The Battle of Gettysburg

By Kayleigh Jones

&Lydia Smith

About the Battle

• On July of 1863, General Robert E. Lee’s of 75,000 army was sent for supplies and met the 97,000 Union Army soldier of the Potomac led by General George G. Meade.• The battle didn’t end the civil war or get any major war aim for the South or the North, and the Battle of Gettysburg still remains famous. • On July 1st – 3rd more men died then in any other battle

Day One(July 1st 1863)

• In June Robert E. Lee decided to move the war north his plans were to destroy the bridge in Harrisburg •Robert E. Lee then said he would turn his attention toward Philadelphia, Baltimore , or Washington as may seem best for their interests • The Confederate soldiers were scattered throughout Chambersburg, Carlisle and into York. • Towns throughout Southern Pennsylvania were searched for supplies to help them to continue the Southern offensive • Pettigrew’s brigade spotted Buford’s cavalry on a ridge from a mile less of town while looking in Gettysburg•The Battle began with Confederate soldiers attacking the Union Calvary division on McPherson's Ridge.

Day One (Continued)

•The Battle began with Confederate soldiers attacking the Union Calvary division on McPherson's Ridge. •Union forces were out numbered, but managed to hold off and drive back the Confederate Army •The North managed to hold the South off until afternoon when they were over powered by additional Southern soldiers •The North then was driven back through town and thousands of Union soldiers were captured. • Late into the night Union troops worked their defenses and Meade’s army arrived and took position

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Day Two(July 2nd 1863)

• Early on July 2nd battle lines were up in two arcs• Union forces were on Cemetery Ridge facing • Confederate forces on Seminary Ridge•General Robert E. Lee ordered the attack on both Union flanks• James Longstreet attacked the Union left and broke through D.E Sickles advance at Peach Orchard • The wheat field in Plum Run were flooded with wounded and dead soldiers • Devils Den at the base of Little Round Top was in shambles• General G.K Warren saved Little Round Top for the North

Day Two (Continued)

• On East Cemetery Hill in Culps Hill R.S Ewells attack proved fetal against the Union • Lack of communication would prove the downfall of the South, on this day

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Day Three(July 3rd 1863)

• General Robert E. Lee decided to press and attack on the North center on Cemetery Ridge• At 1 pm the Southern artillery opened an attack that involved mast guns on both sides in a thundering battle , but the attack did little to weaken the Union battle lines• the climax of the battle of Gettysburg came with a salute from Longstreet, General George E. Pickett in an attempt to recapture parcel success lead a massed infantry assault of 15,000 Confederate troops across field to Union center on cemetery Ridge.• Pickets men marched 1 mile while being pounded by Artillery and rifle fire

Day Three(Continued)

•General Pickett’s men managed to reach the Union line but they failed to break it, their efforts ended in disaster•In the 50 minutes 10,000 men in the assult had been killed and the attack known as Pickett’s charged had fail and became history.

After the Battle Ended

• The Union was saved since Picketts charge was a failure • The south began to retreat on July 4th, there were over 15,000

casualties for both sides • An estimate of 569 tons of the ammunition was expended when

the battle was over• 5,000 horses were killed and the wreckage of the war was a terrible

scene • The Confederates were scared physically and spiritually after the

fight at Gettysburg• General Robert E. Lee would never attempt an offensive operation

such as this • The war was to continue for two more months after the battle of

Gettysburg and the south recovered from their loss

UEQ: In what ways did the Civil war transform the Nation?

• The battle of Gettysburg changed America because this war raised the hopes of the North.

•The South was weakened due to there loss