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negative · 04-13-2005, 04:01 PM

well this can become the official Civil War thread. Since everyone seems to already know everything about it rolleyes:

Do you think Longstreet should have gone to the right at Gettysburg? Was it Lee's fault? Was Gettysburg the turning point?

I think that Longstreet was the one of the greatest commanders to ever live. His flanking movements are still studied today, and were so effective, it caused complete stalemates in WWI. I can see his argument to the right, cut off supply from DC and force Meade to attack him. I do disagree. Lee's main goal was not to defeat his enemy by force, but by forcing him to surrender by political means. He knew that he had a chance to defeat Meade at Gettysburg, and tried too. I think after the failure on the seond day, he should have listened more to Longstreet.

Despite what some may believe, I think the turning point of the war was neither Gettysburg nor Vicksburg. It was Atlanta. Lincoln's reelection in 1864 was in doubt untill Atlanta fell. The Western theatre is more interesting anyways. Sherman, Thomas, Macpherson, all were in the west, and were ahead of their time. The Civil War would have been one by the South if Braxton Bragg wasnt in TN, or if Hood hadnt replaced Johnston.

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negative is Offline Senior Member Posts: 967 Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Decatur-Atlanta, GA	04-13-2005, 04:01 PM well this can become the official Civil War thread. Since everyone seems to already know everything about it rolleyes: Do you think Longstreet should have gone to the right at Gettysburg? Was it Lee's fault? Was Gettysburg the turning point? I think that Longstreet was the one of the greatest commanders to ever live. His flanking movements are still studied today, and were so effective, it caused complete stalemates in WWI. I can see his argument to the right, cut off supply from DC and force Meade to attack him. I do disagree. Lee's main goal was not to defeat his enemy by force, but by forcing him to surrender by political means. He knew that he had a chance to defeat Meade at Gettysburg, and tried too. I think after the failure on the seond day, he should have listened more to Longstreet. Despite what some may believe, I think the turning point of the war was neither Gettysburg nor Vicksburg. It was Atlanta. Lincoln's reelection in 1864 was in doubt untill Atlanta fell. The Western theatre is more interesting anyways. Sherman, Thomas, Macpherson, all were in the west, and were ahead of their time. The Civil War would have been one by the South if Braxton Bragg wasnt in TN, or if Hood hadnt replaced Johnston.