[Badeye]

‘Your point is well taken, the Spenser repeater was a significant factor in outcome. Gregg’s cavalry, newly carrying Spenser’s, stopped JEB Stuart from reinforcing Pickett’s charge and changed the outcome of Gettysburg and the war.’

Nonsense. Stuart’s horses were completely blown by July 3rd, 1863.

And they would have been slaughtered had they ‘reinforced’ Picketts charge across that wide open field, up hill, against fortified positions, backed up with hundreds of artillery pieces.

[gandalftb]

Both units fought each other a month earlier to a draw, then Gregg's Brigade was given Spenser breech loaders that could be easily reloaded from the saddle. When the same units met again, Stuart could not stand the continued horse-mounted volleys and were routed.

Pickett's charge nearly prevailed, had Stuart shown up on the right flank with 2,000 cavalry the Union position would have buckled, they nearly did so anyway but were saved by artillery. The same artillery that Stuart would have routed.

[an amused spectator]

And they would have been slaughtered had they ‘reinforced’ Picketts charge across that wide open field, up hill, against fortified positions, backed up with hundreds of artillery pieces.

Actually, they would have been driving the remnants of a routed Union cavalry force into those positions from the east and behind. Of course it would have taken them probably 20 minutes longer than was needed, or never minutes, if their horses were blown.