Difference between revisions of "Battle of Gettysburg"
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Throughout the war the Confederates had fewer soldiers and resources than the north, and they knew that without outside aid they could never finally win their independence. Throughout the war they the Confederate government had attempted to gain the aid of the British, but up to this point they had failed. One of the main reasons that the British had abstained from aiding the south was that they were not convinced that the Confederates could finally win the war. The northern invasion which ended at Gettysburg was an attempt to prove to the world that the Confederate States of America was a legitimate country and that they were capable of finally winning their freedom from the Union. | Throughout the war the Confederates had fewer soldiers and resources than the north, and they knew that without outside aid they could never finally win their independence. Throughout the war they the Confederate government had attempted to gain the aid of the British, but up to this point they had failed. One of the main reasons that the British had abstained from aiding the south was that they were not convinced that the Confederates could finally win the war. The northern invasion which ended at Gettysburg was an attempt to prove to the world that the Confederate States of America was a legitimate country and that they were capable of finally winning their freedom from the Union. | ||
| − | Up until Gettysburg the Confederate army had generally been successful, although they were always outnumbered in men and supplies. While Lee was used to fighting with inferior numbers he was also severely handicapped at Gettysburg by the recent loss of his best general, [[Stonewall Jackson]], as well as the absence of his famed cavalry commander J.E.B Stuart, who he usually counted on for reconnaissance. | + | Up until Gettysburg the Confederate army had generally been successful, although they were always outnumbered in men and supplies. While Lee was used to fighting with inferior numbers he was also severely handicapped at Gettysburg by the recent loss of his best general, [[Stonewall Jackson]], as well as the absence of his famed cavalry commander [[J.E.B Stuart]], who he usually counted on for reconnaissance. |
After four days of bitter fighting the battle ended with a Union victory and heavy casualties on both sides, especially among the Confederates. The battle was the first and last attempt of the Confederates to invade the north. It was considered the turning point or "High Tide" of the Civil War, for from this point on the Confederates never won another major battle. Famous minor battles that it included were: [[Pickett's Charge]], [[The Battle of Little Round Top]], and [[The Battle for Cemetery Ridge]]. | After four days of bitter fighting the battle ended with a Union victory and heavy casualties on both sides, especially among the Confederates. The battle was the first and last attempt of the Confederates to invade the north. It was considered the turning point or "High Tide" of the Civil War, for from this point on the Confederates never won another major battle. Famous minor battles that it included were: [[Pickett's Charge]], [[The Battle of Little Round Top]], and [[The Battle for Cemetery Ridge]]. | ||
Revision as of 18:21, June 24, 2007
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| The Civil War
1861 - 1865 | |
|---|---|
| Begun | July 1, 1863 |
| Ended | July 4, 1863 |
| Army of the Potomac | |
| Commander | MGEN George Gordon Meade |
| Army of Northern Virginia | |
| Commander | GEN Robert E. Lee |
The Battle of Gettysburg took place during the American Civil War from July 1 to July 4, 1863. General George Meade commanded the Union Army of the Potomac while general Robert E. Lee led the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia.
Throughout the war the Confederates had fewer soldiers and resources than the north, and they knew that without outside aid they could never finally win their independence. Throughout the war they the Confederate government had attempted to gain the aid of the British, but up to this point they had failed. One of the main reasons that the British had abstained from aiding the south was that they were not convinced that the Confederates could finally win the war. The northern invasion which ended at Gettysburg was an attempt to prove to the world that the Confederate States of America was a legitimate country and that they were capable of finally winning their freedom from the Union.
Up until Gettysburg the Confederate army had generally been successful, although they were always outnumbered in men and supplies. While Lee was used to fighting with inferior numbers he was also severely handicapped at Gettysburg by the recent loss of his best general, Stonewall Jackson, as well as the absence of his famed cavalry commander J.E.B Stuart, who he usually counted on for reconnaissance.
After four days of bitter fighting the battle ended with a Union victory and heavy casualties on both sides, especially among the Confederates. The battle was the first and last attempt of the Confederates to invade the north. It was considered the turning point or "High Tide" of the Civil War, for from this point on the Confederates never won another major battle. Famous minor battles that it included were: Pickett's Charge, The Battle of Little Round Top, and The Battle for Cemetery Ridge.
Months after the battle, on November 19, 1863, President Lincoln came to the Pennsylvania town and issued his famous "Gettysburg Address". The moving eulogy was a call to the American people to remember where they had come from and why they were fighting the war. It ended, "...that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."