[Virginia Ridgerunner]

Lee sent Pickett's Division and elements of two others across the mile-wide field at Gettysburg because 1) he thought that the Union was weak in the center because of his previous heavy attacks on the flanks, and 2) because his soldiers had in fact ruptured Union lines during full frontal assault before in the past, most notably at Gaines Mill in 1862, and during the last stages of fighting only six weeks earlier at Chancellorsville. He thought they could do it again.

As for Longstreet, he was in a snit at the time and dragged his feet in carrying out Lee's orders, wasting valuable time in the process.

[MuttTheHoople]

Lee should’ve flanked. However, he had the fire in his eye, and there was no stopping him that week. Gettysburg was the price the Confederacy paid for having Lee as a commander.

[atomicweeder]

There's another reason -- for which I share some blame (or at least my ancestors).

My great-grandfather and his brothers rode with the Confederate cavalry at Gettysburg. Normally the cavalry provides intelligence. But the Reb cavalry spotted Custer (already famous) and wanted to engage his cavalry.

So instead of gathering intelligence and reporting back to Lee, they skirmished for a couple of days with Custer, on some pointless glory chase.

As a result, Lee never got the intelligence reports that would have told him there were thousands of Union reinforcements available to plug any hole that Pickett punched in the Union line. Had he known, he never would have sent Pickett.

I think historians claim it was the first time that Lee ordered a major assault in battle without knowing where all the Union forces were.

[Northern Yankee]

I reckon so, but he was outgunned on three sides of the wheat field, where the Union forces held the high ground.

He must have known that before he ordered the charge.

Have you read Lee's Lieutenants, by Douglas Southall Freeman?

Great analysis of Lee's Generals. Freeman also says the Longstreet failed Lee miserably at Gettysburg.