[Tax-chick]

The prime objective was the Peach Orchard.

I think we have to beware of hindsight, in all this. Realistically, we'd have to say that the "objective" of the campaign as a whole was simply to win a decisive victory over the Union Army.

The whole Gettysburg battle was improvised, after all, once the leading units made contact without any orders from the commanders. As the saying goes, "No plan survives contact." In this case, contact came first, followed by plans based on inadequate information; followed, sadly, by sticking with those plans in spite of events.

Gettysburg is a pure tragedy, in my view.

[carton253]

I'm not talking about over-generalizations. I was reading his official report. He wanted Longstreet's division to take the Peach Orchard since it was a perfect place for artillery. The artillery could have provided enfilade fire upon Cemetery Ridge and helped Longstreet's goal to roll up the Union Flank towards Cemetary Hill.

Realistically, we'd have to say that the "objective" of the campaign as a whole was simply to win a decisive victory over the Union Army.

Well...duh! LOL! I'm sure that Lee wanted a little more than the Peach Orchard, but battles are one an objective at a time.

The whole Gettysburg battle was improvised, after all, once the leading units made contact without any orders from the commanders.

Well, I disagree with this statement. Lee wasn't near Gettysburg by accident. Gettysburg was a strategic town. The armies may have stumbled into battle...but it didn't take Lee long to establish his plan and his objectives.