Lee wanted to seize the high ground south of Gettysburg, primarily Cemetery Hill, which dominated the town, the Union supply lines, and the road to Washington, D.C., and he believed an attack up the Emmitsburg Road would be the best approach.
Lee ønskede at tage højderne syd for Gettysburg, især Cemetery Hill, som dominerede byen, Unionens forsyningslinjer og vejen til Washington, D.C., og han troede på, at et angreb op langs Emmtitsburg Read var den bedste måde at nå målet på.