The Battle of Gettysburg

1257 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Battle of gettysburg 4 page essay

The Battle of Gettysburg was the most important battle of the civil war. The Battle of Gettysburg would become the climatic conclusion for the Confederated that fought in the Civil War. What transpired in the three days of this battle has significantly influenced today’s society. Because of this battle, the Union gained their lead on the Confederate forces and won the civil war, which protected the county from falling apart and completing their ultimate goal. This goal was to preserve the Union. As Abe Lincoln said, “A house divided against itself cannot stand”. What if the following events either did not happen or were twisted into different outcomes? Would our country be as it is today?
Just two days before the Battle of Gettysburg, General Joseph Hooker was relieved from his duties as general of the Potomac Army. The first person to get the opportunity to lead the Potomac was Major General John Reynolds, a former instructor at West Point. He was born in Lancaster, PA on September 20, 1820 and attended an academy until he set out to pursue a military career like his brother William. He was admitted eventually into West Point and graduated 26th in his class of 50. Although the offer was great, Major Reynolds turned it down. The offer then fell down to a person named General George Meade who although was inexperienced, would lead the Union Army to its victory at Gettysburg. General Meade was born in Philadelphia on December 1815 and graduated from West Point in 1835. He then served two years in the Florida Artillery and later resigned to work as a civil engineer.
The first shot of the Battle of Gettysburg sounded three miles northwest of the actual town at present day location of Knoxlyn Rd and US RT.30 Chambersburg ...

... middle of paper ...

.... Out of these numbers, an estimated 22,815 casualties was calculated for the Union. Out of all the soldiers in the Army of Virginia (confederates) 4,404 were killed, 12,950 were wounded, and 5,350 went missing. This led to an estimated 22,700 Confederate casualties. Out of all the armies, an estimated grand 45,515 casualties were calculated, giving the proof and numbers to back up the fact that the Battle of Gettysburg was the most important and devastating battle of the civil war. (Hawks, 3)
Later on after the battle, another Confederate surrender at Vicksburg was confirmed as the Confederates started retreating from the North. Abraham Lincoln came down to Gettysburg to ratify the battleground as a National Cemetery as he gave the Gettysburg Address speech. This speech was given to increase moral when it was needed most to preserve and protect the Union.

Show More
Related

  • Battle Of Gettysburg

    1489 Words  | 3 Pages

    From July 1st to July 3rd, 1863, the most famous and most important Civil War Battle took place in the small town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The Confederates under Robert E. Lee advanced on the Union in hopes of taking the major city of Philadelphia, Baltimore, or even Washington D.C. Union commander General George Meade was sent to make sure none of this would happen. General Robert E. Lee was determined to invade the North and win a victory important for southern morale, leads his army toward Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, where he hopes to destroy railroad bridges linking east with west. He is unaware that a large union force headed by General Meade is headed in the same direction.

    Read More

  • The Battle of Gettysburg Analysis

    1961 Words  | 4 Pages

    The battle of Gettysburg occurred over three hot summer days, July 1 to July 3, 1863, around the small town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. It began as a meeting engagement, but by its end involved approximately 170,000 Americans. The battle is considered to be the turning point in the American Civil War and is one of the most studied battles in American history. The events that took place at Gettysburg had a tremendous impact on the outcome of the Civil War and the fate of the United States. It is far easier for us in the present than it was for those at Gettysburg, to look back and determine the path that the leaders should have taken.

    Read More

  • Jennie Wade Thesis

    968 Words  | 2 Pages

    At the time of the battle, the very small town of Gettysburg only had about 2,400 people living in it. This was soon to change because as troops from both sides of the battle came into the town, the 160,000 troops made themselves at home in the local houses and shelters. The battle of Gettysburg only lasted about three days in its entirety. At the end of the third day of battle, the confederate troops ran and retreated back into their Capital which is in Richmond Virginia. All three days of the battle were fought in Gettysburg Pennsylvania. The Battle of Gettysburg, which was fully fought in July 1863, was a Union victory that made the very respected Confederate General Robert E. Lee's retreat all the way back into

