re: George Meade took command of the Army of the Potomac on this day in 1863...

It seems clear to me that you are convinced that The Battle of Gettysburg's decisive turning point was at the fight for Culp's Hill on Day 2.

I have read some historical info that indicates that the CSA did miss an opportunity to sort of by-pass Culp's Hill to the East and then attack the Baltimore Pike from the rear. Seems likely to me that this was probably a missed opportunity for the CSA on Day 2. This would fit in well with your own observations that Day 2 at Culp's Hill could very well have been a decisive missed opportunity, especially if we combine your points with a hypothetical CSA effort to by-pass and outflank Culp's Hill from the East.

Of course, this is completely hypothetical because General Lee had absolutely no intention of making that kind of attack in that sector on Day 2 - he was already committed to attacking the Unions Left Flank from South to North along Emmitsburg Road (where he thought the Union Left Flank was anchored - and it was anchored there for part of the day on Day 2).

Folks, there were so many "missed opportunities" during this whole battle and campaign, because these Armies did not have fully functional Staffs like were invented late in the 19th Century. One historian calls the whole CSA effort during this battle and campaign using the word "haphazard" and I definitely see his point. When you see how disjointed and uncoordinated the CSA offensive efforts were during the days of that campaign and battle, use of the word "haphazard" is justified.

The Yankee efforts were also somewhat "haphazard" but because they were on the Defensive, they didn't suffer so much from being haphazard.