Battle+of+Gettysburg

[|http://www.liberty.edu] ||        **Summary of the Battle of Gettysburg**    =  July 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, 1863 (The battle)
 * [[image:Gettysburg.jpg width="327" height="337"]]
 * __Important Dates__: **

**__Location__:**   Gettysburg, Pennsylvania **__Respective Commander(s) Involved__: North: ** Major General George G. Meade
 * South:** General Robert E. Lee

The Battle of Gettysburg resulted in a Union victory over the Confederates. There were approximately 46,540 casualties, 23,040 of which were Union soldiers. ||
 * __Outcome__:**

 ** The Significance of the Battle **  General Robert E. Lee tried and failed to occupy the North in a maneuver designed to take pressure off of Virginia and possibly merit a victory that could end the war altogether. The failure of Pickett’s Charge instantly meant that the South had lost the battle. The Southern loss was demoralizing and General Lee never attempted to invade the North on such a large scale again.

**General Overview of the Battle**

General Robert E. Lee focused most of his forces' strength against Major General Meade’s Army of the Potomac at the crossroads county seat of Gettysburg. On July 1st, 1863, Southern forces joined at the town from the west and from the north, driving Northern defenders back through the streets to Cemetery Hill. During the night, reinforcements arrived for both the North and the South. On July 2nd, Lee attempted to surround the Union, by first striking the Union’s left flank, or side, at the Peach Orchard, Wheatfield, Devil’s Den, and the Round Tops with Longstreet’s and Hill’s military divisions. Lee then attacked the Union right at Culp’s Hill and East Cemetery Hills with Ewell’s divisions. These events set the stage for the important actions to come. By evening, the Union retained Little Round Top and had revolted most of Ewell’s men. During the morning of July 3rd, the Confederate infantry was driven from their last toe-hold on Culp’s Hill. In the afternoon, after a first round artillery assault, Lee attacked the Union center on Cemetery Ridge. The Pickett-Pettigrew assault, more popularly known as Pickett’s Charge, momentarily pierced the Union line, but was driven back with severe casualties. Stuart’s cavalry attempted to gain the Union rear but was repulsed. On July 4th, Lee began withdrawing his troops toward Williamsport on the Potomac River. His train of wounded soldiers stretched more than fourteen miles.   ** Source ** http://americanhistory.about.com/od/civilwarbattles/p/cwbattle_getty.htm