I’ll go as far as to say that had Lee either gone all in immediately at Gettysburg, or pulled out before it became serious, the south may have won the Civil War. Part of me roots for them (my hatred of federal power), but part of me understands the need for the US to remain strong as a single entity in a dangerous world. As Turtledove suggested in his altered history books, WWI, with a North American front, would not have been a good thing.
But the Feds got WAY too much power via winning the Civil War.
You missed the point. The point was not to underestimate your opponent no matter how much you look down on them. And you have done both, looked down upon them and underestimated them. The real might of their force will not be known until it is shown. Just like it was at the first battle of Bull Run. You are blinded by your hatred for the Feds. The illustration had nothing to do with keeping America together or apart as I could have pointed to other similar battles throughout history, WWI and WWII aside.