Battle of Gettysburg
| |
| 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. The Union commander of the Army of the Potomac was General George Meade and the Confederate general was Robert E. Lee. Although the Confederates had fewer soldiers and resources than the north, a tendency to win battles had led them to move into northern territory for the first time in the war. Lee was severly hampered by the recent loss of Stonewall Jackson, who he usually counted on to give him superb reconnaissance and knowledge of enemy positions. The battle ended with a Union victory and heavy casualties on both sides, especially among the Confederates. The battle was the last attempt of the Confederates to attack Northern ground. It was considered the turning point or "High Tide" of the Civil War. Months after the battle, President Lincoln came to the Pennsylvania town and issued his famous "Gettysburg Address". Famous minor battles that it included were: Pickett's Charge, The Battle of Little Round Top, and The Battle for Cemetery Ridge.
