June 30, 1863: Prelude to Battle
In late June 1863, Confederate General Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia had moved into Pennsylvania, aiming to threaten Northern cities and draw Union forces away from the South. On June 30, Union cavalry under Brig. Gen. John Buford arrived in Gettysburg, recognizing its strategic importance due to the network of roads converging there.
July 1, 1863: The First Encounter
On the morning of July 1, Confederate forces under General A.P. Hill encountered Buford's cavalry west of Gettysburg. The Union forces held their ground, delaying the Confederates until Union infantry reinforcements from the Army of the Potomac, commanded by Major General George G. Meade, began to arrive.
Throughout the day, fierce fighting ensued as Confederate troops under Generals Hill and Richard Ewell attacked from the west and north. Union forces were gradually pushed back through the town to defensive positions on Cemetery Hill, south of Gettysburg. Despite their retreat, the Union army maintained a strong defensive position.
July 2, 1863: The Flanking Maneuvers
On the second day of battle, Lee aimed to exploit the Union's defensive line by attacking both flanks. He directed General James Longstreet to assault the Union left at Little Round Top, while Ewell was to attack the right at Culp's Hill and Cemetery Hill.
Longstreet's assault in the afternoon was initially successful, breaking through Union lines at the Peach Orchard and the Wheatfield. However, Union forces, including the famed 20th Maine regiment led by Colonel Joshua Chamberlain, held their ground at Little Round Top, preventing a Confederate breakthrough.
Simultaneously, Ewell's attacks on the Union right were repelled after intense fighting. By the end of the day, Union forces still held strong defensive positions, and the Confederate attacks had been largely unsuccessful.
July 3, 1863: Pickett's Charge
On July 3, Lee decided to make a bold move by launching a massive frontal assault on the center of the Union line at Cemetery Ridge. This attack, known as Pickett's Charge, involved approximately 12,500 Confederate soldiers under the command of General George Pickett and others.
Following an intense artillery bombardment, the Confederate infantry advanced across open fields toward the Union positions. Despite initial gains, the charge was met with devastating artillery and rifle fire from entrenched Union troops. The Confederates suffered severe casualties, and the attack ultimately failed.
Simultaneously, fighting resumed on Culp's Hill, but Union forces successfully defended their positions. By the end of the day, the Union army had decisively repelled Lee's forces, marking the turning point of the battle.
July 4, 1863: Aftermath and Confederate Retreat
On July 4, as the nation celebrated Independence Day, Lee's army, weakened and demoralized, began its retreat back to Virginia. The Union army, exhausted and battered, did not immediately pursue the Confederates, allowing Lee's forces to withdraw.
The Battle of Gettysburg resulted in significant casualties on both sides, with estimates of around 51,000 soldiers killed, wounded, or missing. It marked a turning point in the Civil War, as the Union victory ended Lee's invasion of the North and bolstered Northern morale.
In November 1863, President Abraham Lincoln visited Gettysburg to dedicate the Soldiers' National Cemetery. His Gettysburg Address, delivered on that occasion, became one of the most iconic speeches in American history, reaffirming the principles of liberty and equality and the Union's commitment to winning the war.