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THE BATTLE
OF
GETTYSBURG
The Battle of Gettysburg took place July 1-3, 1863.
It took place in and around the small Pennsylvania
town of Gettysburg.
General Robert E. Lee
Confederate Commander
Army of Northern Virginia
General George Meade
Union Commander
Army of the Potomac
General Lee’s Reasons for invading the Union:
1. His army needed supplies like weapons and clothing.
2. General Lee’s men were hungry and needed food.
3. General Lee hoped to take attention away from the Union victory at
Fredericksburg.
4. The confederacy also thought that a victory over the Union on northern soil
may cause Great Britain and France to recognize the Confederacy as an
independent nation.
o
The Union fired the first shot.
o
Major General John Fulton Reynolds was
one of the first Union soldiers to fall.
o
Most of the fighting took place west and
north of Gettysburg.
o
By morning, the Union army had established a strong
position.
o
The Confederacy attacked each side of the Union’s U shaped formation.
Devil’s Den
o
Union troops attacked Confederates early in the morning.
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After 6 hours of intense fighting, the Union succeeded in driving off
the southerners.
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General Lee changed his strategy and ordered the assault known as
“Pickett’s Charge.”
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The Confederacy suffered heavy losses.
o
General Lee and his men retreated and went back to Virginia.
VICTORY FOR
THE UNION
UNION
82,000 troops
23,000 casualties
CONFEDERACY
75,000 troops
28,000 casualties
51,000 total casualties at the Battle of Gettysburg
o
The Battle of Gettysburg is known as the turning point of the
Civil War.
o
This battle was the Confederate’s last major invasion of the
north.
o
President Lincoln gave the now famous “Gettysburg Address”
during the dedication of a national cemetery for Union soldiers.
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It was at Gettysburg that more men actually fought and more
men died than in any other battle before or since on North
American soil.