General Lee Mission Command Analysis

General Robert E. Lee executed poor mission command during the Battle of Gettysburg by not providing a clear commander’s intent, and not creating teams of mutual trust1. General Lee commanded the Confederate Army during the Battle of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania in July 1861. The Confederate Army sought supplies before they decisively engaged the Union Army. General Lee’s lack of mission command lost the Battle of Gettysburg3.

General Lee did not establish clear commander’s intent when issuing orders to his cavalry commander. After entering Pennsylvania, General Lee gave the cavalry commander wide latitude in his orders to screen the main column, and did not establish a clear intent. General Lee’s cavalry began a skirmish with the Union Army while traveling beyond their lines of communication. Outlined in ADRP 6-0 the commander must provide a clear and concise expression of the purpose of the operation1. General Lee’s cavalry was absent from the first days of the battle because he did not use clear and concise communication. General Lee’s poor use of mission command deprived him of his cavalry, an important asset.

General Lee did not establish clear commander’s intent when issuing vital orders. Lee ordered a force to take Cemetery Hill if practicable. Lee’s subordinate

arrived at the hill, saw that the Union forces were digging in, and decided it was not feasible to take the hill. ADRP 6-0 advises commanders to articulate the reason for an operation so forces understand its purpose1. General Lee should have articulated the value of the hill to his commander and given clear orders instead of leaving the choice to his subordinate. General Lee’s unclear commander’s intent allowed the Union to create robust fighting positions on Cemetery Hill3.
General Lee eroded the cohesive mutual trust of his commanders by not sharing his tactical vision.

His commanders did not obey his orders not to engage the enemy until the Confederate Army was battle ready. The commanders learned the location of suspected militia forces south of Gettysburg. The subordinate commanders decided to engage the enemy and lost the encounter. Had General Lee’s commanders understood his tactical vision regarding not engaging the enemy they might have obeyed his order. ADRP 6-0 states effective commanders build cohesive teams in an environment of mutual trust1. General Lee did not foster mutual trust and cohesion, resulting in a departure from his standing

orders3.
General Lee did not provide clear commander’s intent at the Battle of Gettysburg, resulting in tactical failures. He also did not create a cohesive team through trust, resulting in his commanders disregarding orders and causing battlefield errors. General Lee gave orders with vague commander’s intent resulting in the loss of Cemetery Hill. His vague intent given to his cavalry deprived him of vital force at the start of the battle. General Lee did not work to create mutual trust with his subordinates by sharing his vision with them. The subordinate commanders in turn disobeyed orders, starting the battle before the rest of the Army was ready. General Lee’s disregard for ADRP 6-0 Mission Command principles fostered the conditions for his Army to lose the Battle of Gettysburg.