Gettysburg was not the battle Lee had hoped to fight. By maneuvering, he wanted to place his army in a strong defensive position that the Army of the Potomac would have to attack. Lee prefered that to having to conduct an offensive battle.

The campaign and battle were not a success from Lee's point of view because he had not dealt a significant defeat on the Federals. Only from the perspective that the Confederates had gathered some supplies and kept the war out of Virginia for a few months was the campaign a success.