[MplsSteve]

“If it weren’t for congestive heart failure he likely wouldn’t have called for the charge across the Peach Orchard (Pickett’s).”

I’ve heard that too. He did complain to an aide or two about not feeling well - I think his symptoms may have been similar to a heart attack.

But what really ruined Lee at Gettysburg was not having Jeb Stuart’s cavalry doing proper recon of the Union Army. It was always my feeling that Lee wanted a fight - but at a time and place of his choosing. Stuart’s absence cost him that advantage.

[budj]

Agree 100%.

Stuart could have flanked Little Round Top; it probably would have been over.

So many of the Civil War battles turned on the simplest of contingencies.

[DoodleDawg]

But what really ruined Lee at Gettysburg was not having Jeb Stuart’s cavalry doing proper recon of the Union Army.

What is overlooked is the fact that when Stuart took off on his ride Lee retained half his cavalry with him. If it did a poor job of screening the ANV then it's because Lee didn't deploy it effectively.