If the Confederate Army had invaded the Union more than in July 1863,

[coalition_unwilling]

35. I actually believe you are more correct than I as to Lee's

strategic aim in invading PA.

After some brief research of my own . . . here's what McPherson has to say:

" . . . the Virginian dazzled Davis and Seddon with a proposal to invade Pennsylvania with a reinforced army and inflict a crushing defeat on the Yankees in their own backyard. This would remove the enemy threat on the Rappahannock, take the armies out of war-ravaged Virginia, and enable Lee to feed his troops in the enemy's country. It would also strengthen Peace Democrats, discredit Republicans, reopen the question of foreign recognition and perhaps even conquer peace and recognition from the Union government itself." (Emphasis added, p. 647)

Confederates to this point had not suffered a single major defeat in the East -- Antietam had ended up a stalemate -- and Lee's vision swayed the Confederate cabinet. But getting the Union to sue for peace seems at best a secondary or even tertiary goal, at least as far as the invasion of Pennysylvania is concerned. So it is I who stand corrected.

I wanted to check Bruce Catton and Shelby Foote tomorrow at the library to see what each could add. But I'm pretty sure we have between us covered all the major bases already.