Battle of Gettysburg

Both armies suffered about the same losses. The 3 groups that make up the total casualty numbers are the killed, wounded and missing. The North had a total of 23,040 casualties and the South had between 20,000 and 25,000 casualties(Document A). Even though the casualties were about the same, it affected the South way more because the North had a much larger supply of men to replace the casualties, the South didn’t. The North had more than 3 times the size of men as the South. At the end, both sides lost nearly the same amount of men. The North started with thousands of more troops than the South. Therefore, compared to the North, the South was very very small. This evidence shows that the numerous losses was a reason that the Battle of Gettysburg was a major turning point of the Civil War because the South couldn’t afford to take another major loss of men without knowing they were going to lose and that they would not have enough men to

Around noon, Union and Confederate cavalry troops battled three miles east of Gettysburg but Stuart was eventually repulsed by cannon fire led in part by Gen. George Custer and the Union Cavalry. The diversion attempt failed. Back at the main battle site, just after 1 p.m. about 170 Confederate cannons opened fire on the Union position on Cemetery Ridge to pave the way for the Rebel Charge. This was the heaviest artillery barrage of the war. The Federals returned heavy cannon fire and soon the battlefield was covered in smoke and dust. Around 2:30 p.m. the Federals slowed their rate of fire, then stopped firing, to conserve ammunition and to fool the Rebels into thinking the cannons were knocked out-and that's exactly what the Rebels thought too. But as the Rebels got within range, Federal cannons opened fire using grapeshot which is a shell containing iron balls that flew apart when fired, and they also used deadly waves of rifle fire. Soon the Rebel army was torn apart but they still moved forward. Pickett’s charge was almost more after the once majestic army of 13,000 had its numbers of troops dwindle.. The Rebels still move forward, shooting then charging with bayonets. The battle lasted for about an hour mostly of hand-to-hand combat. Finally what was left of Pickett’s charge (5,500) retreated. Lee admitted this was his mistake and the tide of war now turned in the North’s favor. The Union lost (either dead, wounded, or missing) about 23,000, and the Confederates lost about

Of that total loss, 12,800 were wounded, 5,250 were missing and 2,600 to 4,500 were killed. At the end, both sides lost nearly the same amount of men. The North started with thousands of more troops than the South. Therefore, compared to the North, the South was the size of a pea. This wouldn’t be a problem for the South if they had enough eligible men to serve, but their numbers, once again, were millions of men short from the North. This evidence shows that the numerous losses were a reason that the Battle of Gettysburg was a turning point because the South couldn’t afford to take another major loss of men without knowing they were going to lose and that they would not have enough men to replace.

On the second day of the battle, the majorities of the both armies were close to a mile apart on parallel ridges; The Union forces were on Cemetery Ridge and the Confederate forces were on Seminary Ridge. Lee assessed the positions of the enemy and decided against the suggestions of his second in command, James Longstreet, who wanted to attack the Union where the stood. Lee came up with the plan to have Longstreet lead an attack on the Union left while Ewell attacked the right. Around four o’clock in the evening, Longstreet’s forces opened fire on Union forces led by Daniel Sickles. Sickle’s line of defence stretched from the nest of rocks known as “Devil’s Den” into a peach orchard, as well as a close by wheat field and into the base of an area known as Little Round Top. The bloody battle raged for several hours, and the Union was only able to hold on to Little Round Top as the lost Devil’s Den, the field and the orchard. Sickles was wounded in combat but

The Battle of Gettysburg was the largest battle fought in the Civil War. The plan was for Robert E. Lee to attempt another invasion of the North. He hoped to captured another northern city which could help persuade the North to seek peace. On the 3rd day of the battle, Robert E. Lee commands an attack on the center of the Union. George Pickett leads 15,000 Confederate soldiers in a charge across the ground which separated the two.As a result, half were kiolled by cannon fire or bullets from the Union troops. The Union took the victory home. The Gettysburg Address which was delivered by Abraham Lincoln followed.

The Battle of Gettysburg occurred from July 1st, 1863 to July 3rd, 1863 and it is viewed as the turning point of the American Civil War. The Union army was led by General George Gordon Meade and the Confederate army was led by General Robert E. Lee. Although, the battle would take precisely three days it was fought around Gettysburg, Pennsylvania on farmlands and hillsides. The battle commenced when Confederate soldiers marched to Gettysburg in search of equipment and supplies but however, had coincidently scrutinized the Union army which had just arrived to town. Nevertheless, striving for a major victory on northern soil this would be known as the second surprised invasion made by Confederate States, General Robert E. Lee, whom especially

The Battle of Gettysburg was the bloodiest battle fought in the Civil War. It was also the turning point in the Civil War. This battle, like all the there battles fought, was fought so that native Americans could have freedom from being slaves in the United States and also to keep all of the states together. There were seven battles in the Civil War before the Battle of Gettysburg. There was much bloodshed, many friendships were broken, and much death occurred.

