Gettysburg A Turning Point In The Civil War
The battle at Gettysburg was a defining moment in the Civil War not only because of the battle itself, but what prevailed with civilian opposition, and the events that changed the trajectory of the battle
General Lee decided to bring the war to the north to destroy railways in Harrisburg. However, Lee received word that Union forces were in the area near Harrisburg, as his army marched towards Harrisburg they were surprised to be confronted by the Union forces at Gettysburg. The Union commander, perceiving the relevance of holding Gettysburg because a dozen roads merged there, scuffled desperately to hold off the Rebel advance. Other Union troops stopped advancing Rebels north of town. During heavy fighting, the Confederates drove the Union troops through the streets of Gettysburg to Cemetery Hill south of the town. Lee ordered General Richard Ewell who had taken commander of the late Stonewall Jackson's old units, to attack this position an ambiguous order that Jackson normally took to mean launch a full-scale attack. Ewell decided not to attack once he saw the Union artillery at the …show more content…
top of the hill. If the attack had succeeded, it might have changed the course of the war.
Up until the Battle of Gettysburg, Lee (and his troops) believed that his troops could--under almost any circumstances--defeat the Army of the Potomac.
The Army of Northern Virginia, up to that point, had rarely been defeated in a strategic (its overall goals) or tactical (its fighting capability) sense. In fact, one could argue that the Confederate Army under Lee had yet to be completely beaten in a major battle up to July 3, 1864. Lee's army, therefore, firmly believed that if they encountered the Federals on roughly equal terms they would win. The Battle of Gettysburg, which resulted in very similar casualties on both sides, proved to Lee and his army that the Federal army was willing to incur any level of losses to stop the Confederates, and this realization provided a psychological shock to the Confederates--an important turning point in their belief in their
invincibility.
When the Army of Northern Virginia retreated into Virginia in the days following the battle, it left Gettysburg with the awareness that it had been beaten. Although many historians argue that the battle was a tactical draw, most consider it a strategic and psychological defeat for the Confederates.
There are a few main reasons why the Battle of Gettysburg is typically seen as a major turning point in the Civil War.
First, it was a turning point because it did away with any thoughts that President Lincoln might have had about making peace with the South. The Confederate vice president was, as the battle was raging, heading for Washington, D.C. to talk with the US government and peace might have been proposed. However, when Lincoln heard of the victory, he refused to let the vice president come to Washington.
Second, and more importantly, the battle convinced European countries not to get involved. If a major European power such as England had recognized the Confederacy or, even worse, started to help the CSA militarily, the strategic picture would have been greatly altered and the US might have had to make peace.
Finally, this battle was the first major defeat of Gen. Robert E. Lee. Up until that time, he was seen by many in the North and South as invincible. His defeat was good for morale in the North and helped convince the North that the war could be won.
General Lee decided to bring the war to the north to destroy railways in Harrisburg. However, Lee received word that Union forces were in the area near Harrisburg, as his army marched towards Harrisburg they were surprised to be confronted by the Union forces at Gettysburg. The Union commander, perceiving the relevance of holding Gettysburg because a dozen roads merged there, scuffled desperately to hold off the Rebel advance. Other Union troops stopped advancing Rebels north of town. During heavy fighting, the Confederates drove the Union troops through the streets of Gettysburg to Cemetery Hill south of the town. Lee ordered General Richard Ewell who had taken commander of the late Stonewall Jackson's old units, to attack this position an ambiguous order that Jackson normally took to mean launch a full-scale attack. Ewell decided not to attack once he saw the Union artillery at the …show more content…
top of the hill. If the attack had succeeded, it might have changed the course of the war.
Up until the Battle of Gettysburg, Lee (and his troops) believed that his troops could--under almost any circumstances--defeat the Army of the Potomac.
The Army of Northern Virginia, up to that point, had rarely been defeated in a strategic (its overall goals) or tactical (its fighting capability) sense. In fact, one could argue that the Confederate Army under Lee had yet to be completely beaten in a major battle up to July 3, 1864. Lee's army, therefore, firmly believed that if they encountered the Federals on roughly equal terms they would win. The Battle of Gettysburg, which resulted in very similar casualties on both sides, proved to Lee and his army that the Federal army was willing to incur any level of losses to stop the Confederates, and this realization provided a psychological shock to the Confederates--an important turning point in their belief in their
invincibility.
When the Army of Northern Virginia retreated into Virginia in the days following the battle, it left Gettysburg with the awareness that it had been beaten. Although many historians argue that the battle was a tactical draw, most consider it a strategic and psychological defeat for the Confederates.
There are a few main reasons why the Battle of Gettysburg is typically seen as a major turning point in the Civil War.
First, it was a turning point because it did away with any thoughts that President Lincoln might have had about making peace with the South. The Confederate vice president was, as the battle was raging, heading for Washington, D.C. to talk with the US government and peace might have been proposed. However, when Lincoln heard of the victory, he refused to let the vice president come to Washington.
Second, and more importantly, the battle convinced European countries not to get involved. If a major European power such as England had recognized the Confederacy or, even worse, started to help the CSA militarily, the strategic picture would have been greatly altered and the US might have had to make peace.
Finally, this battle was the first major defeat of Gen. Robert E. Lee. Up until that time, he was seen by many in the North and South as invincible. His defeat was good for morale in the North and helped convince the North that the war could be won.