After reading several accounts of the battle of Gettysburg, I'm curious what everyone's thoughts are on the outcome of Lee's second offensive into Federal held territory IF he had accepted Longstreet's suggestion on the first day of Gettysburg and moved the Army of Northern Virginia around Meade's left flank, interposing himself between Meade and the Federal capital?
I don't know all of the dispositions of the Army of the Potomac on Day 1 of the battle but I seem to recall that there were at least 2 Corps still marching to Gettyburg and would've been blocking Lee's direct approach to Washington?