The+Battle+of+Gettysburg

= **Civil War - The Battle of Gettysburg** =

 By Shannon Hadfield and Nora Hall

** Key terms **

 * __Bayonet__#|Bayonet - blade attached to a rifle barrel. This relates to the Civil War because in battle, soldiers might use this #|bayonet to stab.
 * __Cavalry__ - #|army troops on horses or in motorized vehicles. This relates to the Civil War because some men rode into battle on horseback.
 * __Union__ - group of nations or states. This relates to the Civil War because﻿ the states in the North called themselves the Union.-SH
 * __Confederacy__ -  league, south in the Civil War. This relates to the Civil War because when the South seceded from the North, they called themselves the Confederacy.
 * __Secede__ - to withdraw formally from a group. This relates to the Civil War because the Federal's seceded when they were outnumbered by the Confederates, west of the town at Wiloughby Run.
 * __Barrage__ - curtain of artillery fire. This relates to the Civil War because throughout the war, their was #|heavy shooting from both sides . - NH

Overview of Battle
 The Battle at Gettysburg is the most famous and most important Civil War Battle. This Battle took place over three summer days, from July 1st to July 3rd, 1863. It took place around the small town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. On Wednesday morning, July 1st, some of the Confederates were headed back to Gettysburg when they ran into the federal cavalry. General Robert E Lee sent 25,000 men right away. With less than 20,000 men, and after vigorous fighting with many casualties on both sides, the federal’s receded back through the town of Gettysburg. General R.S. Ewell was to take over the high ground from the defeated Federals, but when he hesitated, the Union’s General George G. #|Meade was able to bring in reinforcements of 100,000 men, and Lee’s opportunity was gone. Lee, after much dissection with General James Longstreet, decided to attack the Union Army’s defensive position at the southern end of the Cemetery Ridge. - NH

On July 2, both sides spent most of the day setting up and getting into position. Around 4:00 in the afternoon, the fighting began. Union forces had hold of Cemetary Hill and the Confederates found the steep hill hard to climb. The battle went on into the night with the Union still holding onto Cemetary Hill. The next morning was quiet until 1:00 p.m. when the confederates began to fire. The fighting went on and the Union held its ground. On July 4, the confederates retreated. There were great casualties on both sides and the men that fought and would live through the next two years of war, would never forget the Battle of Gettysberg.- SH





Significance to the Civil War as a Whole
The Battle of Gettysburg was the turning point in the American Civil War. If the Union had lost, it would have given the confederates a chance to march to Washington DC. The loss of men and equipment really hurt the South. It put them at a disadvantage for the rest of the war. As for the Union, they were well equipped and ready to fight. They were ready to replace any men or materials needed. This resulted in the Unions victory over the Confederacy. -NH

This battle is also significant because it was the first major victory for the Union, and the Union was able to stop the Confederate's advances to the North. Also, this battle is famous for the amount of casualties. At the end of the battle, over 50.000 men were dead in total. More men died within two hours then in any other American battle. The Battle of Gettysburg was a major turning point in the Civil War for these reasons.-SH

Primary sources

** General Robert E. Lee - Gettysburg **

**Report of General Robert E. Lee**

**Headquarters #|Army of Northern Virginia, Near Gettysburg, PA., July 4, 1863**

Mr. President:

After the rear of the #|army had crossed the Potomac, the leading corps, under General Ewell, pushed on to Carlisle and York, passing through Chambersburg. The other two corps closed up at the latter place, and soon afterward intelligence was received that the army of General Hooker was advancing. Our whole force was directed to concentrate at Gettysburg, and the corps of Generals Ewell and A. P. Hill reached that place on the 1st July, the former advancing from Carlisle and the latter from Chambersburg.

The two leading divisions of these corps, upon reaching the vicinity of Gettysburg, found the enemy, and attacked him, driving him from the town, which was occupied by our troops. The enemy's loss was heavy, including more than 4,000 prisoners. He took up a strong position in rear of the town, which he immediately began to fortify, and where his re-enforcements joined him.

On the 2d July, Longstreet's corps, with the exception of one division, having arrived, we attempted to dislodge the enemy, and, though we gained some ground, we were unable to get possession of his position. The next day, the third division of General Longstreet having come up, a more extensive attack was made. The works on the enemy's extreme right and left were taken, but his numbers were so great and his position so commanding, that our troops were compelled to relinquish their advantage and retire.

It is believed that the enemy suffered severely in these operations, but our own loss has not been light.

General Barksdale is killed. Generals Garnett and Armistead are missing, and it is feared that the former is killed and the latter wounded and a prisoner. Generals Pender and Trimble are wounded in the leg, General Hood in the arm, and General Heth slightly in the head. General Kemper, it is feared, is mortally wounded. Our losses embrace many other valuable officers and men.

General Wade Hampton was severely wounded in a different action in which the cavalry was engaged yesterday.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

R E. Lee,

General

His Excellency President Davis

Richmond -NH

=
Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battlefield of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this. =====

==== But, in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate—we cannot consecrate—we cannot hallow—this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom— and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth. ====

-Delivered on November 19,1863, four months after the actual battle. -SH
**__Works Cited__**


 * "Battle of Gettysburg." //The History Place//. The History Place. Web. 12 June 2011. .(NH)
 * Boritt, Gabor S. “Battle of Gettysburg.” //World Book Encyclopedia.// Vol. 8. Chicago: World Book, 2008. Print.(NH)
 * Burgan, Michael. //The Battle of Gettysburg//. Minneapolis, MN: Compass Point, 2001. Print.(NH)
 * "American Civil War Battle of Gettysburg Pennsylvania July 1-3 1863." //American Civil War//. AsartameBillboarding.org.Web. 12 June 2011.<[[http://americancivilwar.com/getty.html>.(SH)* "The Gettysburg Address by Abraham Lincoln." //NetINS Showcase//. Web. 12 June 2011. .(SH)
 * __ Links __**


 * [|h][|ttp://www.historyplace.com/civilwar/battle.htm: The Battle of Gettysburg is the most famous and important Civil War Battle, which lasted from July 1st - July 3rd. The fighting started when the Union and the Confederacy accidentally met, west of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania at Willoughby Run. In the end, the casualties totaled 51,000 men out of 163,000 men, the Union defeated the Confederacy.]
 * http://library.thinkquest.org/3055/graphics/experience/battles/gettysburg.html: On July 1st,1863, General Robert E. Lee with about 75,000 men, fled into Pennsylvania and ran into the Union army. General James Longstreet attacked on July 2nd. On July 3rd, General George Pickett led the Pickett charge which did not go as planned, only 5,000 of his 15,000 men lived - NH
 * [] This website contains useful information on the battle, describing it day to day and also has photos and videos.-SH
 * []This website contains useful and reliable information on the battle. -SH