Battle of Gettysburg, July 3

The Battle of Gettysburg by Thure de Thulstrup, Date July 1–3, 1863 Location Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, U.S.

 The Battle of Gettysburg, fought from July 1 to July 3, 1863, is one of the most significant battles of the American Civil War. It took place in and around the town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and involved the largest number of casualties of the entire war. This pivotal battle is often described as the turning point in the conflict, marking the furthest advance of Confederate forces into Northern territory.

Prelude to the Battle

In the summer of 1863, Confederate General Robert E. Lee led his Army of Northern Virginia in a second invasion of the North. After his victory at Chancellorsville in May, Lee sought to relieve pressure on war-torn Virginia, disrupt Union plans for the summer campaigning season, and potentially encourage foreign intervention or domestic peace efforts by demonstrating Confederate strength on Union soil. Lee's army moved through the Shenandoah Valley, crossing the Potomac River into Maryland and then Pennsylvania.

Day 1: July 1, 1863

The battle began almost by accident when a Confederate brigade searching for shoes in Gettysburg encountered Union cavalry. Fighting quickly escalated as reinforcements arrived for both sides. By the end of the first day, the Confederates had pushed the Union forces through the town to strong defensive positions on Cemetery Hill, to the south of Gettysburg.

Day 2: July 2, 1863

On the second day, Lee ordered attacks on both Union flanks. Lieutenant General James Longstreet led the main assault against the Union left, targeting the lightly defended positions on Little Round Top, Devil’s Den, the Wheatfield, and the Peach Orchard. Despite initial Confederate successes, Union forces, including the famous 20th Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment under Colonel Joshua Chamberlain, held crucial ground. On the Union right, Confederate forces attacked Culp’s Hill and East Cemetery Hill but were repulsed after intense fighting.

Day 3: July 3, 1863

The final day of battle is best known for Pickett’s Charge, a massive frontal assault on the center of the Union lines on Cemetery Ridge. After a two-hour artillery barrage, approximately 12,500 Confederate soldiers advanced over open fields but were met with devastating artillery and rifle fire. The charge resulted in severe Confederate casualties and failed to break the Union line. Lee's forces were compelled to retreat back to Virginia.

Part of the Eastern theater of the American Civil War

Aftermath and Significance

The Battle of Gettysburg resulted in approximately 51,000 soldiers killed, wounded, or missing. The Union Army of the Potomac, commanded by Major General George G. Meade, had successfully repelled Lee's invasion. The defeat ended Confederate hopes of gaining recognition from European powers and weakened their overall war effort.

President Abraham Lincoln later honored the fallen at Gettysburg in his famous Gettysburg Address, delivered on November 19, 1863, at the dedication of the Soldiers' National Cemetery. In this brief but powerful speech, Lincoln reaffirmed the principles of liberty and equality and the importance of the Union cause.

The Battle of Gettysburg, combined with the fall of Vicksburg on July 4, 1863, marked a major turning point in the Civil War, shifting the momentum firmly in favor of the Union.

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