Gettysburg's influence was far beyond the immediate lift it provided to Union morale.

It prevented Europe from recognizing the Confederacy -- there were British officers there, observing Lee, and it was their recommendations that prevented Britain from recognition. I believe that there were also French officers with Lee's forces.

It brought home to the Union forces that the Army of Northern Virginia could be decisively defeated.

It prevented an encirclement of DC and the addition of Maryland to the Confederacy.

It prevented Lee from making a large-scale invasion of the North and seizing materials the Confederacy needed -- from shoes to guns.

If Meade had pursued Lee as he should have the ACW might have been over in 1863.

I had relatives there, and at Shiloh, and at Atlanta, and in other places back then. 'Tain't funny to me.