View single post by David White
 Posted: Thu Jul 12th, 2007 03:15 pm
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David White
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Joined: Tue Sep 6th, 2005
Location: Texas USA
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Mana: 
 I was thinking more of fully mechanical steam devices that came out of the Industrial Revolution as my definition of a machine (engines, tools, capital equipment, steamboats and locomotives).  I wasn't really thinking of mills as a machine, despite their being somewhat mechanical too.  I guess allowing mills as a machine, I am probably wrong that "most" machines were coal powered.

I don't think the coal mines were the initially planned target.  Lee was looking for a victory on Northern soil, plain and simple.  But if Meade sat on the defensive in a strong position, Lee would be forced to look for other alternatives.  Stripping the Pennsylvania of resources and destroying key infrastructure would have been an attractive alternative to beating the AoP.