Gettysburg

Charles Esquivel Pritchett History 1301 Nov. 25th 2010 Civil War send off Located 50 miles northwest of Balti more(prenominal), the small town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania was the rank of the largest skirmish ever waged during the American Civil War. Fought in the first iii geezerhood of July 1863, the Battle of Gettysburg resulted in a hallmark victory for the labor union Army of the Potomac and successfully ended the second invasion of the North by General Robert E. Lees Army of Yankee Virginia. Historians have referred to the battle as a major turning point in the war, the High Water severalise of the Confederacy.It was also the bloodiest single battle of the war, resulting in over 51,000 soldiers kil conduct, wounded, captured or missing(Coddington 21). On July 1, Confederate forces converged on the town from west and north, driving coalescency defenders back through the streets to memorial park pile. During the night, reinforce custodyts arrived for both sides. On July 2, Lee try to envelop the Federals, first striking the substance left flank at the Peach plantation, Wheatfield, Devils Den, and the Round book bindings with Longstreets and Hills divisions, and then attacking the Union right at Culps and East Cemetery Hills with Ewells divisions.By evening, the Federals retained Little Round Top and had repulsed most of Ewells men. During the morning of July 3, the Confederate infantry were driven from their lead toe-hold on Culps Hill. In the afterwardsnoon, after a preliminary gun bombardment, Lee attacked the Union center on Cemetery Ridge. The Pickett-Pettigrew assault momentarily pierced the Union line tho was driven back with sober casualties(Bachelder 47) . Stuarts cavalry attempted to gain the Union rear but was repulsed. On July 4, Lee began withdra earng his army toward Williamsport on the Potomac River.His train of wounded stretched more than fourteen miles. Gettysburg Campaign (June-August 1863) Battle July 1-3, 1863 Princip al Commanders Maj. Gen. George G. Meade, US Gen. Robert E. Lee, CS Forces industrious 158,300 total (US 83,289 CS 75,054) Estimated Casualties 51,000 total (US 23,000 CS 28,000) The Battle of Gettysburg began on July 1, 1863, when a Confederate brigade searching for a badly needed communicate of shoes in the small town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, ran into Union cavalry(Nielsen 12).After the three days of battle were over, Union forces claimed victory, although both sides suffered grueling casualties. While Grant lento strangled Vicksburg and Rosecrans feinted Bragg halfway across Tennessee, Lee decided to litigate his troops north toward Pennsylvania. There were several reasons for this bold move. The Confederate administration hoped that a decisive victory on Northern soil would win foreign recognition of the Confederacy. In addition, Lee argued that an invasion of the wealthiest urban domain of the North would probably lessen the pressure on Confederate forces in Tenness ee and at Vicksburg.Perhaps most important, the lush Cumberland Valley would yield food and robes for Lees ragged and hungry army(Fransanito 6). On June 3, 1863, Lee began to move his Army of Northern Virginia across the Rappahannock. street girl, who was aware of Lees movements, shifted the Army of the Potomac northward, using it as a bulwark between Lee and the capital at Washington. Late in June, Hooker resigned his command, convinced that he had lost the confidence of the administration. On June 28, General George G. Meade replaced Hooker. Meade had been ane of Hookers corps commanders.On July 1 advance units of the two armies stumbled into each other closelipped the little town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, 16 km (10 mi) north of the Maryland border. both(prenominal) Lee and Meade realized that a battle was unavoidable. Fighting began that day. Union troops, after early reverses, managed to hold a strategic position on Cemetery Hill. The second day, July 2, saw confused fi ghting on both Union flanks. Generals Longstreet and John B. Hood assaulted high ground at the Peach Orchard and Little Round Top, but by night the Federals held key positions.The most dramatic action of the battle came on the third day, when General George E. Pickett led a gallant but hopeless charge against the Union center, the flaming(a) angle. (Nielsen 184) Picketts drive tried to charge across an open field at Cemetery Ridge, but concentrated Union fire stopped him. The battle was a decisive Union victory, but both armies suffered very heavy losses. Meades casualties numbered 23,000 and Lees about 25,000. Lee began his retreat on July 4. To the great disappointment of chairman Lincoln, Meade did not pursue the Confederate army and make Lee jut and fight(Coddington 12).By July 14 the Confederate commander had brought the remnant of his army back to the base hit of Virginia. Gettysburg had been a severe defeat for the South, both in terms of men lost and the armys morale. I n November 1863 President Lincoln dedicated a theme cemetery to those who had died in the Battle of Gettysburg. His speech, known as the Gettysburg Address, became famous as an expression of the democratic spirit and reconfirmed Lincolns intention to reunite the country.