Realistic Effects of a CSA Gettysburg "Gingrich" Victory

I've been re-read Newt Gingrich and William Forstchen's Gettysburg Trilogy, since it's my favorite AH novels.

One of the oddest things in the trilogy is the North's reaction to the Confederate victory in Gettysburg. The Army of the Potomac is pretty much gone after the fight, not to be back for a few months. Aside from the garrisons the East is unprotected and the reaction, aside from a bad riot in New York, is "meh, no big deal".

I'm not arguing whether such a victory could be possible or not. I'm wondering what would be a more realistic reaction to Lee virtually destroying the Army of the Potomac in their own soil.
 

jahenders

Banned
I think the reaction in the series is somewhat reasonable -- a mad scramble to protect the next targets ANV might hit with whatever resources are available (hence the big battle in book 2 at the supply depot). It wasn't like the ANV could then just head straight to DC.

Aside from those reactions, a loss at Gettysburg would certainly shake political support in the North, but if he US Army can contain the ANV they'll eventually have to withdraw. The North had horrible losses before and after and kept chugging.

The fact that the US wins at Vicksburg at the same time they'd lose at Gettysburg softens the blow a bit.

I've been re-read Newt Gingrich and William Forstchen's Gettysburg Trilogy, since it's my favorite AH novels.

One of the oddest things in the trilogy is the North's reaction to the Confederate victory in Gettysburg. The Army of the Potomac is pretty much gone after the fight, not to be back for a few months. Aside from the garrisons the East is unprotected and the reaction, aside from a bad riot in New York, is "meh, no big deal".

I'm not arguing whether such a victory could be possible or not. I'm wondering what would be a more realistic reaction to Lee virtually destroying the Army of the Potomac in their own soil.
 
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