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To: DIRTYSECRET

He ordered Pickets charge.

A military disaster of epic proportions.

It almost succeeded, and would have been one of the very great accomplishments...but it failed.


13 posted on 06/22/2018 11:57:47 AM PDT by Mariner (War Criminal #18)
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To: Mariner

“It is all my fault” - Gen Robert E Lee, upon being notified by Major Pickett that he “had no more men.”

“Joining the military was the worst decision of my life” - Gen Robert E Lee

It appears that Gen Lee’s own opinion of his prowess was somewhat more circumspect. The deaths of his own (and likely, the Union’s men) weighed heavily on his soul in his last years. He threw in his lot with the rebels and fought in a cause that was evil and unconstitutional. A half a million men (and who knows how many civilians) died as a direct result - and his prowess as a general prolonged the suffering. He was in the end, a tragic figure, but deserves no sympathy for his role in the Civil War.

Lincoln, OTOH, had done NOTHING (other than win the election of 1860) that would justify Southern secession. In fact, HE WASN’T EVENT PRESIDENT YET WHEN IT OCCURED!! (He took his oath in March 1861, months after the Southern states voted to secede.

He had no choice but to fight to save the Union against the Secessionists. To do anything else would have been an abrogation of his OATH of office.


22 posted on 06/22/2018 12:04:32 PM PDT by Simon Foxx
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To: Mariner
He also ordered the assault on Malvern Hill during the 7 Days Campaign. Result a disaster, Lee was sometimes too aggressive he would order frontal assaults when he didn't have to.

Given the military technology of the times which made defense ascendant over offense. One could almost argue that Longstreet was the better general. Remember Longstreet wanted to park the Army of Northern Va on one of the those Pennsylvania ridge lines blocking the Union Army from Washington DC, make them attack! An opposite Picket's Charge!

84 posted on 06/22/2018 12:50:36 PM PDT by Reily
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