The Battle of The Battle of Gettysburg: Gettysburg:

History & Voices History & Voices

General Robert E. General Robert E. Lee Lee

Born on January 19, 1807 at Born on January 19, 1807 at "Stratford" in Westmoreland "Stratford" in Westmoreland County Virginia County Virginia

Lee declined an offer to command Lee declined an offer to command the Union Army at the outbreak the Union Army at the outbreak of the Civil War and offered his of the Civil War and offered his services to his native state. services to his native state.

Commander of the Confederate Commander of the Confederate "Army of Northern Virginia".  "Army of Northern Virginia".  

Under his command, this army Under his command, this army exploited Union mismanagement exploited Union mismanagement on numerous battlefields, on numerous battlefields, making Lee one of the most making Lee one of the most victorious commanders in the victorious commanders in the Confederacy.Confederacy.

George Gordon George Gordon Meade Meade

Born in Cadiz, Spain on December 31, Born in Cadiz, Spain on December 31, 1815, Meade was primarily raised in 1815, Meade was primarily raised in Philadelphia though his family later Philadelphia though his family later moved to the Baltimore area.  moved to the Baltimore area. 

At the outbreak of the Civil At the outbreak of the Civil War, Meade offered his services to War, Meade offered his services to Pennsylvania and was Pennsylvania and was appointed brigadier general of appointed brigadier general of volunteers in command of a brigade volunteers in command of a brigade of Pennsylvania regiments.  of Pennsylvania regiments. 

June 28, 1863, while the army June 28, 1863, while the army camped near Frederick, Maryland, camped near Frederick, Maryland, when a courier arrived at Meade's when a courier arrived at Meade's tent bearing the news that he tent bearing the news that he was appointed to command the Army was appointed to command the Army of the Potomac. of the Potomac.

Meade protested at first but accepted Meade protested at first but accepted his assignment; devised a plan to his assignment; devised a plan to set the army in motion northward to set the army in motion northward to find Lee find Lee

The Daily Life of Civil War The Daily Life of Civil War Soldiers Soldiers OfficersOfficers in the field lived in the field lived

better than enlisted men. better than enlisted men. They slept one or two officers They slept one or two officers

to a tent. to a tent. Since the officers provided Since the officers provided

their own personal gear, their own personal gear, items varied greatly and items varied greatly and reflected individual taste.reflected individual taste.

Each junior officer was Each junior officer was allowed one trunk of personal allowed one trunk of personal belongings that was carried belongings that was carried in a baggage wagon.in a baggage wagon.

Higher-ranking officers were Higher-ranking officers were allowed more baggage.allowed more baggage.

Unlike infantrymen, who Unlike infantrymen, who slept and sat on whatever slept and sat on whatever nature provided, officers nature provided, officers sometimes had the luxury of sometimes had the luxury of furniture.furniture.

The Daily Life of Civil War The Daily Life of Civil War Soldiers Soldiers Enlisted menEnlisted men, unlike their officers, , unlike their officers,

carried all their belongings on their carried all their belongings on their back. back.

On long marches, men were On long marches, men were unwilling to carry more than the unwilling to carry more than the absolute essentials. Even so, absolute essentials. Even so, soldiers ended up carrying about soldiers ended up carrying about thirty to forty pounds.thirty to forty pounds.

Each soldier was issued half of a Each soldier was issued half of a tent. It was designed to join with tent. It was designed to join with another soldier's half to make a full another soldier's half to make a full size tent. The odd man lost out. size tent. The odd man lost out.

The shelter halves were so useful The shelter halves were so useful that they were used after the war. that they were used after the war. As a result, very few remain today.As a result, very few remain today.

When suitable wooden poles were When suitable wooden poles were not available for tent supports, not available for tent supports, soldiers would sometimes use their soldiers would sometimes use their weapons.weapons.

Mapping the Mapping the Battle of Gettysburg Battle of Gettysburg

Describe Describe where the where the in the in the United United States the States the Battle of Battle of Gettysburg Gettysburg took place.took place.

July 1, 1863- The Battle July 1, 1863- The Battle Begins Begins

On June 30, Confederate troops left their camps at On June 30, Confederate troops left their camps at Cashtown and marched toward Gettysburg in Cashtown and marched toward Gettysburg in search of supplies. search of supplies.

Upon reaching the edge of Gettysburg, scouts Upon reaching the edge of Gettysburg, scouts spied a column of Union cavalry south of town, spied a column of Union cavalry south of town, closing fast. closing fast.

Under orders not to initiate a battle, the Under orders not to initiate a battle, the Confederates returned to Cashtown where they Confederates returned to Cashtown where they reported the encounter to their commander, Lt. reported the encounter to their commander, Lt. General A.P. Hill. General A.P. Hill.

