[timpad]

An intense, and accidental, battle

I was always struck by the change that came over Lee at Gettysburg. He had constantly admonished his officers not to engage the enemy on ground not of their choosing in that region. But then, when they did as you say accidentally, he committed fully, even in the face of opposite counsel by those he trusted. Very odd, indeed.

[RightWhale]

The sudden strength of the Union resistance to his advance may have surprised him. He didn't want to give up his strategy of moving on Baltimore, and then it was too late, events could not be unwound.

[r9etb]

I was always struck by the change that came over Lee at Gettysburg. He had constantly admonished his officers not to engage the enemy on ground not of their choosing in that region.

Lee was apparently prone to letting his ambitions overrule his good sense at times, and Gettysburg was one of them.