Battle of Gettysburg

Battle of Gettysburg

What Was the Battle of Gettysburg?

The Battle of Gettysburg was a major battle that was fought between the Union Army and the Confederate Army on July 1rst through July 3^rd, 1863. The battle is referred to as the Battle of Gettysburg because it was fought in and around the town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

How Many Men Fought in the Battle of Gettysburg

Roughly 175,000 men fought in the Battle of Gettysburg. Approximately 100,000 of these men belonged to the Union Army, and approximately 75,000 belonged to the Confederate Army.

Who Commanded the Armies at the Battle of Gettysburg?

The Union Army was commanded by Major General George G. Meade. The Confederate Army was commanded by General Robert E. Lee.

General Robert E. Lee

What Happened at the Battle of Gettysburg?

After winning the Battle of Chancellorsville in early May, 1963, Robert E Lee decided to move his troops north to invade northern states. Chancellorsville had been a major success for the Confederate Army and Lee had a lot of confidence before the Battle of Gettysburg. On July 1rst, 1863, Lee and his Army ran into the Army of the Potomac, which was a large part of the Union Army, led by General Meade.

Gettysburg was an important crossroads town and both armies wanted to control it. However, two cavalry brigades from the Union Army arrived in the town first and chose the best ground to fight on. Thus, they were well prepared when the Confederates showed up. The fighting began on July first when the Confederates arrived on the western section of the town.

After the initial skirmishes, more and more troops for both armies began to descend on the town of Gettysburg. The Union Army held onto positions on the high ground. On day 2 of the battle. The Confederate Army attacked the Union line in several positions, trying to flank the Union Army. While they were successful in gaining some ground, their efforts were largely ineffective. The Confederates almost broke through on the left flank, but a Union Regimen from Maine led by Lieutenant Colonel, Joshua Chamberlain, put up fierce resistance and stopped the Confederates from breaking through.

On the final day of the battle of Gettysburg, Lee ordered one last charge. This charge was led by General George Pickett. As Lee ordered, Pickett led about 12,500 men straight at the center of the Union line following an artillery barrage from about 150 confederate cannons. During this charge, the Confederate soldiers had to run through about three-quarters of a mile of open field to attack fortified Union positions. They were shot at the entire way by Union soldiers. Eventually, this attack was repelled, and resulted in about half of the 12,500 Confederate soldiers being killed.  General Lee withdrew his troops from the battlefield later that night, ending the battle.

Who Won the Battle of Gettysburg?

The Union army won the Battle of Gettysburg, although both sides sustained heavy losses. It was known as the turning point in the Civil War.

How Many Casualties Were There in the Battle of Gettysburg?

The Union Army lost roughly 23,000 men and the Confederate Army lost roughly 28,000 men. So, about 51,000 men total became casualties in the Battle of Gettysburg in a three-day period.

President Abraham Lincoln would go on to deliver the most famous speech of his presidency, The Gettysburg Address, at the dedication of the National Cemetery at Gettysburg several months later.

In this speech, he paid respect to the men who lost their lives in the Battle of Gettysburg and eloquently reminded everyone what they were fighting for, liberty, equality, and the preservation of a great nation governed by the people, for the people. The Gettysburg Address is said to be one of the most powerful speeches of all ti