    Read More

  • Pickett's Charge And The Failure Of The Civil War

    1058 Words  | 3 Pages

    One of the best commanders in the Confederate army was Lee still; the Union stood at a better standpoint during the battle. “Perhaps the most significant lesson from July 3, 1863, concerns the method of decision-making. Though he may not have seen it as such, Lee’s decision to attack was at best a close call.” (Gompert 2006, pg.7). The battle of Gettysburg did not happen intentionally, planned however Lee did an astounding job and his best to defeat the Union army. Ultimately Robert E. Lee was responsible for the South’s loss

    Read More

  • Battle Of Gettysburg DBQ

    456 Words  | 1 Pages

    The Gettysburg Address given by President Lincoln in the November following the Battle of Gettysburg acted as a call to arms. This speech gave the North a sense of pride and reassured them that they did have a chance at winning the Civil War. In The Gettysburg Address, Lincoln tells the audience not to let the men who died in the battle die in vain he tells them that their dedication will lead to a “new birth of freedom” in the nation(document D). This newly found sense of pride and hope led confidence which was something that the Confederate army was lacking at the

    Read More

  • Essay On The Battle Of Gettysburg A Turning Point Dbq

    487 Words  | 1 Pages

    According to (Doc D) what Abraham Lincoln said “ We have to come to dedicate a portion of the battlefield as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives so the nation might have freedom and can live.” During the Gettysburg address, Abraham Lincoln is telling the north that they have a chance for beating the south because General Robert E. Lee gave up on invading the north and gave up on being general. This connects back to why the Battle of Gettysburg was a turning point because everyone who tried their best on the battlefield knew that what they were doing would help their country gain their independence, and have a better future as a

    Read More

  • The Battle of Gettysburg as the Turning Point of the Civil War

    1599 Words  | 4 Pages

    Union Commander Meade, out of fatigue and caution, did not immediately go after Lee, getting President Lincoln very angry who wrote a mad letter to Meade, which was never delivered, saying he missed an opportunity to end the war at this instance (The History Place Battle of Gettysburg 4). Although the casualties were basically equal, the Battle of Gettysburg was the second and last great invasion of the of the North, for the South had neither arms nor numbers to continue an assault, but the War dragged on for two more years. On November 19, President Lincoln went to the battlefield to dedicate it as a military cemetery. He spoke for a short period of time delivering what is called the Gettysburg Address, surprising many present in the audience with its shortness and leaving others quite unimpressed, but over time the speech has come to symbolize democracy as we know it today (Funk & Wagnalls Encyclopedia Vol. 11 385.

    Read More

  • Lincoln At Gettysburg: The Words That Remade America

    1132 Words  | 3 Pages

    Lincoln at Gettysburg: The Words That Remade America "Fourscore and seven years ago…." These are the first 5 of only two hundred seventy-two words that remade America. In Lincoln at Gettysburg: The Words That Remade America, the author, Gary Wills, informed us that Abraham Lincoln wanted equality among us and to unite as one. In Abraham Lincoln's own speech, he would not mention single individuals or even top officers. Everyone was considered as equal importance and was never any different. "Though we call Lincoln's text the Gettysburg Address, that title clearly belongs to Everett." 1 This is very true, which I think is interesting. Everett who was chosen by David Wills to commemorate the National Cemetery of Gettysburg, was supposed to be the speaker while Lincoln was only the dedicatory remarks speaker. Not only did Lincoln have the favorable speech, it was only three minutes while Everett's was two hours long. Lincoln also supposedly was not supposed to be there to speak; he actually just told a correspondent that he would be present. It's amazing to believe that a two hundred seventy-two word speech would say so much to thousands of people.

    Read More

  • Rhetorical Analysis Of Edward Everett's The Gettysburg Oration

    985 Words  | 2 Pages

    For centuries, it has always been an individual's responsibility to address the aftermath of major events. Thus, on November 19, 1863, in the aftermath of the Battle of Gettysburg, Edward Everett stood upon the bloody field in front of representatives from all over the United States, to give the speech that provides this sense of purpose; henceforth, "The Gettysburg Oration" entitled this speech. The Battle of Gettysburg was the largest battle fought in the Civil War. This decisive battle, horrid in its nature, was fought between the United States of America and the Confederate States of America. Both sides were not only fighting for their lives, but for their ideas, as well. There are a few people who would look back at this battle as a victory

