What would have happened if Robert lee had agreed with with longstreet and left Gettysburg on July 2nd and placed the army of northern Virginia between the army of the potomac and Washington dc?

Answer 1

Every Southern Boy's dream. The Reb army would have entrenched and Meade, under intense pressure from Washington, would have thrown his army against the Rebs. Longstreet was the master at defensive fighting. There would have been another Fredricksburg or a mutiny within the Yankee ranks. Either way, a Reb victory would probably have resulted in Lincoln losing election and a resulting peace accord. There would be the Confederate States of America. The Confederacy would eventually break up and North America would look like Europe with many small countries. Just my humble opinion after 40 years of studying ALL aspects of the war.