What might have been the results of a Confederate victory at Gettysburg?

US Civil War historians and students of the war have analyzed the aftermath of a Confederate victory at the Battle of Gettysburg. Several realistic scenarios were possible. Perhaps the best way to speculate on this is to assume, that as with Lee, Meade had lost a considerable amount of troops as as did Lee, was able to retreat to safer ground.

This scenario does not include armies from either side in the Western Theater, distance playing a key role. General Meade, or the way it seemed to work in the Union, his replacement would have fallen back to a strong defensive position and entrenched the Army of the Potomac. This would have forced Lee to make a serious decision.

One that he did not need when he realized he had to retreat from Gettysburg. Lee would have to decide to attack the defensive positioned army of Meade, causing a serious investment of troops, or attempt to maneuver Meade out of position. As an aside, this was on of the ideas that General McClellan always had in the back of his mind when he was in charge of things.

Having already spent a sizable amount of time in enemy territory, Lee would probably accessed his source of supplies and figure into the mix the fact that he was victorious from a defensive posture, causing him to reorganize. Historians have speculated that Lee, having achieved the objective of causing a deep loss of morale, could now easily and at a leisurely pace, returned to Virginia. This having again defeated yet another general of the Army of the Potomac.

Certainly, after such a victory, the political rewards could have seriously hampered the Union, and as Lincoln always feared, prolong the war and face unpleasant consequences from the Northern public. The other scenario could have been a major panic within the Lincoln administration. This would not be new, as they panicked at Bull Run twice and panicked even at the appearance of the CSS Virginia at Hampton Roads and its destruction of several Union warships.

And would panic in 1864 at the raid of Jubal Early.In such a case, the Federals could have fearfully abandoned Washington and Baltimore in order to concentrate an immense force to defend Philadelphia. Taking into consideration the mid-July draft riots in New York City, such a situation, politically, would now be a disaster, but not militarily.It is doubtful that the Lincoln administration could have thrown in the towel and quit the war. The chaos and anarchy Lincoln claimed would be the result of secession, would force him to never yield.

One likely result of this could very well have been an outrage to the Northern public and recruiting offices outside of New York City would be filled with young patriots now with a "real cause", meaning the creation of a new powerful enemy sitting at their southern border. Without a doubt, the various other scenarios might be intriguing, but Lee was not victorious at Gettysburg.

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