GDG- What if Pickett's charge had worked?

[James Cameron]

<< I think it is pretty clear that Lee intended that a successful attack on
the center of the Meade's position would lead to panic, withdrawal, and
eventual destruction of at least a large part of the Union army.  Lee
expected support troops to follow the inital attack, and that Stuart's
cavalry would harrass and/or block the retreating troops along the Baltimore
Pike.

He had seen it all before, and undoubtedly had a clear picture in his mind. 
 >>

Another case, it seems to me, of best case scenario planning on Lee's part. 
After all, while he'd seen the AOP survive defeat a number of times, when 
had he seen it routed in panic, and liable to destruction?  And absent a 
specific plan to cut off, overtake, and destroy the AOP, or even substantial 
parts of it, who was going to accomplish this?  Lee may have expected 
support troops to follow the initial attack, but who actually had any such 
orders?   Stuart's cavalry, while generally in a position to cause trouble 
on the AOP line of retreat, was contained easily enough by the Union cavalry 
at ECF.  It had little real chance, even given a Union retreat following a 
successful Confederate infantry assault, of operating effectively enough to 
block or even seriously hinder an retreat by intact infantry formations. 
Any any realistic Union retreat was far more likely to be by intact, still 
effective formations than a panic stricken route like First Manassas.


Jim Cameron

"We love peace, but not peace at any price.  There is a peace more 
destructive of the manhood of living man,
than war is destructive to his body. Chains are worse than bayonets."
Jerrold.