The Battle of

Gettysburg

The BattleThe Battle of Gettysburg lasted three days and commenced on the July 1 1863.

It is widely regarded as the turning point of the American Civil War. The Confederate troops led by Robert E Lee had advanced into the Union state of Pennsylvania. If they had been victorious it is thought they would have won the war and there would be no United States of America.

Although both sides industrialised their generals still used old tactics. It was this misconception that changed the outcome of the war. General Robert E Lee ordered three of his generals to order their troops to charge up a hill to the Union army. Initially the attack was successful but this did not last as the Confederate troops were slaughtered by the well dug in Union troops using sophisticated weapons.

The south never fully recovered from this massacre and this is generally considered this mistake contributed to the Union army winning the war. It is also where Abraham Lincoln gave his famous Gettysburg address.

Graph

01,0002,0003,0004,0005,0006,0007,0008,0009,000

10,000

Day 1 Day 2 Day 3

Union

Confederate

Day

Tota

l C

asu

alt

ies

Total Casualties in the Battle of Gettysburg by day

Map