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I really enjoyed reading your post.

Couple of points I do dispute. First, the "myth of the shoes". There wasn't any. Period. Its a myth, fostered by many authors, including two that won I believe Pulitzer's.

There was no "shoe factory" in Gettysburg. I strongly believe, with no hard facts to back it up, that this was concocted to allow Heth to "save face" for completely and totally disregarding Lee's orders. Heth was a "favorite" not just of Lee, but within Richmond's society from what I've pieced together. Hence his burial at Hollywood.

Second, I believe Jackson would have charged Cemetary Ridge on the evening of July 1st....and would have been destroyed in the effort. As I noted, even if he had in fact "captured" Cemetary Ridge, his Corps would have been so badly damaged it would have in effect been removed as a viable force for the rest of the campaign. Note the avenues of retreat from the Union perspective. At worst, they would have fallen back, possibly to the creek "line" Meade favored in the first place.

In short, taking Cemetary Ridge, if it was possible on the evening of July 1st, would only have excerbated the primary problem Lee faced....being seriously outnumbered, with long vulnerable supply lines.

Second, Lee did note during the war, according to some historians, his view that Jackson might have been counterproductive in the later stages of the war. I've read this in several books (yep, I can't remember which ones exactly, but will review this weekend to provide titles for you if you desire).

Lee did offer to resign, thats true. But he also NEVER called Gettysburg a "defeat". His view was that while they didn't "acheive all that they desired" they had in fact preempted the Union's planned "campaign" for the summer of 1863, and that "those people" remained quiet for the next six months after the battle, therefore some strategic goals were achieved.

Returning to the primary question concerning July 1st, 1863. You don't mention the distances involved moving Ewell's Corps to Gettysburg. Its not a long drive...but in the heat of July of that year, its a long walk even for troops used to being used as "foot cavalry". Keep in mind, they had been marching for a couple of weeks to this point, the last march being made as fast as humanly possible. There is quite a bit of evidence that the corps coming from the North and Northeast (Ewell and AP Hill's) were in fact exhausted at that point.

I completely agree with the mistake of ignoring Pettigrew's warnings, and the spy Harrison as well, btw, that stated Union Troops, specifically a "tidy bunch of blue bellies" as Harrison put it, were in Gettysburg.

I"m not aware of any Cavalry assigned to Ewell, or Hill, in significant numbers that would allow a recon in force (given its enemy territory, you wouldn't just send a sqaudron up the road under those circumstances).

What "I'm suggesting" is the exact opposite of what you state. I suggest had Jackson been at Gettysburg, and everything played out as it did, specifically Heth running amok seeking "glory" (thats exactly how I view Heth's actions) with Ewell and AP Hill arriving as they did, Jackson would in fact have charged the guns on Cemetary Hill. The only thing Howard did correctly that day was order troops to dig in mid afternoon of July 1st. Add to it the large number of cannon's already in place, it would have been one of the biggest slaughters in a war full of them.

You are correct, Jackson followed his orders to the letter. However, his commanders had a habit of not being that strict, as Jackson's own numerous diciplinary actions against them demonstrated over and over again. (To be fair, many of those actions were due to Jackson being....odd, to be polite....LOL).

As for Picketts Charge, yep thats what Longstreet said. That doesn't change the fact the only person that thought the attack would be sucessful besides Lee was Pickett.

Nobody can look over that ground and come to the same conclusion Lee did on the evening of July 2nd, or the morning of July 3rd. Longstreets staff was correct, the position was indeed "frightening in its strength".

As for Jackson "flanking" the position....given the convergence from all points of the compass to the south and east of the entire Union Army, I think had Jackson attempted one of his famous flanking manuevers, he would have run into the oncoming Corps still arriving during the night of July 1st, and the morning of July 2nd. I have a very hard time looking at the maps, and divining just what the "route" would be, given the terrain, and the locations of the various Union Corps coming up. Had Jackson done so, its very very likely he would find himself "taken in the flank", with no hope of relief given the position of the main body of the CSA to what would have been the far western end of the battlefield. As most have noted, the primary advantage of the Union was strong interior lines, while the CSA had to shift troops over miles and miles of roads, most of which were in clear view of the Union position atop Cemetary Ridge, Culps Hill, etc. Also, on the evening of July 1st, Buford's battered troops were ordered to the flanks....and Buford certainly wasn't Howard when it came to securing the flanks.

