Battle Of Gettysburg Research Paper

The Battle of Gettysburg, fought from July 1 to July 3, 1863, is considered the most important engagement of the American Civil War. It was fought in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, in Adams County. The battle of Gettysburg was the largest battle ever fought in North America. The Union had about 82,000 troops, while the confederates had about 75,000. The Union general was George G. Meade, and the confederate general was Robert E. Lee. It was fought from July 1-3, 1863.

In May 1863, Robert E. Lee's confederate army had a great victory Army of the Potomac at Chancellorsville. Since he was so confident, he decided to invade the North for a second time. Lee hoped to gain recognition of the Confederacy by Britain and France and strengthen the cause
One of the Confederate divisions in A.P. Hill’s command approached the town in search of supplies early on July 1, only to find that two Union cavalry brigades had arrived the previous day (History.com). As the bulk of both Armies went towards Gettysburg, Confederate forces were able to drive off the federal defenders toward Cemetery Hill. Wanting to press his advantage before more Union troops could arrive, Lee gave orders to attack Cemetery Hill to Ewell, who had taken command of Army of Northern Virginia’s Second Corps after the Unit's former commander, "Stonewall" Jackson, was killed. Ewell declined to attack, saying the the federal position was too strong. By dusk, a Union corps under the Winfield Scott, had arrived and stretched the defensive line to the hill known as Little Round Top; three more Union corps arrived overnight to strengthen its defenses
Around 4 o'clock in the afternoon, Longstreet's corps—Hood's, McLaws, and R.H. Anderson's division detached from Hill's corps, attacked Sickles's 3rd Corps at the Peach Orchard and crushed it, driving the remaining soldiers through the Wheat Field and Devil's Den. While Longstreet's attack was in progress, Richard Ewell's corps launched an effort to route the Union forces holding Cemetery Hill, but his men found the steep hill difficult to climb, the Union resistance too strong, and, though their front reached the cemetery gate, they were forced to retreat. At the height of Longstreet's battle against Meade's left, Barksdale's Mississippi Brigade charged into a widening breach in the Union line, at a cleft in the ridge, and was almost into the Union rear when McGilvery's artillery battery galloped up, unlimbered, and annihilated the brigade with canister blasts (Gettysburg). Meade's old Pennsylvania Reserve division came shortly after and charged into Plum Run Valley, backing Longstreet's men into Emmitsburg Road. Both armies suffered heavy casualties on this day. About 9,000 soldiers on each side died on July 2. The combined death total from both days of fighting was about