After the disastrous Pickett's charge, Lee's army stayed in Seminary ridge on the 4th, expecting a Union attack. What if that attack came ? Could the Union suffer disastrous loses ? Could Lee hold them off ?
The Army of the Potomac would have been repulsed for certain. An attack on July 4 would have meant marching across an open field and up heights on which the Confederates have dug in. Although many of Lee’s rifles guns had exhausted their long-range ammunition, Lee still had plenty smoothbore Napoleons to repel an attack. In terms of strength Lee’s army might have been badly worn out in attacks, but they could undoubtedly repel an attack from the safety of breastworks.
Relieving Pleasonton as commander of the Cavalry Corps for one. Meade cannot directly pursue Lee: Lincoln was still paranoid of Lee pouncing on Washington, requiring Meade to march indirectly. The cavalry had to buy Meade time to win. It bewilders me that Meade allowed Pleasonton to act as both commander of the cavalry corps and Meade’s Chief of Staff after Daniel Butterfield was injured. Pleasonton missed the opportunity to coordinate his cavalrymen to barricade mountain passes in Lee’s line of retreat. These mountain passes were narrow and, with artillery, the cavalry could have been a formidable blocking force that Lee must either punch through or go around them. This buys Meade more time to win the race to the Potomac.More usefully, could Meade have done anything to put himself across Lee's line of retreat?