The Bloodiest Battle of the Civil War
During the course of the Civil War, Robert E. Lee supervised the Confederate army, while George Meade was a military leader of the Union’s Army of the Potomac. Many supporters of Meade such as Officer Haskell felt the Army of the Potomac was reliable and could easily crush the Confederates while many southerners believed that Lee would be the victor of the Civil War. In June of 1863, Lee was able to avoid the Federal forces that were safeguarding Washington by taking his army to Pennsylvania, enabling the war to take place in the northern United States. In response, the Union journeyed northbound in an effort to reach the Confederate army, producing an unavoidable battle. On June 30, Lee’s Confederates noticed that General Buford of the Union was located with his cavalry at the rural town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Daybreak was nearing the Chambersburg Pike on Wednesday, July 1, 1863, about one and a half miles due west of the tiny village of Gettysburg. It was approximately five in the morning, and General Buford was on the lookout with his first Cavalry Division. Buford received word that Lee was approaching with his Army of Northern Virginia close to the town of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. As night transformed into day, Corporal Hodges, a subordinate on picket duty, viewed dark silhouettes advancing towards him, approximately 500 years away. He decided to take a closer peek, but was confronted with Confederated gunfire, which led into an inevitable conflict. General George Meade intercepted the Confederates swarming near Gettysburg and a violent, intense clash resulted.
While the Battle of Gettysburg took place, the fate of the United States was suspended. Until the final day of the Battle of Gettysburg, the odds worked in opposition to General Lee, who was then forced to regrettably command his forces to retreat back to Virginia. Lee’s vision of the Confederate States of America was forever squashed, in addition to his reputation. Throughout the war, both commanders were foreign to the land, but both desired defensive strategies. The Battle of Gettysburg existed from July 1 to July 3, 1863, and was the largest fray in not only the Civil War, but North America itself. Meade commanded 85,000 men while Lee controlled 75,000 soldiers. The Battle of Gettysburg left the Union with 23,049 casualties and the Confederacy with 28,063 victims. This vital battle served as a turning point in the Civil War, allowing the Union to subsequently proceed to victory two years later.
While the Battle of Gettysburg took place, the fate of the United States was suspended. Until the final day of the Battle of Gettysburg, the odds worked in opposition to General Lee, who was then forced to regrettably command his forces to retreat back to Virginia. Lee’s vision of the Confederate States of America was forever squashed, in addition to his reputation. Throughout the war, both commanders were foreign to the land, but both desired defensive strategies. The Battle of Gettysburg existed from July 1 to July 3, 1863, and was the largest fray in not only the Civil War, but North America itself. Meade commanded 85,000 men while Lee controlled 75,000 soldiers. The Battle of Gettysburg left the Union with 23,049 casualties and the Confederacy with 28,063 victims. This vital battle served as a turning point in the Civil War, allowing the Union to subsequently proceed to victory two years later.