Why did Robert E. Lee order Pickett’s Charge?

Robert E. Lee ordered the assault known as Pickett’s Charge on the third day of the Battle of Gettysburg because he was determined to continue his offensive against the Union army, despite the objections of his second-in-command, James Longstreet.12

Lee’s decision to strike the Federal center on Cemetery Ridge is often analyzed in the context of his recent success at the Battle of Chancellorsville, which may have influenced his confidence in his army's ability to achieve a breakthrough. By July 3, 1863, Lee sought to capitalize on the momentum of the previous two days of fighting by launching a massive infantry assault involving approximately 15,000 troops under the command of George E. Pickett, J. Johnston Pettigrew, and Isaac R. Trimble.21

Ultimately, the attack failed with catastrophic casualties, marking a turning point in the American Civil War and forcing Lee to abandon his invasion of the North.312