Frankly, I would rate Longstreet as highly as Jackson, even though the former’s ego sometimes got him into trouble and he too occasionally had feet of clay. But at least he was smart enough to see the tactical value of the Round Tops, even if it was a day late and a dollar short.
They mystery to me is why Lee — ever the brilliant tactician — dismissed them.
“The mystery to me is why Lee — ever the brilliant tactician — dismissed them.”
I think your answer could be found in the book “Lee’s Real Plan at Gettysburg” by Troy Harman. Harman is a park ranger at Gettysburg and has done a lot of historical research.
I read the book a few years ago and it really did make a lot of sense. Lee was really not trying to punch at the center of the Union line ion the third day (Pickett’s Charge) but was angling northwards towards Cemetery Hill, his objective thru the whole battle.
Chances are, you can find this book at your local library. In any case, her’s a link to it on Amazon.com:
http://www.amazon.com/Lees-Real-Plan-at-Gettysburg/dp/0811700542