The Battle of Gettysburg Essay - 1983 Words

The Battle of Gettysburg The Battle of Gettysburg was a defining battle of the Civil War. It marked a turning point for the Union as well as for the Confederates, though it was not the final battle to be fought. There were many events prior the actual battle that had led to this clash (Berkin 442). The United States was undergoing great changes in the mid 1800s. Populations in both the North and the south grew tremendously. The main increase from the North was largely due to the many immigrants that flooded the coastal cities. Around 2.8 million immigrants came into the United States between 1850 and 1860. This great increase in immigrants further fueled the industrialization of the Northern states. The new source of labor†¦show more content†¦After 34 hours of bombardment from artillery Anderson surrendered. This marked the official beginning of the Civil War (Berkin 413). The early years of the war were marked with Confederate successes. Even though the South had won many victories in th e east, the Union was still very successful in the West. The Confederacy failed to gain international recognition. General Lee hoped to gain this with a decisive victory over the Union in the North (Williams). Lee also hoped this would hasten the peace movement among the North. On June 3rd, Lee ordered his army under Longstreet, Ewell, A.P. Hill, and a cavalry division under J.E.B. Stuart to begin the march (Weeks). General Lees army met little resistance as it marched inevitably to Gettysburg, taking supplies from the countryside they moved through (Berkin 442). On June 13th of 1863 Ewells corps defeated Winchester and inflicted heavy casualties upon the Federalists, and gained much needed supplies. On June 25th, Stuart presented General Lee with a plan. Stuart would take three cavalry brigades and cross the Potomac. He would then make his way around the Federal army in an attempt to flank them. Lee agreed and Stuart set out. He became bogged down with frequent detours a nd also ran into Federal cavalry. Stuart would not rejoin the main force until July 2nd. Both armies were closing in on Gettysburg by June 30th (Weeks). July 1st, 1863, the historic battle began. Gettysburg was at thatShow MoreRelatedThe Battle Of Gettysburg At Gettysburg1100 Words   |  5 PagesOver the last 153 years Gettysburg, has moved from honoring those who fought and died during the battle at Gettysburg to preserve the battlefield. Gettysburg went through two phases of change. The first phase happened between 1863 –1938 and the second phase happened in 1938 when the War Department transferred the administration of Gettysburg to the National Park Service. During the first phase the National Cemetery was built in Gettysburg for the creation of a proper burial of their now dead sonsRead MoreGettysburg : The Battle Of Gettysburg943 Words   |  4 Pages GETTYSBURG Introduction This is a brief thought of the events that came to unfold. Some say that Gettysburg was the battle that stopped the confederate advance to the north. In addition, that Lee only wanted to take the battle out the state of Virginia that had been hit rather hard by the unions Army . In this review of the Battle of Gettysburg, we will discuss the key events that people believed that allowed the Union Armies to cause the retrograde actions of the confederate forcesRead MoreBattle of Gettysburg1186 Words   |  5 PagesThe Battle of Gettysburg was fought by the largest number of soldiers, totaling 172,000 young men (â€Å"American Civil War†). During the Civil War, our nation was divided by the North (Union Army) and the South (Confederate Army) for opposing viewpoints on slavery and states’ rights. The Battle of Gettysburg was fought over three long, arduous days. The soldiers struggled under their respected generals in a 25 mile battle zone (â€Å"American Civil War†). This battle was a triumphant victory and a heart-wrenchingRead MoreThe Battle of Gettysburg1676 Words   |  7 PagesThe Battle of Gettysburg was one of the most famous battles of the Civil War. The battle was fought from July 1 to July 3 near Gettysburg. The famous battle was between Robert Lee and his Northern Virginia Army and George Meade and the Norths Army of the Potomac, The Union. The original leader of the Army of the Potomac was General Joseph Hooker, but President Lincoln relieved Hooker of his duties and named Meade the new General of the Army. Many soldiers died from both sides during this battle andRead MoreThe Battle of Gettysburg950 Words   |  4 PagesJune 29, 1863, the day before the most memorable battle in history took place. The Battle of Gettysburg would become the major outcome of the Civil War. What happened in the following three days has greatly impacted todays society. The gut renching question topics leaving many historians puzzled is, what if? What if certain elements had played out differently, would the outcome of the war still remain the same? What if he decisions made by Generals of both the Union and ConfederacyRead MoreThe Battle Of The Gettysburg1485 Words   |  6 PagesToday, the Battle of Gettysburg is considered one of the most important battles of the American Civil War. However, with 23,049 casualties on the Union side and 28,063 on the Confederate side, it can also be considered one of the bloodiest (Civil War Trust). Such heavy losses naturally rattled the entire nation and Americans on both sides began to question the war and what it stood for. As Americans gathered together at the consecration ceremony of the Gettysburg National Cemetery, the much acclaimedRead MoreThe Gettysburg Address : The Battle Of Gettysburg1332 Words   |  6 PagesThe Gettysburg Address The battle of Gettysburg took place July 1-3, 1863 and has been said to be the turning point of the American Civil War. This war was a battle between the Confederacy and the Union, two countries derived from what we now know as the United States of America. In reality, the Union was just a nickname for the United States at the time, which consisted of 20 free, non-slave states and the 5 border states that supported it. While on the other hand, the Confederacy involved 11 southernRead MoreThe Battle Of Gettysburg Battle Analysis1507 Words   |  7 PagesBattle of Gettysburg Battle Analysis It is our duty, as soon to be Second Lieutenants in the Army, to learn from history. Learning from mistakes in the past is necessary to understand the responsibilities we will soon have. The Battle of Gettysburg shows prime examples of the nine principles of war: Objective, Offensive, Mass, Economy of Force, Maneuver, Unity of Command, Security, Surprise and Simplicity. In the military today, we are overwhelmingly blessed with every asset that we have includingRead MoreGettysburg Simulation Game : The Battle Of Gettysburg Essay820 Words   |  4 PagesGettysburg Simulation Game The Battle of Gettysburg was one of the most important battles of the U.S. Civil War and one of the most important battles of all the U.S. history. It was a battle between the Confederate Army of North Virginia, commanded by Robert E. Lee and the Union Army of the Potomac under General George Meade. I played the Gettysburg Simulation Game on www.military.com. I really enjoyed it and thought it was very interesting. I found it a great way to learn U.S. history. The simulationRead MoreThe Battle of Gettysburg Essay1398 Words   |  6 PagesThe Battle of Gettysburg was the major turning point of the Civil War. The confederate army was led by General Robert E. Lee, an experienced, educated, and extremely successful career military officer. He was second in his class at WestPoint, as well as a valuable asset during the Mexican War. When Virginia seceded from the Union, Abraham Lincoln initially asked General Lee to lead the Union Army. General Lee declined the position offered by Lincoln due to his loyalty to him home state1. General