The BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG

Turning point of the American Civil War

When General Robert E. Lee advanced northward into Maryland and then Pennsylvania in the summer of 1863, the North was in turmoil. They did not know if he was planning to strike Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, Philadelphia, or perhaps Washington, D. C. from the north. Lee evidently planned to cut off rail lines and isolate Harrisburg and Philadelphia, if not attack them. However, when he arrived in Chambersburg on June 28 and found that his forces were meeting with resistance near Harrisburg and that Union General George Meade was closely on his heels, Lee changed his plans. He consolodated his forces at Cashtown, 8 miles west of Gettysburg. This gave him a means of escaping south, and time to hopefully get intelligence about Union troop deployment from J. E. B. Stuart, his usually reliable cavalry leader who had not been heard from fo a few days.

General Meade (see personal resume) sent Buford's cavalry to determine the size and location of the Confederates, while Lee had sent A. P. Hill's troops toward Gettysburg for the same reason, as well to get supplies. These units engaged in a small fight which quickly developed into a major battle as units from both sides rushed to the scene as reinforcements. At first the Confederates were pushed back, but they recovered and pushed the Union troops back through the town. When General Ewell decided not to press his advantage against the disorganized Union troops, the Union was able to strengthen their positions on the high ground east of town.

On the second day, Lee decided to attack before the Union could get more organized and bring their remaining troops into position, but he was plagued by delays in getting his attacks underway. The day ended with little change in their relative positions, but the Union Army had been able to become entrenched and receive reinforcements.
See Map of Second Day Troop Positions.

The third day resulted in the most famous part of the battle when Lee decided to attack the center of the Union forces. Longstreet attempted to change his mind, but Lee felt that this could break the Union line in two. Longstreet's troops were to make the attack, now called Pickett's Charge. After two hours of artillery bombardment meant to soften up the resistance, the charge began across an open field toward the entrenched Union troops. The resistance was brutal, and those Confederate troops still left finally retreated. The terrible battle was over, with 28,000 men killed, wounded, or captured out of 75,000 Confederates, and 23,000 men lost out of 97,000 Union troops.

The next morning was quiet, with Lee retreating with his defeated army, and Meade following but not attacking. Meade was greatly criticized for not pressing his advantage and possibly wiping out Lee's army, but it must be remebered that Meade's army had also suffered greatly. Also, Meade had just been place in command and was unsure of his army's capabilities. The war would continue, but the Confederates would never again regain the strength that they had.