or he takes much more casualties overall, especially on Day 3.
I'm probably cutting myself off at the knees here, considering my own Gettysburg TL, but barring ever greater recklessness on the part of Lee, it's not really possible. The numbers there are just too close. Not even, but a 1.3 to 1 ratio is hardly a killing advantage.With a POD not before July 1st 1863, how could we have a total union victory at Gettysburg resulting in Lee surrendering his army in the field?
Lee took responsibility, not blame. He never understood that he made a mistake. He spent the rest of his life wondering what went wrong (hint-hint: the Yankees didn't run away like the plan called forIn the movie "Gettysburg" (don't know if this happened IRL though), after Lee said "It's all my fault" his soldiers tried to convince him to allow another charge. Maybe that happenes ITTL?
With a POD not before July 1st 1863, how could we have a total union victory at Gettysburg resulting in Lee surrendering his army in the field?
Was major combat not possible in the wet?
If what you are saying is true, then I'd not call it an 'impenetrable' position, but rather a very vulnerable position that require good weather to be able to defend itNot just wet. It was "Somebody find Noah!" wet. An absolutely torrential downpour, soddening powder and percussion caps. And while you can (with difficulty) march in mud, you can't FORCE-MARCH in it.
But as far as fighting goes? In the Second Battle of the Mule Shoe at Spotsylvannia Courthouse, the US II Corps launched an all out bayonet (They'd been forbidden to fire) charge on the Mule Shoe. This took place while shrouded in fog. There had been heavy rains all night long until just before the troops went in. Facing them was the famous Stonewall Brigade behind very heavy fortifications. The Stonewall had good artillery support as well, making for an impenetrable position.
Just as the Yankee troops came out of the fog, the Confederates opened fire. POP! Fizzle...! Virtually every rifle, and most of the artillery, misfired.
The 20,000 men of II Corps simply swarmed and overran the Stonewall, capturing the entire force. The Stonewall Brigade had ceased to exist. And the Mule Shoe salient into Union lines had been erased. The rest of the battle that day would be decided by the bayonet, and hand-to-hand.
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