Battle Of Gettysburg Research Paper

The Battle of Gettysburg was just one of the many battles fought throughout the Civil War (Civil War Facts). To summarize, the Civil War was a four-year battle between the Union-North and the Confederate-South. Although there are multiple causes of the war, the main cause is the different beliefs on slavery. The Union-North believed the national government should have the power to prohibit slavery in territories that have not yet been named states. On the contrary, the Confederate South believed slavery was key to the economic status because slave trade was an important source of income in the southern economy. By the beginning of the Civil War in 1863, seven states in the South seceded and formed a new nation called The Confederate States of America.
Confederate general Robert E.
Lee was one of the most celebrated generals who fought in the Civil War. According to History.com’s, “Battle of Gettysburg,” through Lee’s leadership, his army beat the Army of the Potomac in Chancellorsville, Virginia. Feeling confident after his win in Chancellorsville, Lee decided to travel north into Pennsylvania and attack the Union on their own soil. Led by General George Gordon Meade, the Union army encountered the Confederate Army in Gettysburg. Lee heard that the Army of Potomac was headed his way, and, therefore settled in the crossroad town known as Gettysburg.
While stationed, Lee gave orders to Commander Richard Ewell to attack Cemetery Hill. Ewell took over as commander of the Army of Northern Virginia’s Second Corps after the previous commander, Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson, had sustained major injuries and died. After receiving these orders from Lee, Ewell declined them because he strongly believed that the Federal position was too strong. At dusk more Union Corps arrived, led by Winfield Scott Hancock, and they set up a defensive line from Cemetery Ridge to a hill known as Little Round
Top.
On the second day of fighting, the Union Army took positions from Culp’s Hill to Cemetery Ridge. Lee’s based his decision to attack the Union Army on the Union’s position, and he commenced the fight resulting in over 35,000 combined casualties. July 3rd was the final day of the battle, and it began with the Twelfth Army Corps pushing the Confederates back along Culp’s Hill. Lee decided to send three divisions to the Union Center believing he was on the brink of winning. Later in the day, a battle known as “Pickett’s Charge” led by Confederate George Pickett, took place. This the ultimate blow to the Confederate Army. Pickett was instructed by Lee to take his 15,000 troops and march three-fourths of a mile to attack Union infantry positions. With help from Vermont, New York, and Ohio forces, the Union infantry opened fire and attacked both enemy flanks. Pickett’s division lost up to two-thirds of its members while the Confederacy as a whole lost up to 28,000 men (Battle of Gettysburg).
On the morning of July 4, Lee waited in anticipation for the Union’s counterattack; however, when they failed to do so, Lee pulled his army towards Virginia. Meade was condemned for not pursuing the rest of the Confederate Army, but, in the end, the Confederacy had suffered a huge blow. Following his loss in Gettysburg, Lee offered his resignation but was denied by President Jefferson Davis. Lee went on to fight and win many other battles but losing the Battle of Gettysburg ultimately was the turning factor in the war. As a result of winning the battle, the Union’s chance of winning the Civil War greatly increased.