Battle Of Gettysburg Essay

2) Battle of Gettysburg: This battle is considered one of the most important engagements in the Civil War. This battle resulted in over 50,000 casualties and went on for three days. General Robert E. Lee won over the Union forces at Chancellorsville in May, 1863, so he thought it to be fit to invade the North. In June, Lee began to send his troops northward. He headed up the Shenandoah valley, overran the union Garrison at Winchester and moved behind the Blue Ridge Mountains, which were used as a shield for their movements. But it was not the union forces that were in the dark but rather Lee. Lee had always counted on his cavalry, led by Jeb Stuart. There was a lot of information that could not reach Lee. He was not aware that Hooker’s had …show more content…
Lee soon came to know about Meade’s movements and found out that Meade was in a small town called Cashtown. He made his whole army converge over Cashtown. His plans and also of Meade’s were soon met with an unexpected turn at a town called Gettysburg. The men of the two armies collided with one another at Gettysburg on 1st July, 1863. Around 60,00 confederate troops came into Gettysburg. The Unions were less in number in that area, around 3000, so they inhibited their advancements until help arrived and took position on McPherson Ridge. But help is far away, near Washington D.C, hence they took refuge by withdrawing south on Cemetery Ridge (fishhook shaped mountains) and it provided a great advantage for their defense, on the second day, ie. 2nd July, 1863. Now, about 90,000 union soldiers were defending Cemetery Ridge and some area down south. Lee, then made a big mistake and launched the assault with 70,000 confederate soldiers onto the unions in the afternoon of 2nd July, 1863. The Unions still stood firm by the end of day two. On the third day, ie. July 3, the battle continued. Again, Lee made a mistake, on his orders, he sent orders for an infantry assault on the