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Date Posted: 13:39:16 10/31/05 Mon
Author: Sophist
Subject: Lee's strategy
In reply to: Sunshine 's message, "Lee vs Grant" on 13:01:12 10/31/05 Mon

his need to win a big victory. Lee’s only long term hope was to create a political crisis in the North and hope for a negotiated settlement.

I agree that Lee needed to create a political crisis in the North. I disagree that the only way for him to do that was to win a big victory on Northern soil. He was in a classic and well-recognized situation, fighting on interior lines with inferior resources. His best option was a Fabian strategy. Instead, he squandered Southern resources in the vain hope of a great victory.

I'm surprised at your comments about Grant's peninsula campaign. Portions of it were brilliant; all of it was consistent with a well-designed and ultimately successful strategic plan. In essence, Grant pinned Lee while directing Sherman's campaign after Chattanooga. The war was won in the West; Lee's failure as a strategist is demonstrated by his focus on VA.

As for Cold Harbor, criticism of Grant is entirely fair, though even then there are mitigating factors. But Lee made the same mistake on a larger scale, and with worse results, when he ordered Pickett's charge.

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