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THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG
UNIT 11, JOURNAL #3
Describe in 3-4
sentences what you
think life was like as a
soldier during the
Civil War.
Then, describe what
you think life was like
for those left at home
throughout the war in
another 3-4 sentences.
You may use your
carousel notes..
BEFORE THE BATTLE

1863 had begun well for the South

Confederates inflict bloody defeat on Union at
Fredericksburg, VA


North defeated again in the Battle of
Chancellorsville, VA


Outmaneuvered (April 30-May 6, 1863)
General Stonewall Jackson is shot by his
own men in an accident and dies of
Pneumonia



Failure to storm Confederate stronghold (Dec. 13,
1862)
Amputation
Mistaken for a “Yankee” (May 1863)
Lee decides to invade North in SpringEarly Summer ‘63:
To gain supplies
Force Lincoln to pull Union forces away from
Vicksburg, MS
 Invasion in North would hurt Lincoln’s political
power- tip towards Copperheads


AFTER THE BATTLE

More than 23,000 Union casualties
and 28,000 Confederate casualties




More than 30% of men
Corpses everywhere, stench unbearable
Lee gave up hopes of invading the
North and retreated back to Virginia
(through a pelting rain)

Lee turned in his resignation which
Jefferson Davis did not accept

“It’s all my fault” – Lee’s reaction to
loss at Gettysburg
North is enthusiastic about big
victory!

The North wins the Battle of Vicksburg
(May 18-July 4, 1863)
SIGNIFICANCE OF GETTYSBURG



Turning point in the war
Crippled South so badly, Lee never invaded Northern
state again
Lincoln gives the Gettysburg Address in November
1863.
Gettysburg Address helped
our crippled nation realize that
we were not just a collection
of individual states.

GETTYSBURG ADDRESS
 Nov.
1863 ceremony to
dedicate cemetery in
Gettysburg.
 Lincoln
speech


gave 2 minute
“Remade America”
After his address and
following the Civil War
people started to say the
“United States is” instead of
the “United States are”
THE WAR COMES TO AN END
WEARING DOWN OF CONFEDERACY



Defeat at Vicksburg and Gettysburg cost Confederate
manpower…
Already low on food, shoes, uniforms, guns, and
ammunition
Break down:



Desertions—left because they knew their families were suffering
Left to fight for the Union
Movements for peace by newspapers, legislatures, and individuals
in various states
NEW UNION STRATEGY:
TOTAL WAR


General Grant appointed William Tecumseh
Sherman as commander in Mississippi
Both men believe in total war


Total War – fight military, government and
CIVILIANS to destroy all ability for enemy to fight
Reasoning:


Civilians produce the weapons, food, and
transportation;
Their strength keeps the army going
IS IT EVER JUSTIFIED TO KILL CIVILIANS
IN A BATTLE? WHY OR WHY NOT?

Attack and attack again


Huge losses for Union, but they could afford it, South
could not
Burned towns, killed animals
About three miles from Sparta we struck the
'Burnt Country,' as it is well named by the
natives, and then I could better understand the
wrath and desperation of these poor people. I
almost felt as if I should like to hang a Yankee
myself. There was hardly a fence left standing
all the way from Sparta to Gordon. The fields
were trampled down and the road was lined
with carcasses of horses, hogs, and cattle that
the invaders, unable either to consume or to
carry away with them, had wantonly shot down
to starve out the people and prevent them from
making their crops. The stench in some places
was unbearable; every few hundred yards we
had to hold our noses or stop them with
[cologne]…
Source: Eliza Frances Andrews, The War-Time Journal of a Georgia Girl, 1864-1865 (New York: D.
Appleton and Co., 1908), pp. 32-33.
SHERMAN’S MARCH

Sherman moves south to Atlanta


Confederate army tries to circle around him and cut his
railroad supply lines, but Sherman takes the offensive.


Ex: Being “aggressive” in sports
Sherman abandons his supply lines and marches “to the
sea”



Occupies September, 1864 – huge transportation center
Creates a path of destruction; lives off the land as he marches
Burned most of Atlanta
Reached the ocean and took Savannah.




Left to help Grant “wipe out Lee”
Followed by 25,000 former slaves
Inflicted more damage down through SC
As they got close to the end (NC), stopped burning towns and
handed out food and supplies
SURRENDER AT
APPOMATTOX



Clear Confederacy was over by
March 1865
Grant and Sherman approached
Richmond, Confederate Govt.
fled and set fire to the city
April 9, 1865 – Lee and Grant
met at Appomattox Court House
in VA to arrange formal
surrender

Very generous terms (Lincoln’s
request)


WHY? DID THEY DESERVE IT?
Within 1 month, all resistance
ended.