I was listening to a Gary Gallagher lecture series [and a recent book I read supports him] and he said that in 1863 the south did not view Gettysburg as a defeat, but as a draw on the battlefield and many considered the campaign a success even thoe it fell short of its major goal to win a major victory over the army of the Potomac and earn peace. He mentioned how the south was not driven from the field they simply failed to remove the federals from the field and since they were not driven from it, it was viewed by most at the time as a draw. Some southern soldiers [and populous, newspapers etc] viewed it as a victory since they won day 1 and drove the federals back and than maintained position day 2 and 3.
“There was no spirit of defeat in the army this morning [4th] men waited hopefully for federal attack on their hill.”
-Burke Davis Jeb Stuart the Last Cavalier
Gallagher said how day 1 was one of the great attacking victories of the war pushing back and inflicting heavy damage on 2 union corps. After the vicious day 2 fighting general Meade was ready to retreat and made plans but was talked out of it by his subordinates. Lee declared day 2 a victory.
“When the second days battle was over General Lee declared it a success.”
-James Longstreet quoted in Ken Burns PBS the civil war documentary
The federals suffered such large causalities [the largest of any battle of the war ] they did not mount a major offensive in Virginia for 10 months.
"Gen Lee maneuvering the Yankees out of Virginia is the grandest piece of strategy ever herd of.”
-Jeb Stuart letter to his wife July 13th
The campaign removed the federal army from Virginia to the north giving Virginia farmland much needed rest. Stuart and the army had great success on their secondary goal, capturing much needed food and fodder for the army while living off northern farmland.
I think many see Gettysburg as a major defeat because Lee never invaded the north again. Yet this had more to do with accumulative loss of manpower to all southern armies and drop in morale coupled with larger more aggressive northern armies. At the time nobody new lee would not invade again and some thought he would.
“We return without defeat to recuperate and reinforce when no dout the role will be reenacted...."
-Jeb Stuart letter to his wife July 13th
Further Early did invade in 64 and Lee sent Longstreet and 2 divisions to Tennessee. Not something a defeated army would likely do. But a confident army would and Lee showed they had plenty of fight left in 64.
Others say the south lost the war at Gettysburg, I dont see how this is so. Gettysburg combined with Vicksburg was a big blow for sure. But Lincoln was not likely to be reelected [ peace democrats would have been ] until Sherman captured Atlanta and Early was defeated in the valley along with the capture of Mobile. Those events secured Lincolns reelection and won the war for the north, not Gettysburg. The high causalities of 64 and battles like Gettysburg [union losses 23,000] almost cost the republicans the war I think Ken Burns Documentary shows this very well.
Well, I would say it was a defeat, thousands dead, thousands more wounded, captured, and missing.
The South left the field, never to see the Northern States again.
The killing went on for two more years, and with the Southern Defeat at Vicksburg, MS, the backdoor to the South was opened, and it's days were numbered.
Almost all the Southern victories were as bitter as defeat, even if the Northern Army was driven from the field, the South was unable to replenish it's losses which were close to those of the Union.
Once Grant took over, his strategy did not depend on victories per se, simply engaging Less forces, pulling back, replenishing his numbers (and more) then extending his line thus forcing lee to do the same until Lee's forces were to thin to hold the line around Petersburg.
It's hard to say where the South lost the war, certainly losing control of the Mississippi River hurt the Southern cause, but, I think the double blow of Vicksburg/Gettysburg was the beginning of the end of the Southern cause.
