re: The Greatest what-if in American history: Sherman vs Stonewall

The whole purpose of attacking Gettysburg was to get supplies. There was a rail depot and a boot factory there. Lee’s army needed shoes. Also, had they won the battle, it would have cleared the way to march on D.C. and flank the city’s primary defenses. The issue is that Lee did not send his men to reinforce his hold on the city by taking the heights. the first day. He wasn’t counting on staying there or fighting a huge battle there. This was supposed to be a hit and run robbery to get supplies and move on. That mistake cost Lee the war.