Lee's defeat at Gettysburg was... partially the cause of officers who were not accustomed to his method of giving orders. If Stonewall Jackson had been in command instead of Ewell, then the battle could have had a different outcome
~Alexander Stephens, Lost Cause Writer
~Alexander Stephens, Lost Cause Writer
Effect of Stonewall Jackson's Death
Prior to the Battle of Gettysburg, Stonewall Jackson, the commander of Lee's 2nd Corps, was killed at the Battle of Chancellorsville. One of Lee's most able commanders, his death was a stunning blow to Lee's army. While Ewell and Hill's tactical ability may have matched Jackson, they were not used to how Lee commanded the army. Lee often would state an objective and let his subordinates decide how to reach that objective, and Jackson was an expert at quickly responding to new situations and countering unexpected surprises. However, Ewell and Hill, both newly appointed as commanders of the 2nd and 3rd Corps, respectively, were not able to achieve this. As a result, the interpretation of commands led to sluggish reactions on the Confederate front, and caused confusion. If Stonewall Jackson had been alive, he could have changed the outcome of the Battle of Gettysburg.