Battle of Gettysburg
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, U.S.
What happened
Union General George G. Meade's Army of the Potomac fought General Robert E. Lee's Confederate Army of Northern Virginia. Lee invaded the North for the second time, and the two armies met at the town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. On the first day the Confederates pushed Union troops back through the town to the hills south of it; on the second, fierce fighting raged at places like Little Round Top, where Colonel Joshua Chamberlain's 20th Maine held the line. On the third day about 12,000 Confederate soldiers made a great attack, called Pickett's Charge, on the Union centre, and it was driven back.
Why it matters
Result: Union victory. Leaders: George G. Meade against Robert E. Lee. Why it matters: It was the bloodiest battle of the Civil War and ended Lee's invasion of the North. Many historians call it a turning point of the war, together with the Union capture of Vicksburg the next day.
What came next
Lee retreated on July 4, 1863. On November 19, at the dedication of a cemetery for the soldiers, President Lincoln gave the Gettysburg Address.
Did you know?
The Gettysburg Address was only 271 words long and took Lincoln less than two minutes to deliver.
Timeline
- July 1, 1863Confederates drive Union troops through Gettysburg.
- July 2, 1863Fierce fighting at Little Round Top and other points.
- July 3, 1863Pickett's Charge is turned back.
- July 4, 1863Lee begins his retreat, and Vicksburg surrenders.
- November 19, 1863Lincoln delivers the Gettysburg Address.