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The battle of Gettysburg was fought on July 1 through July 3, 1863, considered by most military historians the turning point in the American Civil War (Johnson 84). The Battle of Gettysburg was a decisive engagement in that it arrested the Confederates second and last major invasion of the North, destroyed their offensive strategy, and forced them to fight a defensive war in which the slowness of their manufacturing capacity and transportation facilities doomed them to defeat (McPherson 25). The Army of the Potomac, under the Union general George Gordon Meade, numbered about 85, 000; the Confederate army, under General Robert E. Lee, numbered about 75, 000 (Johnson 90). After the Battle of Chancellorsville on May 2 to 4, an important victory for the Confederates, Lee divided his army into three corps, commanded by three lieutenant generals: James Longstreet, Richard Stoddert Ewell, and Ambrose Powell Hill (Johnson 91).
Lee then formulated a plan for invading Pennsylvania, hoping to avert another federal offensive in Virginia and planning to fight if he could get the federal army into a vulnerable position; he also hoped that the invasion might increase Northern war-weariness and lead the North to recognize the independence of the Confederate States of America (Johnson 85). In pursuit of this plan, Lee crossed the Blue Ridge Mountains, proceeded up the Shenandoah Valley, and, crossing Maryland, entered Pennsylvania (Clark 86). Upon learning federal troops were north of the Potomac, Lee decided to concentrate his whole army at Gettysburg (Clark 86). On June 30, Confederate troops from General Hill s corps, on their way to Gettysburg, saw federal troops that Meade had moved down to intercept the Confederate army (McPherson 102). The Battle began on July 1 outside of Gettysburg with an encounter between Hill s advance brigades and the federal cavalry division commanded by Major General John Buford, supported by infantry under Major General John Fulton Reynolds (McPherson 103). Hill encountered stubborn resistance, and the fighting was undecided until Ewell arrived from the north in the afternoon.
The Confederates pushed against General Oliver Howard s corps and forced the federal troops to retreat from their forward positions to Culp s Hill and Cemetery Ridge, southeast of Gettysburg (McPherson 105). The fighting had been heavy on both sides, but the Union troops suffered more losses. More than 4000 men were taken prisoner by the Confederates, and Federal General John Reynolds was killed in battle (McPherson 109). The federals did manage to capture Confederate General Archer, the first Confederate officer to be taken prisoner after Lee assumed command of the Confederate army (Warner 123). The corps led by Ewell did not move in to attack the Union troops but waited for General Longstreet to bring in his corps to reinforce the outnumbered Confederate troops (McPherson 123). On the following day, July 2, Meade formed his forces in the shape of a horseshoe, extending westward from Culp s Hill and southward along Cemetery Ridge to the hills of Little Round Top and Round Top (Clark 123).
The Confederates, on the other hand, were deployed in a long, thin concave line, with Longstreet and Ewell on the flanks and Hill in the center (Clark 125). Lee, against the advice of Longstreet, his war horse, and despite the fact that he had no cavalry, decided to attack the federal positions (Eckenrode 85). Longstreet was unable to advance until late afternoon, thus allowing the federal troops to make preparations for the assault (Clark 127). General Abner Doubleday of the federal army strengthened his hold on Cemetery Hill (Clark 127).
The federals held Cemetery Ridge and Little Round Top, but Longstreet moved Confederate troops along Peach Orchard, driving the federals from their positions there (Clark 128). Although Ewell won part of Culp s Hill, he was unable to break the federal line there or on the eastern part of Cemetery Ridge (Clark 128). On the night of July 2, Meade held a council of war in which the decision was made not to retreat (Warner 204). On the third day of battle, the federals were secure in their positions and the Confederates had lost their offensive stance. General Lee decided to mount an attack despite opposition from other confederate generals (Warner 203). The offensive did not begin until after noon.
Groups from three Confederate divisions, including the division led by Major General George E, Pickett, totaling fewer than 15, 000 men, took part in a memorable charge on Cemetery Ridge against a withering barrage of federal artillery and musket fire (Clark 130). The attack is known as Pickett s Charge. Although the Confederate troops breached Meade s first line of defense, the strain on the Confederates proved too great, and they fell back, having lost over three-fourths of their force (Clark 155). With the repulse of Pickett s Charge, the Battle of Gettysburg was virtually over.
On the night of July 4, Lee began his retreat to Virginia, expecting a counterattack from the federal army (Johnson 103). Meade, however, did not attack, due perhaps to heavy rains which hampered pursuit of the retreating Confederates (Johnson 103). During the three days of battle, the federal army lost 3070 killed, 14, 497 wounded, and 5434 captured or missing (Johnson 91). The Confederates lost about 3500 killed, 18, 000 wounded, and 5150 captured or missing (Johnson 91).
Lee retreated west and southwest through Hagerstown, Maryland and into Virginia. Imboden s wagon train, composing of wagons and ambulances, stretched for over 17 miles (Johnson 190). Meade considered pursuit, but determined that the defensive nature of the Appalachian passes prohibited full pursuit (Johnson 191). Meade did harass Lee s retreat, which resulted in minor skirmishes and capture of various Confederate units, but did not materialize (Johnson 191). Meade s decision not to pursue Lee angered Lincoln, who expected a decisive victory (Johnson 192). Also, the lack of vigorous pursuit showed Meade as being too cautious.
Lee hurting from Gettysburg, was forced to return to Virginia. The war was far from over and lasted another 2 years (Johnson 192). The Gettysburg Address, a famous speech, was delivered later that year by United States president Abraham Lincoln on November 19, 1863, at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania (McPherson 192). He presented it in dedication of the Gettysburg National Cemetery honoring those who died in the Civil War Battle of Gettysburg.
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Research essay sample on Battle Of Gettysburg Confederate Troops
