Back when I was in Hitler Youth Korps, er, ah, I mean Army ROTC, this subject (and everything related to it) was thoroughly discussed.
The overwhelming consensus was Lee violated every strategic principle there was, at Gettysburg. In addition, the belief was that had Jackson not been lost (at Chancellorsville), he would have most likely stepped in, to keep most of those mistakes from being made. Coupled with his ability to reconnoiter and be in the right place, at the right time.
Lee didn't have a sounding board, to discuss his plans. Plus, he had little or no reconnaissance, and was operation near blind, wrt to enemy positions and strength.
The irony is neither side was planning an engagement there. It just happened, largely by mistake.
The overwhelming consensus was Lee violated every strategic principle there was, at Gettysburg. In addition, the belief was that had Jackson not been lost (at Chancellorsville), he would have most likely stepped in, to keep most of those mistakes from being made. Coupled with his ability to reconnoiter and be in the right place, at the right time.
Lee didn't have a sounding board, to discuss his plans. Plus, he had little or no reconnaissance, and was operation near blind, wrt to enemy positions and strength.
The irony is neither side was planning an engagement there. It just happened, largely by mistake.