Hill agreed to send two divisions of his corps Hill agreed to send two divisions of his corps toward Gettysburg the next day to investigate the toward Gettysburg the next day to investigate the arrival of the mystery cavalrymen and the stage arrival of the mystery cavalrymen and the stage was set for the opening of the battle on July 1st, was set for the opening of the battle on July 1st, 1863.1863.

July 2, 1863- "A most July 2, 1863- "A most terrible day..."terrible day..."

July 1 was a great victory for General Lee, but not a July 1 was a great victory for General Lee, but not a decisive one. decisive one.

Though the Union forces had been badly mauled, they Though the Union forces had been badly mauled, they had retreated to a strong position south of Gettysburg. had retreated to a strong position south of Gettysburg.

General Meade arrived on the battlefield near General Meade arrived on the battlefield near midnight and after discussions with his corps midnight and after discussions with his corps commanders, decided to wait for the rest of his army commanders, decided to wait for the rest of his army to concentrate around Cemetery Hill. to concentrate around Cemetery Hill.

Come the morning of July 2, he would attack Lee or Come the morning of July 2, he would attack Lee or defend the prominent hills where his men now rested. defend the prominent hills where his men now rested.

Lee, meanwhile, seated in his headquarters tent on Lee, meanwhile, seated in his headquarters tent on Seminary Ridge, pondered the growing strength of the Seminary Ridge, pondered the growing strength of the Union position south of Gettysburg. If only he could Union position south of Gettysburg. If only he could hear from his cavalry chief J.E.B. Stuart and hear from his cavalry chief J.E.B. Stuart and information he could provide about the remainder of information he could provide about the remainder of the Union army.the Union army.

July 3 - "I will strike him July 3 - "I will strike him there..."there..." At the end of the second day, apart from the precious At the end of the second day, apart from the precious

foothold on Culp's Hill, the Confederate gamble of foothold on Culp's Hill, the Confederate gamble of simultaneous attacks had failed. simultaneous attacks had failed.

Knowing that he could not sustain more than another full Knowing that he could not sustain more than another full day of battle, a frustrated Lee was working at his day of battle, a frustrated Lee was working at his headquarters when a smiling General "JEB" Stuart arrived. headquarters when a smiling General "JEB" Stuart arrived.

The disgusted army commander admonished Stuart for his The disgusted army commander admonished Stuart for his long absence and failure to report Union movements in the long absence and failure to report Union movements in the weeks prior to the battle. Yet…Stuart's cavalry would fit weeks prior to the battle. Yet…Stuart's cavalry would fit prominently into Lee's strategy for the next day of battle.prominently into Lee's strategy for the next day of battle.

Meanwhile, General Meade held a Meanwhile, General Meade held a "Council of War""Council of War" at his at his headquarters on the Taneytown Road. Though the Union headquarters on the Taneytown Road. Though the Union line had been restored by midnight there was still a line had been restored by midnight there was still a sizeable Confederate force on Culp's Hill. sizeable Confederate force on Culp's Hill.

Almost to a man, his generals agreed to stay at Almost to a man, his generals agreed to stay at Gettysburg, retake and secure Culp's Hill, and then wait Gettysburg, retake and secure Culp's Hill, and then wait for Lee to attack. If he did not, then Meade should order a for Lee to attack. If he did not, then Meade should order a counterattack and force Lee to fight or flee. counterattack and force Lee to fight or flee.

The Gettysburg Campaign was about to reach its climax.The Gettysburg Campaign was about to reach its climax.

The Battle Ends The Battle Ends Stuart successfully marched east of Gettysburg and Stuart successfully marched east of Gettysburg and

turned his force south where they encountered a turned his force south where they encountered a strong Union cavalry force blocking the Hanover Road. strong Union cavalry force blocking the Hanover Road.

A spirited battle ensued with troopers of both armies A spirited battle ensued with troopers of both armies fighting on foot and horseback..fighting on foot and horseback..

Southern charges meant to slice through the Union Southern charges meant to slice through the Union line were stopped cold by Union cavalrymen led by line were stopped cold by Union cavalrymen led by Brig. General George Armstrong Custer. His attempt to Brig. General George Armstrong Custer. His attempt to raid the Union rear thwarted, Stuart withdrew and raid the Union rear thwarted, Stuart withdrew and retired toward Gettysburg….retired toward Gettysburg….

Lee realized his army could no longer remain in Lee realized his army could no longer remain in Pennsylvania. Returning to his headquarters, he Pennsylvania. Returning to his headquarters, he dictated orders for the army to withdraw, retreat to the dictated orders for the army to withdraw, retreat to the Potomac River, and return to Virginia. "Too bad, too Potomac River, and return to Virginia. "Too bad, too bad," a staff officer heard the general say in his bad," a staff officer heard the general say in his discouragement. "Oh, too bad."discouragement. "Oh, too bad."

