David,

Very astute observations. Technically Lee DID NOT lose. As you say he accomplished his goals. Maybe the reason history says he lost is because he withdrew to more friendly territory. It was a "political" victory for the North.

1. By saying the Confederate Army retreated, McClellan and Lincoln could claim a victory thereby giving Lincoln incentive to sign the Emancipation Proclamation to appease political action groups.

2. The North desperately needed to feel it had "won" something. Especially after the way McCllan's army had been handled by the Lee-Jackson combination during the summer of 1862. This event gave them that "something".

3. Kind of reminds me of my days in a war. During my mis-spent youth in Asian surroundings, we were constantly beating our enemies. American troops were NEVER beaten in the field by our Viet enemies. It was politicians who told us we lost. We withdrew from a field of battle, therefore "WE LOST"! The same could be said for Lee's army. He withdrew from the field therefore, according to the same type of armchair warriors, "HE LOST".

Go figure.....

Len