Battle of Gettysburg

An engraving of the battle of Gettysburg, showing the carnage on the front line in Pennsylvania on 3 July 1863.
Archive Photos / Stringer/ Archive Photos/ Getty Images
by Martin Kelly
Martin Kelly is a history teacher and online course developer with two published history books.
Updated March 08, 2017

Dates:

July 1-3, 1863

Location:

Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

Key Individuals Involved in the Battle of Gettysburg:

Outcome:

Union Victory. 51,000 casualties of which 28,000 were Confederate soldiers.

Overview of the Battle:

General Robert E. Lee had succeeded at the Battle of Chancellorsville and decided to push north in his Gettysburg campaign. He met the Union forces in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Lee concentrated his army's full strength against Major General George G. Meade’s Army of the Potomac at the Gettysburg crossroads.

On July 1, Lee's forces moved on the Union forces in the town from both the west and the north. This drove the Union defenders through the streets of the city to Cemetery Hill. During the night, reinforcements arrived for both sides of the battle.

On July 2, struck the Lee attempted to surround the Union army. First he sent Longstreet's and Hill's divisions to strike the Union left flank at the Peach Orchard, Devil’s Den, the Wheat field, and the Round Tops. He then sent Ewell's divisions against the Union right flank at Culp’s and East Cemetery Hills. By evening, the Union forces still held Little Round Top and had repulsed most of Ewell’s forces.

During the morning of July 3, the Union struck back and were able to drive the Confederate infantry from their last toe-hold on Culp’s Hill. That afternoon, after a short artillery bombardment, Lee decided to push the attack on the Union center on Cemetery Ridge. The Pickett-Pettigrew assault (more popularly, Pickett’s Charge) briefly struck through the Union line but was quickly repulsed with severe casualties. At the same time, Stuart’s cavalry tried to gain the Union rear, but his forces were also repulsed.

On July 4, Lee began withdrawing his army toward Williamsport on the Potomac River. His train of wounded stretched more than fourteen miles.

Significance of the Battle of Gettysburg:

The Battle of Gettysburg is seen as the turning point of the war. General Lee had attempted and failed to invade the North. This was a move designed to remove pressure from Virginia and possibly emerge victorious so as to quickly end the war. The failure of Pickett’s Charge was the sign of the South's loss. This loss for the confederates was demoralizing. General Lee would never attempt another invasion of the North to this degree.