It is without a doubt that a good strategy will accomplish anything. In the book The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara, strategy is shown as the most important element of this battle. The Army of Northern Virginia, under General Robert E. Lee, lost the Battle of Gettysburg for several reasons. The most important was General Lee's refusal to fight a defensive battle and position the Confederate forces between Washington D.C. and the Union Army. Others factors include General Lee's lack of intelligence, and the well positioned Union forces.
General Lee is a man of honor and beliefs. Due to these two reasons, he is generally very stubborn in making decisions. For example, when General Longstreet proposes a move the Confederate forces between Washington D.C. and the Union forces and force an attack, General Lee refuses because it was not honorable. From the beginning, General Longstreet was a strong believer in trench warfare and defensive positions:.
They all expect one smashing victory. Waterloo and all that. But I think that kind of war is over. We have trenches now. And it's a different thing, you know, to ask a man to fight from a trench. Any man can charge briefly in the morning. But to ask a man to fight from a trench, day after day . . . (61).
General Longstreet's other main idea was to position the Confederate forces between the Union forces and Washington D.C. While General Lee's stubbornness may have been a key factor, it would be very hard to move the army without being seen by the Union forces on top of the hill. But whether General Lee was right or wrong, General Longstreet would never argue with him on his decisions. Due to this idea of fighting honorably and his stubbornness, General Lee may have cost himself and the Confederacy the most crucial battle of the Civil War.
General Lee's stubbornness was obviously the only factor that contributed to the loss. Intelligence and knowledge of the opponent's army is crucial to victory.
