I'm not sure where you are getting your information. Lee was a master strategist and not one who looked, like Grant, to win through attrition. Lee was aware that he couldn't win a battle like that. Lee's one, if not biggest mistake, during the entire war was Gettysburg. He was forced into fighting where he fought because Stuart was off raiding and pillaging, rather than being "the eyes of the army". Lee's advance force ran into Buford's cavalry, and didn't realize there was a larger Union force very close by, until it was too late. If Stuart had been around, no way would have the battle been fought where it was, if at all. Remember, also, Longstreet begged Lee to not order Picket's charge, as very defensively minded, Longstreet saw no possibility of success... and he was ultimately right.
You sound more like a proponent of the kind of war Joe Johnston would nave fought. Johnston was a superb general, a master DEFENSIVE tactician. If he were in charge of the Army of North Virginia, the South would have lasted a bit longer, but would have had NO chance of winning. Lee was the South's best chance, as he was the most offensively minded of all of the South's lead generals.