But not at Gettysburg. Pickett's charge at the Union center on Cemetery Ridge was a tactical disaster.
As was the frontal assault up Malvern Hill.
I think that’s when Lee had his first heart attack. He certainly was not at his best that day but he took all the blame onto himself although Pickett never forgave him.
You're right - Lt. Gen. Longstreet said Lee's "blood was up" and Lee made a terrible decision at Gettysburg. Had he won, the Union would have been forced to sue for peace. I also believe that had he broken off the fighting early and invaded Washington instead (there were no Union divisions left between Gettysburg and Washington), Lee would have been able to force the Union to sue for peace. In fact, that was Longstreet's recommendation, but Lee said the enemy was "here" (Gettysburg) and that is where he wanted to fight them.
Poor Brig Gen Pickett. In later years, he was a bitter man. The south blamed him, because they could not bring themselves to admit that Gen Lee would have blundered. Pickett used to say "that old man had my Division slaughtered." He had to live with it the rest of his life.
Lee knew he was living on borrowed time, and that his army had to make bold moves in order to achieve victory. He just went a bridge too far.