[Non-Sequitur]

If Lee had listened to Longstreet, however, and the Confederates had gone around to the right, the Confederate casualties would likely have been far fewer.

In conference with General Lee after the first day, Longstreet did want to move around the Union left and take up a position between the Army of the Potomac and Washington and then wait for the U.S. to attack. This is one of the most endearing 'what ifs' of the battle, but if one looks at the bigger picture you can see that Lee was right and Longstreet was wrong.

In the first place, the road network would not have permitted it easily. Roads flowed into Gettysburg like spokes on a wheel. The Army of Northern Virginia would have needed an east-west route for their supply train. No such route existed. Lee could have moved back in the direction he came from, but moving the thousands of wagons in his trains east and south towards Washington wasn't feasible.

In the second place you have to remember that Lee was in contact with the enemy. Disengaging and then moving east would have exposed the army's flanks to attack. Again, the only option immediately available to Lee was to go back in the direction he came from. That would have left the Union army between him and D.C., able to maneuver and block him on ground of their own choosing, possibly on worse ground than Lee was already facing. Then again there was the logistical problem of reorganizing the troops engaged in the battles of the first day, getting the army and the logistics turned around and headed back up the road, all in the face of the Union Army. Not an easy task, and one that left the confederate army vulnerable during the attempt.

Any shift left the confederate line of retreat vulnerable. Lee used the Shenandoah Valley to protect his flanks and guard his intentions while moving North. Manuevering around the Union Army put them between him and his road he needed to go back home in the event of an emergency. No general would willingly do that.

The long and the short of it was that Lee was right. The enemy was there, and he would fight them until he whipped them, or they beat him. He had no other choice once the battle was joined, any other course of action presented even more dangers than a knock down-stand up fight with Meade. Lee quite properly attacked on the second day, he had no other choice.

[CurlyBill]

There are certainly dozens of what ifs, and had this happened, etc. Some think that had Jeb Stuart arrived on time things would have been different. What if Hood would have been allowed to take his boys around to the rear? What if Little Round Top would have been taken the first day? What if Ewell had not been so hesitant? What if the Confederates had one more division? What if Chamberlain had not ordered a bayonet charge? What if Stonewall Jackson had survived to see Gettysburg? As for your arguements regarding the logistics of moving around to the rear, you are right for the most part. The roads did not support quick movement, but this would not have been impossible. The Union Army was still not in position at the end of day one, and they were in a bit of disarray. The did not really even have a left flank at the time and much of the Federal force was still arriving from Emmitsburg and Taneytown. I live only about an hour and a half from Gettysburg... There is nothing like the place. On my way, I can pass through Taneytown and Emmitsburg and retrace the Union routes. There is something about the place. I believe I had family who fought on both sides, but I'm still researching this. Les Kinsolving, a local conservative talk show host here in Baltimore played General Barksdale in Gettysburg and again in Gods and Generals. He had an incredible radio show from Farnsworth House in Gettysburg last night. It was broadcast in 10 states and was one of the most incredible shows I have heard.