What was the purpose of Picketts Charge?
~The object and purpose, obviously, was to win the battle. Winning the battle may have changed the course of the war, but probably not. Don’t forget, Grant was taking Vicksburg at the same time Gettysburg was being contested and Vicksburg was a much more significant Confederate loss. To win the battle required the Federal Army to be broken and dislodged from defensive positions on Cemetery Ridge. For various reasons, not the least of which were the incompetence and insubordination of Lee’s top commanders, assaults on the Federal right and left had failed on July 1 and 2. Of course, the incompetence and insubordination of the highest ranking Federal Generals did all but give the battle back. In any case, Lee figured he try something different on July 3. The assault on July 3 should never have been undertaken, but Lee thought he and his army were invincible. The assault should never have been necessary, but blunder after blunder had allowed the Federals to occupy and fortify the ridge. W
