas Campaign, it might very well have forced the Union to consider negotiations.

Lee's fault is that he had the bad luck to lose when he needed it the most. That doesn't mean that his strategy was incorrect.

Ryan

 

[Belfoured]

For me, the invasions were the right call. If Lee had been able to win again in Maryland or Pennsylvania, especially after the beatings that he had administered during the Seven Days and Second Manassas Campaign, it might very well have forced the Union to consider negotiations.

Lee's fault is that he had the bad luck to lose when he needed it the most. That doesn't mean that his strategy was incorrect.

Ryan

A legitimate argument can be made that the CSA as it ended up being comprised was a bad strategic concept from the outset for a host of reasons. In that context Lee's actions have always made sense to me when considering the alternatives. He ultimately failed but saying he should have acted differently is not only hindsight but IMHO unrealistic hindsight.

 

[Lubliner]

In that context Lee's actions have always made sense to me

I agree. There had to be a way to get the Union to back off so the valley and farmlands of Virginia could produce and replenish the armies of needed supplies.
Lubliner.