The Battle of Gettysburg
Outside a small Pennsylvania town, Robert E. Lee’s Confederate forces clashed with General Meade’s army and invoked the bloodiest battle of the civil war. On July 1st, 1863, the first shots were fired; Confederate hopes high, but on July 3rd, the shots ceased with the Union victorious. It would change the entire course of the war, and marked the downfall of the Confederate army.
In the past, the civil war was fought completely in the south. Lee’s mission was to change that by focusing his efforts north to cause pressure on a peace settlement. Thus, confident from the battle of Chancellorsville, Lee charged on north to crush the union presence, but he was ultimately met by two brigades of union forces, and the spontaneous battle had begun.
Outside a small Pennsylvania town, Robert E. Lee’s Confederate forces clashed with General Meade’s army and invoked the bloodiest battle of the civil war. On July 1st, 1863, the first shots were fired; Confederate hopes high, but on July 3rd, the shots ceased with the Union victorious. It would change the entire course of the war, and marked the downfall of the Confederate army.
In the past, the civil war was fought completely in the south. Lee’s mission was to change that by focusing his efforts north to cause pressure on a peace settlement. Thus, confident from the battle of Chancellorsville, Lee charged on north to crush the union presence, but he was ultimately met by two brigades of union forces, and the spontaneous battle had begun.
The First Day
The first day of the battle did not initially have the gloomy air that the rest of the battle would soon embrace. As on the right, confederate troops pose proud as they reside in the small Pennsylvanian town. It depicts the overall prospects of the Confederate army, for even Lee thought he had the upper hand in this situation. But that would soon change as the fighting would begin. Having said, the first day featured concentrated aggression of Confederate troops, led by Lee, against Union forces under General John Buford. The Union army was solely made of Calvary and they were there to stall the Confederates from reaching the heavily defensible positions of cemetery hill while the main infantry divisions arrived. Despite the latter’s best efforts, the Confederate attacks proved to be too overwhelming, prompting the troops to strategically retreat to a defensive position in the nearby hills. Fortunately, this position enhanced the ability of the Unions comparatively smaller army,as It gave them the height advantage, and would aid immensely in the Union's next confrontation. The confederates confidence undaunted prepared to assault this defensible position the next day.
"Confederate Soldiers at Gettysburg." Confederate Soldiers at Gettysburg. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Dec. 2013.
The first day of the battle did not initially have the gloomy air that the rest of the battle would soon embrace. As on the right, confederate troops pose proud as they reside in the small Pennsylvanian town. It depicts the overall prospects of the Confederate army, for even Lee thought he had the upper hand in this situation. But that would soon change as the fighting would begin. Having said, the first day featured concentrated aggression of Confederate troops, led by Lee, against Union forces under General John Buford. The Union army was solely made of Calvary and they were there to stall the Confederates from reaching the heavily defensible positions of cemetery hill while the main infantry divisions arrived. Despite the latter’s best efforts, the Confederate attacks proved to be too overwhelming, prompting the troops to strategically retreat to a defensive position in the nearby hills. Fortunately, this position enhanced the ability of the Unions comparatively smaller army,as It gave them the height advantage, and would aid immensely in the Union's next confrontation. The confederates confidence undaunted prepared to assault this defensible position the next day.
"Confederate Soldiers at Gettysburg." Confederate Soldiers at Gettysburg. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Dec. 2013.
The Second Day
On the second day the Union received reinforcements as it was positioned in a defensive formation located on top the hills. Fighting on the Union’s left flank had raged at Little Round Top, Wheatfield, Devil’s Den, and Peach Orchard, while fighting on the Union’s right flank was met with full assault at Culp’s and Cemetery Hill as the map below displays. It shows how the fighting was characterized by offensive assaults on the Union, while keeping it in a more overall aspect as well. Furthermore, these tactics lay precedent to the gory charge that would take place on the next day, for it destined the strategies Lee would utilize. At the end of the day, the Union felt significant losses, but they were able to maintain their territory, which would be their prime advantage in tomorrows offensive. Through the night however the wounded could be heard throughout the battlefield and there was little time to clean up the dead. This map shows the "Fish-hook" formation that the Union had to take to counter the confederate advances.
