The Battle of Gettysburg, fought in July 1863, was a Union victory that stopped Confederate General Robert E. Lee's second invasion of the North. More than 50,000 men fell as casualties during the 3-day battle, making it the bloodiest battle of the American Civil War.
The Battle of Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg was the largest and bloodiest battle ever fought in North America. During the first three days of July 1863, the Union Army of the Potomac and the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia turned a small town in Southern Pennsylvania into the site of a struggle for the future of the United States. More than 50,000 men fell as casualties (men listed as killed, wounded, or missing/captured), a scale of suffering never seen before or …show more content…
Since Confederate cavalry Commander Jeb Stuart was not present with the army and was instead riding through the Northern countryside on reconnaissance and foraging missions, Lee did not have an accurate understanding of Union positions or strength. This ultimately led to the initial fight at Gettysburg on July 1, 1863.
While Confederate forces had already been in Gettysburg, it was on the morning of July 1 that the battle began in earnest. That morning, Union dismounted cavalry under the command of Brigadier General John Buford took position west of the town. Buford intended to hold any advancing Confederates long enough for Union infantry to arrive and take position at Gettysburg. That morning, a division of Confederate infantry advanced toward Buford, attempting to discern what sort of Union presence was in the town. Without Lee's full knowledge and approval, the Battle of Gettysburg was about to begin.
By mid-morning, while Buford's cavalry fought the Confederate infantry, the First Corps, Army of the Potomac, had arrived on the field, providing reinforcements for Buford's tired dismounted cavalry. Soon, the Federal Eleventh Corps had arrived on the field as well, taking position north of the town. With the battle quickly intensifying, Lee decided to fully commit his army to the action at
The Battle of Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg was the largest and bloodiest battle ever fought in North America. During the first three days of July 1863, the Union Army of the Potomac and the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia turned a small town in Southern Pennsylvania into the site of a struggle for the future of the United States. More than 50,000 men fell as casualties (men listed as killed, wounded, or missing/captured), a scale of suffering never seen before or …show more content…
Since Confederate cavalry Commander Jeb Stuart was not present with the army and was instead riding through the Northern countryside on reconnaissance and foraging missions, Lee did not have an accurate understanding of Union positions or strength. This ultimately led to the initial fight at Gettysburg on July 1, 1863.
While Confederate forces had already been in Gettysburg, it was on the morning of July 1 that the battle began in earnest. That morning, Union dismounted cavalry under the command of Brigadier General John Buford took position west of the town. Buford intended to hold any advancing Confederates long enough for Union infantry to arrive and take position at Gettysburg. That morning, a division of Confederate infantry advanced toward Buford, attempting to discern what sort of Union presence was in the town. Without Lee's full knowledge and approval, the Battle of Gettysburg was about to begin.
By mid-morning, while Buford's cavalry fought the Confederate infantry, the First Corps, Army of the Potomac, had arrived on the field, providing reinforcements for Buford's tired dismounted cavalry. Soon, the Federal Eleventh Corps had arrived on the field as well, taking position north of the town. With the battle quickly intensifying, Lee decided to fully commit his army to the action at