AHC WI Lee's retreat after Gettysburg cut off

Is it possible that the ANV could either have ceased to exist or have surrendered in the Summer of 1863?

Would that have ended the ACW early
 
If Meade had attacked at Williamsport he would have undoubtedly destroyed the ANV.

that being said, he would have also caused grievous harm to the AOP. Gettysburg, and the campaign as a whole, exhausted both armies. although Meade had a fresh corps, Sedgwick's VI, the rest of the army was fought out. the I and III corps were all but decimated, the XI was in bad shape and the II ,V, and XII had fought hard between July 2 & 3.

The ANV was in shambles. so many officers had gone down and morale was so low after the battle that any fight would have crushed them. especially if they were trapped against the Potomac.

As for the South folding, without their chief army in the east, and the disasters facing them in the west I could see them suing for peace. weather or not Lincoln's government would accept it, or push for reunion is beyond me. perhaps they would try to have Brittan or France mediate.

if this happens the war might be over by Christmas '63. Lincoln might live and Reconstruction might not be as bad or mismanaged as it was in OTL. this may have some effects down the road in regards to Civil Rights, west ward expansion and foreign policy
 
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