[Kenny Bunk]

In one way, I think Meade "out-staffed" the Confederates. He had some very good people giving him suggestions in his frequent "councils of war," and he was smart enough to winnow his way through their input and take a good idea when offered. I always marvel that he had only taken the army over from Hooker in the last week! (Hooker should get some credit for his reorganization of the army, in particular the cavalry, and the smooth work of his staff people during the transition!)

Lee, OTOH, was not very well served on this occasion by his subordinates. A.P. Hill, Early, Ewell, Longstreet, and of course JEB Stuart, not to mention his artillery, were all tried and found wanting at crucial points in the battle.

Captain, Sir: as hardened Yankee and an amateur historian of this period, I must voice a complaint! These books written about Confederate generals read more like the medieval lives of the saints with their endless lists of miraculously brilliant strategies and the impossible virtues of the "Knights of the Olde South." What really is impossible is trying to figure out what the heck really happened!

[Captain Rhino]

I have just driven 400+ miles through I-95 traffic and need to eat and reflect before answering your last post at length.

However, a search concerning Robert E. Lee’s missing memoir came up with this link: http://www.historynet.com/lees-unwritten-memoir.htm

Lee has some interesting things to say post-war about Gettysburg. It’s about half way down in the article.