[Leftcoast]

Sorry, Oasis.  I was channelling my inner C.al Fan with my Lee synopsis.  Perhaps the flippant humor and tongue in cheek sarcasm in comparing Lee to the SEC didn't make it through the interwebs filter.

Both armies were spent after Gettysburg and Lee masterfully led a well defended retreat in horrendous conditions.  He dealt with the heavy rains and flooded Potomac by  fortifying his temporary position north of the river to the point that some of his officers were actively hoping that they could draw Meade into a frontal assault of the type they so devastatingly defended at Fredericksburg. 

Of course, we should give Lincoln the final assessment of Meade's work and Lincoln's final grade for Meade at Gettysburg would have been a D- at best due to the costly victory coupled with his failure to aggressively pursue the Army of North Virginia North of the Potomac after the three days of fighting near Gettysburg. 

Here's an excerpt and link to the letter Lincoln wrote to Meade after Lee had escaped across the waning floodwaters of the Potomac.  He's responding to Meade's request to be releived of command (hardlyt what you expect from the victorious commander).  It's short and well written stuff.  I wonder if our current Presidential candidates are capable of this level of writing.

Again, my dear general, I do not believe you appreciate the magnitude of the misfortune involved in Lee's escape. He was within your easy grasp, and to have closed upon him would, in connection with our other late successes, have ended the war. As it is, the war will be prolonged indefinitely. If you could not safely attack Lee last monday, how can you possibly do so South of the river, when you can take with you very few more than two thirds of the force you then had in hand? It would be unreasonable to expect, and I do not expect you can now effect much. Your golden opportunity is gone, and I am distressed immeasurably because of it.

I beg you will not consider this a prossecution, or persecution of yourself.  As you had learned that I was dissatisfied, I have thought it best to kindly tell you why.

http://www.historyplace.com/civilwar/lett-6.htm

[Leftcoast]

Sorry, Oasis.  I was channelling my inner C.al Fan with my Lee synopsis.  Perhaps the flippant humor and tongue in cheek sarcasm in comparing Lee to the SEC didn't make it through the interwebs filter.

Both armies were spent after Gettysburg and Lee masterfully led a well defended retreat in horrendous conditions.  He dealt with the heavy rains and flooded Potomac by  fortifying his temporary position north of the river to the point that some of his officers were actively hoping that they could draw Meade into a frontal assault of the type they so devastatingly defended at Fredericksburg. 

Of course, we should give Lincoln the final assessment of Meade's work and Lincoln's final grade for Meade at Gettysburg would have been a D- at best due to the costly victory coupled with his failure to aggressively pursue the Army of North Virginia North of the Potomac after the three days of fighting near Gettysburg. 

Here's an excerpt and link to the letter Lincoln wrote to Meade after Lee had escaped across the waning floodwaters of the Potomac.  He's responding to Meade's request to be releived of command (hardlyt what you expect from the victorious commander).  It's short and well written stuff.  I wonder if our current Presidential candidates are capable of this level of writing.

Again, my dear general, I do not believe you appreciate the magnitude of the misfortune involved in Lee's escape. He was within your easy grasp, and to have closed upon him would, in connection with our other late successes, have ended the war. As it is, the war will be prolonged indefinitely. If you could not safely attack Lee last monday, how can you possibly do so South of the river, when you can take with you very few more than two thirds of the force you then had in hand? It would be unreasonable to expect, and I do not expect you can now effect much. Your golden opportunity is gone, and I am distressed immeasurably because of it.

I beg you will not consider this a prossecution, or persecution of yourself.  As you had learned that I was dissatisfied, I have thought it best to kindly tell you why.

http://www.historyplace.com/civilwar/lett-6.htm