Lee Moves North: Robert E. Lee on the Offensive

For much of the Civil War, Robert E. Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia fought on the defensive, but it's during three specific invasions northward--Antietam, Gettysburg, and the lesser-known Bristoe Station--that both the genius and failings of General Lee come to light. Historian Michael Palmer offers a revisionist look at how Lee, who has been at times nearly universally revered, made serious mistakes when engaging in offensive operations. Regardless of whether the reader totally agrees with Palmer's thesis, the argument is well presented, and the sources cited and Palmer's writing could engender a lively debate.