Overview
The Battle of Gettysburg is one of the most recognizable and costly battles of the American Civil War. It involved General Robert E. Lee's army of around 70,000 and Major General George G. Meade's army of around 93,000. Lasting three hot summer days in 1863, the battle was focused around the area of Gettysburg.
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The North
The North, although usually known to have the advantage, had a major disadvantage in this famous battle. The Union had been protecting their capital, Washington D.C., from Confederate attacks - Unfortunately, General Lee did not plan on attacking their capital; His strategy had been to destroy as many Union military posts as possible. His main target? One of The North's most valuable military posts, Camp Curtain, right outside of Harrisburg. |
The South
The South, although equipped with valuable and experienced military generals, were always known as the underdogs. However, when they strategize and are commanded by an accomplished general, they can really put up a fight. General E. Lee's initial plan for one of the only battles in Union territory was to go in, destroy military bases, and get out. Despite his strategy, his forces were stopped in Gettysburg by a small army of Union forces, where a skirmish, or an unexpected battle, began.
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Outcome
As soon as the small army of Union soldiers and the much larger army of Confederate soldiers met, no one knew that they had just started an incredible three day battle. General Lee had decided that The South could use another win after his great success in Chancellorsville, Virginia and ended up sending in his entire army of around 70,000 men to defeat a small Union army of, at the time, only 3,000. Quickly surrounded, with back up from Washington D.C. miles away, the Union retreated further back into what is known as Cemetery Ridge. These horse-shoe shaped hills allowed for the miniscule amount of Union soldiers to defend themselves from the onslaught of Confederate soldiers until back-up could arrive. Eventually, reinforcements for the Union arrived, now totaling the amount of soldiers fighting for the North to about 90,000. Soon, the once dominant Confederate soldiers were being crushed by the even stronger Union army. As the fighting continued for three long, summer days, General Robert Lee was finally defeated, leaving a total of about 51,000 dead, injured, or missing.
Anastasia Barrett, Alessandra Lopez