Dates: July 1-3, 1863
Outcome:
Union Victory. 51,000 casualties of which 28,000 were Confederate soldiers.
Significance of the Battle of Gettysburg:
Robert E. Lee attempted and failed to invade the North in a move designed to take pressure off of Virginia and possibly earn a victory that could end the war. The failure of Pickett’s Charge meant that the South had lost. The loss for the South was demoralizing and General Lee never again attempted to invade the North on this grand scale.
Overview of the Battle :
Gen. Robert E. Lee concentrated his full strength against Maj. Gen. George G. Meade’s Army of the Potomac at the crossroads county seat of Gettysburg. On July 1, Confederate forces converged on the town from west and north, driving Union defenders back through the streets to Cemetery Hill. During the night, reinforcements arrived for both sides. On July 2, Lee attempted to envelop the Federals, first striking the Union left flank at the Peach Orchard, Wheatfield, Devil’s Den, and the Round Tops with Longstreet’s and Hill’s divisions, and then attacking the Union right at Culp’s and East Cemetery Hills with Ewell’s divisions. By evening, the Federals retained Little Round Top and had repulsed most of Ewell’s men. During the morning of July 3, the Confederate infantry were driven from their last toe-hold on Culp’s Hill. In the afternoon, after a preliminary artillery bombardment, Lee attacked the Union center on Cemetery Ridge. The Pickett-Pettigrew assault (more popularly, Pickett’s Charge) momentarily pierced the Union line but was driven back with severe casualties. Stuart’s cavalry attempted to gain the Union rear but was repulsed. On July 4, Lee began withdrawing his army toward Williamsport on the Potomac River. His train of wounded stretched more than fourteen miles.
from http://americanhistory.about.com/od/civ ... _getty.htm
The day we went was cloudy, overcast, and a light mist fell intermittently as we toured the cemetery and the battlefield. One of the tour guides that we overheard said that the battlefield looked very similar the days the soldiers were fighting, except that instead of being cool, it was well over 90* and the smoke from the cannons hung in the air so thick it was difficult to see.
The auto tour takes you through the key locations for both the Union and Confederate armies. There are placards throughout explaining where you are in relation to both armies, the significance of the spot, who died there, who made it.
This one is probably my favorite out of the entire tour. It's a picture of Lt. Thomas Holland of the Confederate Army. He was shot in the face and the bullet exited through the back of his skull. He was treated at a Union hospital where he recovered. 50 years after the battle, he returned to Gettysburg and shook the hand of the Union soldier who shot him. Every time I read that, it gives me chills. Were there two greater men in the world at that moment? I don't think so.
There are lots of good places online to research the battle and its significance if you want to do so. I think I'll let the pictures talk from here. As always, these are just my favorites, the link to the full photobucket album will be at the end. It's really amazing to watch it as a slide show. Enjoy.
The battlefield
There are many, many cannons set up along the way
The Pennsylvania monument to her fallen soldiers. Every state that had soldiers fight in the war has a monument here but this is by far the largest and most detailed. There is a statue of every general and the names of all of the soldiers are engraved on the plaques.
A very bloody spot called "the valley of the shadow of death". The union snipers were on the ridge where I stood to take this picture. They picked off the confederate soldiers as they broke through that band of trees to try and take the hill. They were unsuccessful and the confederates died by the hundreds in this very small spot.
From the cemetery. Thousands of people died in those three days, the official death toll was well over 50,000. It took the government over 5 months to bury them all. Those that were identified have headstones, others have just a number.
This picture sticks with me. It seems so unbelievable that someone gave up his life to fight for a cause and this is all that is left of him.
It was a very humbling experience to walk on that battlefield and to be in the presence of the souls of those great men. If you enjoy history at all, I would suggest you add Gettysburg to your bucket list. It is amazing.
Here is the link to the full album.
http://s304.photobucket.com/albums/nn16 ... 1QQtppZZ32
Uh, no.