Turning Point in the American Civil War

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In the American civil war, Gettysburg is perhaps the turning point of the war, and it is also the last invasion on North American soil. Gettysburg, at the time, was just a small-time town before and during the civil war any, yet forever changed after the battle. A lot of people may remember the battle of Gettysburg by Pickett’s charge or Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, but anyone would not think about what actually happened during the battle. People may not realize that there were over 50,000 casualties over the three day battle, or how the North had the high ground, which would be a military advantage, most of the time. (Battle of Gettysburg. Summary and facts, July1-3, 1863). Gettysburg will always be a battle that will be held with much controversy with today’s historians and a battle that helped the North secure a victory.

The town of Gettysburg was a small, quiet town during the Civil War. It had a populous of only 2,400 by the time the battle begun. (Gettysburg visitor center. Battle of Gettysburg.)Gettysburg was founded by a group of settlers, and was named by a man of Samuel Gettys.(Gettysburg Convention and visitor bureau). When the battle came and left, it was left with the aftermath and all of the cleaning up to do. They were left with the dead and wounded to take care of.

Prelude and day 1.

After the battle of Chancellorsville, General Robert E. Lee wanted to invade the North again to replenish his supplies, and take the war out of Virginia. During the march north, Lee’s army (Army of Northern Virginia) had a few days march ahead of the Army of the Potomac and had most of Army of Northern Virg...

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...cock, had the stonewall (Gettysburg: A Testing of Courage). If someone knows anything about the Civil War, the Confederates had the stonewall at Fredericksburg battle. Failure after failure plagued Robert E. Lee all three days at Gettysburg. The Army of Northern Virginia would end up retreating a few days later.

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.

“It was all my fault this time. Form your ranks again when you get back to cover. We want all good men to hold together now.” –Robert E. Lee to George Pickett and J.J Pettigrew after the failed charge. (Battle of Gettysburg- summary and facts).

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