[circlecity]

"Lee's defining weakness was using the aggressive battle tactics that worked for him in the Mexican War in the Civil War despite the development of rifled muskets, massed artillery, and defensive works that made such tactics too costly to sustain in the long run."

Yep. Lee stuck with Napoleonic tactics much to long after it had become apparent that they had become obsolete. Malvern Hill and Fredricksburg should have made it abundantly clear that Pickett's Charge was a fools errand. Longstreet tried to warn him but he wouldn't listen.

[Rockingham]

Lee foolishly thought Pickett’s men could deliver the impossible, that Southern muskets and bayonets could redeem the mess of a battle that Gettysburg had become. Lee would have been better served by either withdrawing or maneuvering into a better position so as to force Meade into a disadvantageous attack.

[central_va]

Longstreet should be on any list of great generals.