""As if the Heavens and Earth Were Crashing Together": July 3, 1863." Gettysburg Seminary Ridge Museum RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Dec. 2013
On the second day the Union received reinforcements as it was positioned in a defensive formation located on top the hills. Fighting on the Union’s left flank had raged at Little Round Top, Wheatfield, Devil’s Den, and Peach Orchard, while fighting on the Union’s right flank was met with full assault at Culp’s and Cemetery Hill as the map below displays. It shows how the fighting was characterized by offensive assaults on the Union, while keeping it in a more overall aspect as well. Furthermore, these tactics lay precedent to the gory charge that would take place on the next day, for it destined the strategies Lee would utilize. At the end of the day, the Union felt significant losses, but they were able to maintain their territory, which would be their prime advantage in tomorrows offensive. Through the night however the wounded could be heard throughout the battlefield and there was little time to clean up the dead. This map shows the "Fish-hook" formation that the Union had to take to counter the confederate advances.
""As if the Heavens and Earth Were Crashing Together": July 3, 1863." Gettysburg Seminary Ridge Museum RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Dec. 2013
The Last Day
On the last day there was a noticeable shift of power in favor of the Union. The main event that marked the day was Pickett’s Charge, which resulted in a massive amount of Confederate deaths as 15,000 men ran across open fields and were quickly shot down against a heavily fortified union army. The photo underneath shows the great advantage the Union soldiers had, for they had both a clear line of fire and a defensive position. Thus the charge had seemed like a suicidal mission from the beginning, even his second in command,Longstreet, repeatedly told him that this was a catastrophic idea,but Lee felt too invested into the battle to surrender. Thus, he ordered the charge, and in a flash, the tide of the battle had changed. Reports of the dead returned and Lee soon realized that he would not be able to advance in this state. Consequently, he ordered a retreat back to Virginia, and the battle had come to a close.
On the last day there was a noticeable shift of power in favor of the Union. The main event that marked the day was Pickett’s Charge, which resulted in a massive amount of Confederate deaths as 15,000 men ran across open fields and were quickly shot down against a heavily fortified union army. The photo underneath shows the great advantage the Union soldiers had, for they had both a clear line of fire and a defensive position. Thus the charge had seemed like a suicidal mission from the beginning, even his second in command,Longstreet, repeatedly told him that this was a catastrophic idea,but Lee felt too invested into the battle to surrender. Thus, he ordered the charge, and in a flash, the tide of the battle had changed. Reports of the dead returned and Lee soon realized that he would not be able to advance in this state. Consequently, he ordered a retreat back to Virginia, and the battle had come to a close.
The Aftermath
When the battle began there was 168,00 men on both sides,ready to fight strong, but in this span of three days, 52,000 men were dead or wounded. The photo on the right shows the dead on the battlefield after one of the earlier confrontations. It shows how disorganized, and horrid the events were - from the start- and characterizes the overall tone of the battle. Death was at every corner, and although divided roughly equally between the two forces, the confederates had taken the larger hit losing a large chunk of their fighting force. Close to a third of their total forces had either been injured, or killed. It's effect, both militarily and morally, was crushing to their cause. However devastating to the confederacy as the battle was, had Meade taken advantage of the Golden opportunity and followed pursuit of Lee, the confederacy would have suffered an even greater loss, maybe even have ended the war then and there. But he chose to stand his ground, and despite that, the battle still marked the beginning of Confederate decline. Nonetheless, the confederates would drudge on, until their last stand not two years later.
When the battle began there was 168,00 men on both sides,ready to fight strong, but in this span of three days, 52,000 men were dead or wounded. The photo on the right shows the dead on the battlefield after one of the earlier confrontations. It shows how disorganized, and horrid the events were - from the start- and characterizes the overall tone of the battle. Death was at every corner, and although divided roughly equally between the two forces, the confederates had taken the larger hit losing a large chunk of their fighting force. Close to a third of their total forces had either been injured, or killed. It's effect, both militarily and morally, was crushing to their cause. However devastating to the confederacy as the battle was, had Meade taken advantage of the Golden opportunity and followed pursuit of Lee, the confederacy would have suffered an even greater loss, maybe even have ended the war then and there. But he chose to stand his ground, and despite that, the battle still marked the beginning of Confederate decline. Nonetheless, the confederates would drudge on, until their last stand not two years later.