--- title: "Robert E. Lee may have lost Gettysburg because of a heart attack" description: "New studies show that Robert E. Lee may have suffered a heart attack during the Battle of Gettysburg. If he hadn't, could he have won?" date: "2022-02-01" modified: "2023-06-27" authors: - name: "Blake Stilwell" job_title: "Editor-In-Chief, Air Force Veteran" link: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/authors/blake/" url: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/mighty-history/robert-e-lee-may-have-lost-gettysburg-because-of-a-heart-attack/" categories: - "Civil War" - "History" - "War History" --- # Robert E. Lee may have lost Gettysburg because of a heart attack ![robert e. lee statue]() In July 1863, Confederate General Robert E. Lee hatched an audacious plan to invade the North, [defeat the Union Army](), and force an end to the war – with a Confederate victory. Everything – perhaps the entire Civil War – depended on the outcome at Gettysburg. So maybe Lee should have stayed home to recover from his heart attack. A study from the National Institute of Health's Center for Biotechnology Information [reviewed the general's medical history in 1992](). Despite his relatively good medical condition from 1864 to 1867, by the end of the decade, he suffered from exertional (stable) angina – chest pain from blocked arteries caused by activity. By 1870, his angina became unstable and he died at age 63. "It often was stated that the loss of the war broke the heart of Lee, but in view of our modern day understanding, it probably is more accurate to say that advancing coronary atherosclerosis was the culprit," the NIH said. ![Painting of Robert E. Lee]() *Painting of General Lee in battle.* [Harvard studies show]() the cardiac impact of six major risk factors: high total cholesterol, low HDL ("good") cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, and smoking. Anyone with two or more of these factors has a 69 percent chance of developing a cardiovascular disease – and 11 fewer years of life. Lee had been suffering from what his doctors diagnosed as pericarditis since March 1863, which had a sudden onset and came with pain in his chest, back, and arms. It affected his ability to ride a horse and [he was known to be anxious and depressed]() in the days and years after, both common conditions after heart attacks. "It came on in paroxysms, was quite sharp," he wrote. Doctors look at "my lungs, my heart, circulation, etc. and I believe they pronounced me tolerable sound." ![]() *Painting of General Lee with Confederate troops.* Pericarditis is an inflammation of the membrane surrounding the heart but the NIH study refutes that diagnosis because American doctors were unfamiliar with the idea of angina. The researchers proposed instead that Lee suffered from ischemic heart disease, which would keep blood and oxygen from getting to the muscles of the heart. His heart disease may have affected his judgement in all areas of life, which would explain some of the inexplicable and uncharacteristic decisions he ordered that day, [namely Pickett's Charge](). Lee's March 1863 episode was a heart attack, not Pericarditis. As the NIH diagnosis says, the loss at Gettysburg didn't break Lee's heart, it was broken when he got there. ## Author Blake Stilwell is We Are The Mighty's Editor-in-Chief, covering military news, entertainment, and history, along with veteran education, employment and entrepreneurship. He is a former U.S. Air Force combat cameraman with degrees in Graphic Design, Television and Film, International Relations, Public Relations, Business Management and Middle Eastern Affairs. After leaving the military, he began working in film and television production in New York and Los Angeles, work that included ABC News, NBC Olympics, and HBO Sports. He then spent two years in Washington with White House Communications, before joining the Near East Foundation. At NEF he served as an International Development Fellow, then Communications Officer, and finally, Media Officer for the Middle East and Africa. Based in the Palestinian Territory, he coordinated strategic communications between eight country offices, international media, and government and NGO partners. He began a career focused on writing and editing in 2015 with We Are The Mighty. He left in 2019 for Military.com, but returned as Editor-in-Chief in 2025. Blake’s work has been seen on CBS News, Fox News, CBC, The Chicago Tribune, Task & Purpose, Military Times, Recoil, Skillset, American History, and was shockingly even used in a Supreme Court argument. He is an avid traveler and small business owner in Ohio, where he spends most of his energy fixing up a very old house. ### Author social links [Facebook]() [Twitter]() [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()