Storm clouds blackened the early evening sky. A heavy Storm clouds blackened the early evening sky. A heavy rain soon fell, symbolically washing the land of the rain soon fell, symbolically washing the land of the carnage wrought by three days of bloody battle. carnage wrought by three days of bloody battle.

The Dreadful AftermathThe Dreadful Aftermath The effects of the battle were felt in Pennsylvania The effects of the battle were felt in Pennsylvania

for many months after the armies had left. for many months after the armies had left. Approximately 5,500 soldiers from both armies were Approximately 5,500 soldiers from both armies were

killed in the battle, with 22,000 wounded soldiers killed in the battle, with 22,000 wounded soldiers packed into churches, barns, and private homes packed into churches, barns, and private homes throughout Adams County. throughout Adams County.

Some of the wounded had no shelter except for the Some of the wounded had no shelter except for the shade of trees. shade of trees.

Overtaxed Union surgeons who had treated Union Overtaxed Union surgeons who had treated Union wounded continuously during the battle were now wounded continuously during the battle were now left with thousands of wounded Confederates to left with thousands of wounded Confederates to care for. care for.

Even with the help of Gettysburg citizens and Even with the help of Gettysburg citizens and Confederate surgeons who remained, the situation Confederate surgeons who remained, the situation appeared to be near calamity. appeared to be near calamity.

The Dreadful AftermathThe Dreadful Aftermath

Despite the best efforts of the army and Despite the best efforts of the army and charitable organizations, an additional charitable organizations, an additional 4,000 would succumb to their injuries 4,000 would succumb to their injuries either in Gettysburg or in the hospitals either in Gettysburg or in the hospitals where they had been sent. where they had been sent.

Approximately 10,000 soldiers were Approximately 10,000 soldiers were captured during the fighting and both captured during the fighting and both armies were burdened with their armies were burdened with their captives until they could be sent to captives until they could be sent to prison camps. prison camps.

Swollen by the hot July sun, bodies of Federal infantrymen litter a Swollen by the hot July sun, bodies of Federal infantrymen litter a trampled meadow near the Peach Orchard. Most of these men trampled meadow near the Peach Orchard. Most of these men probably belonged to General Daniel Sickles’ Union corps who probably belonged to General Daniel Sickles’ Union corps who defended the area against the massive Confederate assault on July 2. defended the area against the massive Confederate assault on July 2. Rebel soldiers who advanced across the field stripped many of the Rebel soldiers who advanced across the field stripped many of the bodies of their shoes and other needed accoutrements. Photographer bodies of their shoes and other needed accoutrements. Photographer Alexander Gardner aptly captioned this image "A Harvest of Death".Alexander Gardner aptly captioned this image "A Harvest of Death".

The body of a young Confederate infantryman lies in a stone The body of a young Confederate infantryman lies in a stone enclosure in Devil’s Den, the boulder strewn hillside from which enclosure in Devil’s Den, the boulder strewn hillside from which Confederate sharpshooters had harassed the Federal troops holding Confederate sharpshooters had harassed the Federal troops holding Little Round Top. Evidence suggests that the soldier was killed Little Round Top. Evidence suggests that the soldier was killed perhaps 40 yards away during the fighting on the afternoon of July 1 perhaps 40 yards away during the fighting on the afternoon of July 1 and was moved and arranged by the photographer to enhance the and was moved and arranged by the photographer to enhance the image’s dramatic effect.image’s dramatic effect.

The National Cemetery The National Cemetery With the wounded being cared for, attention With the wounded being cared for, attention

turned to the sad condition of battlefield burials. turned to the sad condition of battlefield burials. Patriotic citizens of Adams County undertook Patriotic citizens of Adams County undertook

efforts to establish a proper burial place for the efforts to establish a proper burial place for the Union dead and with funds provided by the Union dead and with funds provided by the Pennsylvania legislature, the process of Pennsylvania legislature, the process of reburials began that fall. reburials began that fall.

The Soldiers National Cemetery was dedicated The Soldiers National Cemetery was dedicated on November 19, 1863, and was the occasion of on November 19, 1863, and was the occasion of President Lincoln's highly regarded Gettysburg President Lincoln's highly regarded Gettysburg Address, when the president not only dedicated Address, when the president not only dedicated a cemetery but gave the north a reason to a cemetery but gave the north a reason to continue the struggle to reunite the nation, the continue the struggle to reunite the nation, the focus of the American Civil War….focus of the American Civil War….

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