Battle of GettysburgJune 1863

Until this point, the Confederates had won most major battles:

- Bull Run

- Fredericksburg- Seven Days- 2nd Bull Run

- Chancellorsville

With this confidence, Lee felt he could invade the North and end the war.

In response, Hooker swung his troops to the north to protect the capital. In late June, Meade took over.

Lee wanted to fight at Cashtown; Meade wanted to fight at Taneytown.

Fate would have them meet between the two towns at a place called Gettysburg.

Gettysburg

Battle of Gettysburg

Gettysburg

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Gettysburg

Chambersburg Road

Battle of Gettysburg

Chambersburg Road and McPherson Ridge

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Gettysburg

Chambersburg Road

Battle of Gettysburg

Seminary School

Seminary School

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Gettysburg

Chambersburg Road

Battle of Gettysburg

Cemetery Hill and Culp’s Hill

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Gettysburg

Chambersburg Road

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Battle of Gettysburg

Emmitsburg Road

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Battle of Gettysburg

Seminary Ridge

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Battle of Gettysburg

Cemetery Ridge

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Peach Orchard

Wheat Field

Gettysburg

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Battle of Gettysburg

Wheat Field and Peach Orchard

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Peach Orchard

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Devil’s Den

Little Round

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Big Round

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Battle of Gettysburg

Little Round Top, Devil’s Den, and Big Round Top

Battle of GettysburgJuly 1, 1863

Heth’s division marched down Chambersburg Road towards Gettysburg.

Buford on Chambersburg Road

Reynolds’ infantry arrives to reinforce Buford

Heth

Buford

Reynolds killed

Buford stalls

Hancock’s decision

Reynolds

Howard’s 11th Corps arrives

Howard

Rodes, Ewell, and Early arrive to drive back Union

RodesEwell Early

Battle of GettysburgJuly 1, 1863

Sidenotes:

John Burns – veteran of War of 1812

Abner Doubleday – Reynold’s replacement

The location was an accident.

Battle of GettysburgJuly 2, 1863

During the night, battle lines form.

Sykes

Sickles

Hancock

Howard Slocum

EwellHill

Longstreet

90,000 Union troops

75,000 Confederate troops

The Fishhook

Lee planned to simultaneously attack both Union flanks.

Ewell’s attack failed

Longstreet takes part of his 1st Corps and marches south to the Unions left flank.

Sickles sees the Confederate movement and meets them in the wheat field and peach orchard

Sickles troops get destroyed

Battle of GettysburgJuly 2, 1863

At the Union extreme left flank is Chamberlain and the 20th Maine.

With Hood moving in, Chamberlain must thin his line to cover the left.

Wheel Right (Swinging Gate) - bayonet charge - obscure

2nd Maine

Out of ammunitionLittle Round Top

Battle of GettysburgJuly 3, 1863

Sykes

Hancock

Howard Slocum

EwellHill

Longstreet

Lee plans an attack on the center of the Union line.

To disrupt Union, Ewell attacks from north and Stuart’s cavalry from east.

Ewell is repelled by Slocum and Stuart is beat by Custer.

A division of Longstreet’s 1st Corps, under Pickett, charges.

Confederates begin attack with with bombardment by 140 cannons.

15,000 Confederates cross open field to attack Cemetery Ridge.

Only a handful of Rebs (under Armistead) reach the Union line.

“Pickett’s Charge” fails.

High Water Mark

Battle of GettysburgJuly 4, 1863

Sykes

Hancock

Howard Slocum

EwellHill

Longstreet

Confederates retreat back to Virginia.

Meade refuses to chase. He could have destroyed the Confederates.

Grant would later finish the job.

Confederates win very few major battles after Gettysburg.

Federal Confederate

Engaged 85-88,000 70-75,000

Killed 3,155 3,903

Wounded, and Mortally Wounded 14,529 18,735

Missing 5,365 5,425

Total Losses 23,049 28,063

Battle of Gettysburg

The Statistics

Estimated that 7 million bullets used at Gettysburg.