The Civil War, much like a roller coaster, had several ups and downs that changed the course of events. However, one dramatic turning point in the war stands out above all others, The Battle of Gettysburg. From the beginning, the Union was destined to become victorious through superior military tactics and a more industrialization. However, several things must first happen to lead up to this dramatic battle.

The Battle of Gettysburg is claimed to be the most significant battle of the Civil War between the Union army under General George Gordon Meade, and the Confederate army under General Robert E. Lee. After the Confederate Army defeated the Union Army in Chancellorsville, Robert E. Lee decided to go up North to Pennsylvania and attack the Union Army of Potomac.These two armies collided in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania on July 1, 1863. On July 2nd, the second day of the battle, both armies were assembled, with the Union army set up as the defender. Robert E. Lee launched an attack on the Union causing violent fighting to continue at Little Round Top, Devil’s Den, the Peach Orchard, and The Wheatfield. This battle continued for another day until July

On July 1st, the Battle of Gettysburg had brought a tragedy for the both the Union and Confederacy, with more than 50,000 casualties. On the first day, Confederate forces attacked the Union causing their own forces to fall. On the second day though, the Union was prepared and caught the Confederacy off guard. With 19,000 casualties, Confederacy lost this one. On the final day of the battle, the Confederacy failed to attack the Union in several ways. Their first attempt was to take down the front line. Their second was Stuart’s cavalry trying to attack the Union’s rear. But the Union’s heroic acts had caused them to gain yet another victory. On July 4th, the battle had come to an end with the retreat of the Confederacy. The conclusion of this

The battle of Gettysburg was the largest and deadliest battle in the Civil War. “For what would become the greatest land battle ever fought in the Western Hemisphere”(Ambrose and Cooke). The Union lost about 23,000 soldiers and the Confederates lost about 28,000 soldiers. This battle depleted a lot of the south’s army and started to redirect the momentum of the war to the Union side. The strong

Because of Southern victories at Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville, General Lee felt confident enough to attempt another invasion of the North. On Jun 25, 1863, the Army of Northern Virginia crossed the Potomac River. Just prior to Lee’s invasion, Union General Joseph Hooker voluntarily turned over the command of the Army of the Potomac to General George Meade. As Lee advanced northward towards Pennsylvania, Meade moved to intercept him. The two armies met just outside the little town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. On the morning of July 1, a small party of Confederate foragers encountered a Union patrol, and the great Battle of Gettysburg began. Meade’s army of 90,00 men and Lee’s army of 75,000 fought what some consider to be the greatest

My interpretation of the battle of Gettysburg began forming two years ago when I visited the grounds that 51,000 men had died on. It was a hot summer day; I was tired, hungry, sick of walking, and was wondering if this very long field trip would ever end. The men that fought on this battle field felt the same way during the summer of 1863. From reading Killer Angels and The Pickett’s Charge Nobody Knows, I have a much better perception and understanding of what actually happened during the war. Before my readings, I thought there were the good guys who won and the bad guys who lost. I now understand on a deeper level what those men on both sides of the battle field were going through, and that they were men of God that were not only fighting for what they believed in but also for each other.

“Death created the modern American union, not just by ensuring national survival, but by shaping enduring national structures and commitments. The work of death was Civil War America 's most fundamental and most demanding undertaking”— Drew Gilpin Faust. Death in the Civil War was indeed a principle in creating the America we know and love today. This was the bloodiest war in United States military history. Within the war was the Battle of Gettysburg, a battle that was engulfed in massive suffering and loss of life. July first through the third 1863, A rural town in the eastern United States, Gettysburg Pennsylvania, is host to the largest, most fierce, battle ever to occur on American soil. At the start, Rumors were circulating that Lee was marching his army over the Potomac river and into southern Pennsylvania. Eventually, solid military intelligence confirmed this, and with an equally sized army, under the command of Gen. George G. Meade, the Union began on a collision course with the confederate army, and so began the Battle of Gettysburg. Gettysburg was a turning point because, the south’s morale declined while the north’s increased; northern casualties were lower than the south’s; and the north gained a geographical advantage from the battle.

Most modern historians, regardless of political biases, tend to agree that the Battle of Gettysburg was the turning point in the American Civil War. Some even go as far to as to call it the “high water mark” of the Confederate States. What is known is that it represented the last time a coherent Confederate Army threatened northern soil. In fact, from Gettysburg forward, the Confederation of Southern States would be fighting a defensive/fighting retreat. Gettysburg was one of the bloodiest battles of the war, but there were many bloody battles during the American Civil War. What enamors the public and historians alike is that Gettysburg was a rare battle that held consequences for the winner and loser that went far beyond a sole battle during a military campaign.