On this day 1863, Robert E Lee shouted "Never fight uphill, me b'hoys!" ... So beautiful

[Bucky]

[AltairIV]

1. Gettysburg

Should have followed his own advice.

[Redleg]

2. When I visited the battlefields at Gettysburg

I was surpised to find that Cemetary Ridge was much less steep than I had expected. It was more of a gentle slope, especially compared to the difficulty terrain at Little Round Top.

Having said that, even a relatively gentle slope provides significant advantages for the defender, the Union in this case. I wouldn't have wanted to advance toward the Union lines on a hot July day, having to cross several relatively open areas enroute while under fire from indirect fire at first and then the withering direct fire of dug-in federal troops.

[Bucky]

6. General Pickett was planning as if the enemy had muskets

It wasn't the uphill charge that was the deadliest factor so much as the long open field. He was fighting as if his troops were those little wooden blocks that you move around on a game board. To an extent, all of the generals still thought that way. They were still planning for 18th century pre-industrial warfare. 50 years later, European generals still hadn't learned that lesson

[Redleg]

8. Gen. Longstreet seemed to know what was going to happen

It's a good thing he was over-ruled by Lee.

[2naSalit]

3. I believe he made that command...

In reference to the Bowling Green massacre.

[Bucky]

7. Never remember.

[Blue Owl]

4. So vicious and so interesting in so many ways.... I go there to watch...

[Midnight Writer]

5. It was the superior air power of the North that won the battle.