Home › Forums › The U.S. Civil War › Robert E. Lee’s request for dismissal
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March 21, 2010 at 1:27 am #2035
Phidippides
KeymasterDo you think that Lee's request to Jefferson Davis to be relieved of command after Gettysburg should have been honored?
March 21, 2010 at 1:30 am #19667DonaldBaker
ParticipantDo you think that Lee's request to Jefferson Davis to be relieved of command after Gettysburg should have been honored?
Absolutely not. Lee made a mistake at Gettysburg, and was guilt ridden over it, but Davis knew he had no better general to lead his troops than Lee. The Army of Northern Virginia practically worshiped the "old man."
March 21, 2010 at 1:43 am #19668Wally
ParticipantMy take as well.
March 21, 2010 at 7:17 am #19669Hunleyfan
ParticipantI agree with yall Davis did the correct thing. This past year I read all three of Newt Gingrich's American Civil War Series and in book two Grant Comes East Judah Benjamin the Secratry of State (i think it was him who said it) said roughly that the war was not between Lincoln's will and Davis' will but the will of Lincoln and the will of Lee. Lee was a great stratagest and even after Gettysburg he STILL gave Grant mess.
March 23, 2010 at 3:28 pm #19670Phidippides
KeymasterWell then, I will pose a related question. Should the Union have pursued Lee's army as it retreated from Gettysburg? Was Lincoln's disappointment/anger over not doing so justified?
March 23, 2010 at 5:51 pm #19671scout1067
ParticipantWhether they should have or not is irrelevant, they could not. The Union Army was exhausted after Gettysburg and in no shape to pursue the Rebs. If they had they would have been defeated because Lee would have had the advantage of the defense then and in addition would have been fighting troops who had not consolidated and reorganized after battle but went straight into pursuit, he also would have had to travel over territory stripped of supplies. he Union worked Miracles in supply but by and large neither sides logistic system was capable of supporting a war of movement for long. Meade made the right choice by declining to pursue Lee's army, he preserved his victory without endangering his command.
March 23, 2010 at 8:13 pm #19672Hunleyfan
ParticipantWhether they should have or not is irrelevant, they could not. The Union Army was exhausted after Gettysburg and in no shape to pursue the Rebs. If they had they would have been defeated because Lee would have had the advantage of the defense then and in addition would have been fighting troops who had not consolidated and reorganized after battle but went straight into pursuit, he also would have had to travel over territory stripped of supplies. he Union worked Miracles in supply but by and large neither sides logistic system was capable of supporting a war of movement for long. Mead made the right choice by declining to pursue Lee's army, he preserved his victory without endangering his command.
I agree with him Meade could not..but if he could I don't think that he would
March 23, 2010 at 10:10 pm #19673DonaldBaker
ParticipantMeade was no fool, but he was not assertive enough for Lincoln's taste, and I don't think Meade relished being top dog. He was arguably one of the Union's best Corps commanders of the war though.
March 25, 2010 at 1:41 am #19674Hunleyfan
Participantyeah i agree but there is a HUGE differance in a corps comander and the comander of an army
March 25, 2010 at 10:47 am #19675DonaldBaker
Participantyeah i agree but there is a HUGE differance in a corps comander and the comander of an army
Meade was comfortable in the former role; not the latter.
March 26, 2010 at 1:24 am #19676Hunleyfan
Participantyeah i would be freaked out too if i was appointed comander of an army that has known nothing but defeet and then being drawn into a battle not yet adjusted to the task of comander
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