To me, the South was deluded by success against incompetent Northern Generals early in the war, by the quick flanking movements of Stonewall Jackson coupled with the defensive abilities of Longstreet. Later, the North got it together, figured out the Southern strategies, and used its superior numbers. As in sports, "offense gets the attention, but defense wins championships". If the Southern strategy was to delay and "not lose", then they should have listened to Longstreet. It seems that "positioning the Southern army between the Northern Army and Washington" would've been a much better strategy than Pickett's charge, playing to Longstreet's strengths. Lee, more than anyone, deserves the blame for Gettysburg, great as he was. My ancestors all fought for the Union Army (many at Antietam and Gettysburg) and two were imprisoned at Andersonville (the South's version of Dachau?) Though enemies, I believe the Yanks respected Jackson, Lee, and Longstreet as brave and honorable. What has happened since the war to tarnish Longstreet's legacy is frankly revisionism, racism, and "sore loser-dom" by the lesser lights of the Confederacy.