Posted by Sgt. McGowan on September 27, 1999 at 13:06:14:
In Reply to: Re: Pickets Charge posted by Longstreet on August 15, 1999 at 18:24:18:
: : Picketts Charge was heroic and Lee wanted Pickett to form
: : his division! HA!!!!!! Pickett was right. Lee DID destroy
: : Picketts division! Even Lothario Armistead got killed!
: : Armistead... Now THERE was a soldier!
: YOU think Armistead was a soldier?! Man, youre wacky!
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Lee destroyed many divisions at Gettysburg as he did throughout the war. Pickett's division was the one most was written about. You can't fight a war without killing people. Pickett's charge was a major mistake and as commander, Lee took responsibility. Gettysburg was a major mistake. There were mistakes and lost opportunities from day one. Corps commanders who didn't particularly like each other. One who had his own plan (which might not have been that bad)and sulked when Lee rejected it. One who lost a great opportunity on day 1 by just being overly cautious. One who wasn't even there. And no cooperation between any of them. In short - Gettysburg was a Southern fiasco - doomed from the start. Lee had utmost faith the the ANV and they in him. They had fought battle after battle facing odds that would scare the most hardened gambler. Why now would it be any different? A little pressure in the middle and the Yanks would fold as always. It was Fredericksburg in reverse. Lee should have seen this - but didn't. Blind faith in his ANV. He just couldn't pull out after the two days and losses already invested. "We will fight those people where they are and that is that". He played the last card he had and it wasn't good enough. It wasn't even close. What would you have done? Lee didn't give Gettysburg his best shot. In fact it was hardly a shot at all. A comedy of errors. One that cost more lives than one would like to know. Lew Armistead was a very capable Brigade Commander!