After Lee's huge success at Chancellorsville, Lee decided to move westward and to advance into the Union states. I am wondering if Lee's ego got the best of him and decided to move to quick and soon into the North after the victory. Would Lee's success have changed at Gettysburg, or another town if he waited longer to invade the North or not?
Very good point. Personally I think Lee did let his success go to his head a little bit and I don't think it's unreasonable to say that things may have turned out differently had he exercised a little more discretion and patience.
I don't really think Lee was being impatient. He didn't want to fight in Gettysburg, but both armies bumped into each other. Who knows what would have happened if they never thought there were shoes in Gettysburg?
Lee had to take his chances, and his timing was not terribly off based on the victory at Chancellorsville. He was heading North regardless so the two armies were bound to meet eventually, and Gettysburg is just where everything came together.
I agree that Lee did not have a whole lot of options and it seemed that the benefits of an invasion of the north outweighed the consequences. Maybe Lee wasn't as arrogant in his plan to march north as was his strategies at the battle of Gettysburg
I agree Lee obviously didn't have too many options after Chancellorsville. I also agree that after riding such a high from his victory, he might have made some rash decisions. The problem was not where the two would meet, so much as how Lee reacted to the encounter once the battle was underway. It was those decisions that caused the outcome.
6 comments:
After Lee's huge success at Chancellorsville, Lee decided to move westward and to advance into the Union states. I am wondering if Lee's ego got the best of him and decided to move to quick and soon into the North after the victory. Would Lee's success have changed at Gettysburg, or another town if he waited longer to invade the North or not?
Very good point. Personally I think Lee did let his success go to his head a little bit and I don't think it's unreasonable to say that things may have turned out differently had he exercised a little more discretion and patience.
I don't really think Lee was being impatient. He didn't want to fight in Gettysburg, but both armies bumped into each other. Who knows what would have happened if they never thought there were shoes in Gettysburg?
Lee had to take his chances, and his timing was not terribly off based on the victory at Chancellorsville. He was heading North regardless so the two armies were bound to meet eventually, and Gettysburg is just where everything came together.
I agree that Lee did not have a whole lot of options and it seemed that the benefits of an invasion of the north outweighed the consequences. Maybe Lee wasn't as arrogant in his plan to march north as was his strategies at the battle of Gettysburg
I agree Lee obviously didn't have too many options after Chancellorsville. I also agree that after riding such a high from his victory, he might have made some rash decisions. The problem was not where the two would meet, so much as how Lee reacted to the encounter once the battle was underway. It was those decisions that caused the outcome.
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