re: #114 Dark_Falcon

The objective was to bring the Army of the Potomac to battle on Northern soil and there inflict a shattering defeat upon it. Lee believed that this would force the Union to concede Southern independence.

That’s it? Sounds like a desperation move to me. By that I mean that the Confederate leaders felt that a prolonged war was not winnable. (That may be obvious to history students) But it seems to me like it was a Hail Mary Let’s cross our fingers kind of move.