    Read More

  • The Battle of Fredericksburg

    1475 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Battle of Fredericksburg falls in a long list of failures of the Army of the Potomac during the first year of the American Civil War. Following the Battle of Antietam the Northern Army had the opportunity to defeat Lee’s army. However, Northerners, were shocked by Lee’s escape following this battle on 17 September 1862, and were further upset by Major General George B. McClellan’s procrastination in pursuing Lee and allowing General J.E.B. Stuarts daring cavalry raid into Pennsylvania around Gettysburg (10-12 October 1862). McClellan’s failure to pursue Lee’s Army is mainly due to his own lack of confidence, believing that he doesn’t have enough men or material in order to defeat the Army of Virginia. President Lincoln had finally had enough; he fired McClellan for the second and final time, and replaced him with Major General Ambrose E. Burnside, whom he had initially offered the job. No military officer in the Civil War resisted promotion more assiduously than did Major General Burnside during 1862. On three separate occasions that year, President Lincoln asked Burnside to assume command of the Army of the Potomac, and each time the general demurred on the grounds that he was not competent to handle such a large force. Once General Burnside took command he immediately set forth after General Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia.

    Read More

  • Battle Of Gettysburg Research Paper

    1660 Words  | 4 Pages

    The Battle of Gettysburg took place in a town called Gettysburg, located in Pennsylvania. In the mid-1860s, the town had 2,400 citizens. Nearby, there are several landmarks that would prove crucial throughout the battle. There were four hills; Round Top (now known as Big Round Top), Little Round Top, Culp’s Hill, and Cemetery Hill. For the Confederates, taking position on any of the hills could have proved important for the rest of the war. The battlefield is open to the public, as a National

    Read More

  • Turning Point in the American Civil War

    1023 Words  | 3 Pages

    The battle would cost the lives of over 50,000 men. (Battle of Gettysburg. July 1-3, 1863. Summary and facts). Gettysburg is left ravished and is left to pick up the pieces of anything that was left behind. The war would wage another two years before the south is finally defeated.

    Read More

  • Pickett's Charge

    1683 Words  | 4 Pages

    In the American Civil War, there were many major battles that contributed to the Union army proving victorious and the Confederacy suffering defeat. One of which that could be considered the most significant was the Battle of Gettysburg. A three day scuffle that essentially led to the dismantling of the entire southern war effort, Gettysburg is highly remembered as the biggest and bloodiest battle of the war. However, the final assault by the Confederate army on the third day of warfare was detrimental to the overall outcome of the battle. This brutal strike is also a perfect testament to the Confederate soldier’s courage and passion for their respective cause and ideals. In other words, it takes sincere discipline to march across open grasslands in clear sight, and rush headlong into a heavily fortified position held by the enemy. This attack is most widely known as Pickett’s Charge, an all-out Confederate offensive resulting in immense casualties for both sides involved.

    Read More

  • Gettysburg Address Rhetorical Analysis

    893 Words  | 2 Pages

    Lincoln had numerous purposes for the Gettysburg Address. Firstly, it was to be used to dedicate the land where the Battle of Gettysburg had taken place as a cemetery for the fallen troops of both the North and the South, the most apparent and central reason for his address. His second purpose for the address was to transform the war on states’ rights to a war on slavery and upholding the ideals that the Founders had authored in the Declaration of Independence. By doing this, Lincoln was capable to manipulate countries, such as England and France who had not been fond of slavery for decades, in making them loath the Confederacy and ensure other nations would not recognize the Confederacy as a nation.

    Read More

  • Gettysburg Address Dbq Essay

    489 Words  | 1 Pages

    At 7:30am, on Wednesday, July 1st, 1863, at the intersection of Knoxlyn Rd and US Rt. 30 Chambersburg Pike, a shot was fired by Lieutenant Marcellus Jones. This shot would not be forgotten, as it was the beginning of what would turn into one of the biggest turning points of the Civil War; The Battle of Gettysburg. This three day streak of combat would later be referred to as the “High Water Mark of the Rebellion.” With the outcome being an overall Union victory, the Battle of Gettysburg would mark the point at which the Union would place the Confederacy on the defensive and end General Robert E. Lee’s most ambitious attempt to seize Union territory. The Battle of Gettysburg was so critical, in fact, that it lead to one of the most vital documents written in United States history, the Gettysburg Address. How exactly did this battle guide President Abraham Lincoln to write the Gettysburg Address is a common question among many.

    Read More

More about The Battle of Gettysburg

Open Document