Originally posted by Bluesman
View Post
General Lee had an uncanny ability to almost read the minds of Union Generals and defeat them repeatedly in a war of manoeuvre. With a few exceptions, General Joseph Hooker initially surprised Lee at Chacellorsville by outflanking him, but Lee turned on Hooker and defeated him in a brilliant counter flanking movement, at Antietam General McClellan heavily damaged Lee's army of Northern Virginia but Lee successfully withdrew his Army from near destruction, General Lee misjudged General Meade and General Reynolds in the Battle of Gettysburg but sill escaped back to Virginia despite heavy losses. General US Grant was different, because although General Lee could read every move Grant made, General Lee could not stop Grant, could not manoeuvre Grant into a trap. To many Union forces were either blocking Lee or closing in on him. The rabid Indian Fighter, General Sherman was ravaging the south while closing in on Savannah to cut Lee's final supply line. General Lee would not dare risk his army against the massed, overwhelming firepower of Union Navy by moving near the coast. General Lee could not afford to abandon Richmond to the Army of the Potomac, Union Navy and the Army of the James, by turning back towards Harpers Ferry to threaten Washington DC. All Lee could do is fight on Grants terms, until Lee ran out of manoeuvring space and supplies and was forced into a siege at Petersburg.
Comment