(I really enjoyed reading your post)

First...the myths of the shoes. I think I said there were no shoes in Gettysburg since Early had very clearly reported that he cleaned Gettysburg out of shoes. Heth went to Gettysburg to provoke a fight... AP Hill disregarded Lee's order not to engage in a fight.

Second, there would have been no defense on Cemetary Ridge the night of July 1st... because the defense was set up only after Hancock arrived late in the afternoon. Up until then, the Yankees were in rout through Gettysburg. Howard had folded again.

Third, the round tops were not occupied by the Federals until late in the evening. Ewell did not take them when he could have. WHEN THERE WAS NO ONE UP THERE!

Please let me know what historians/books say that Lee thought Jackson was a liabilty. I have read much. From Freeman to Dabney and have never once read so much as a hint that Lee would think that about Jackson.

About whether Lee called Gettysburg a "defeat." Isn't that like straining at a gnat and swallowing a camel to disregard all that Lee said and wrote about Gettysburg. He knew he had been defeated. He told the returning troops from Picketts Charge that it "was all his fault." He knew he had been beaten on the field, but he also knew that the spirit of the Army was high, and they would fight and win again...I love that about the Army of Northern Virginia.

Regarding the distance of Ewells movements that day of July 1st. This was the foot calvary. The one Jackson drove relentlessly throughout the spring, summer of 1862. No, sorry... that reasoning does not hold. As for AP Hill... he was already at Gettysburg the day of July 1st. He had arrived the night before. Both the Foot Calvary and the Light Brigade had marched under circumstances like that before, been fed into battle and emerged victorious. (AP Hill's march to Antietam is one such time).

AP Hill disregarded Pettigrew because Pettigrew was from North Carolina. Snobbery! Well, AP Hill showed his snobbish side when Jackson arrived at West Point.

Ewell and Hill had enough Calvary to do a recon if they wanted to. Furthermore, Grumble Jones and Bev Robertson were guarding the passes in the Valley. Lee knew that he had over 3600 troopers at his beck and call. He also knew that Stuart was at Hanover.

What I'm suggesting is that if Jackson had been at Gettysburg, AP Hill would not have been able to send Heth anywhere.

I don't know how you can say that the Union Position on Cemetary Ridge was secure enough to slaughter anyone on July 1st. They were only allowed to dig in for two reasons. The arrival of Hancock, who began to organize a defense, and the fact that Ewell and Hill stopped pursuing. Jackson would not have allowed that. If Hancock arrived in time for the II Corp to come sweeping down from the Round Tops and the heights, do you think Hancock would still have had time to dig in? Of course not. Only because the Union army was not pursued gave Hancock the necessary time to secure a line. Hancock is the hero of Gettysburg, but he gets very little credit.

Jackson's orders in battle were not disobeyed as wily-nily as you suggest. Yes, Jackson was eccentric...(that's part of his charm).

Pickett was a glory hound. Of course, he thought he could take that ridge. Pickett probably thought he could keep marching to Washington.

As for Jackson "flanking" the position....given the convergence from all points of the compass to the south and east of the entire Union Army, I think had Jackson attempted one of his famous flanking manuevers, he would have run into the oncoming Corps still arriving during the night of July 1st, and the morning of July 2nd.

I don't think you have your timing right.

Only the 11 Corp and the 1 Corp were at Gettysburg the afternoon of July 1st. Hancock left the 2nd Corp and rode to take control of the battle. The 11 Corp and 1 Corp were routed and falling back through Gettysburg. When they arrived at Cemetary Ridge (which was good ground), they were in chaos and badly outnumbered by the combined 2nd and 3rd Corps, which was Jackson's II Corp.

Ewell and Hill stopped the pursuit satisfied with the victory they had won. Jackson would not have stopped. That was his nature and his pattern throughout his military career.

July 2nd...

I'm saying if Jackson had been there, there would have been no July 2nd and no July 3rd. The II Corps would have command of the heights. Hancock would not have been able to dig in on Cemetary Ridge...and would have pulled back to Pipe Creek where Meade wanted to fight.