The Crap

Boggan, Britton Boggan 1
Writing
May 2, 2012

The Battle of Gettysburg

“Now we are engaged in a great civil war…” –Abraham Lincoln

Intriguingly, the deadly Battle of Gettysburg was one of the most impressive battles of the Civil War. Although an outrageous amount of soldiers lost their lives, the battle was a major turning point of the war. Fighting for what they believed, the Civil War put brother against brother, dividing a nation. On up to the battle, there were many disagreements that led to the causes of the Battle of Gettysburg. Outnumbered at times, which was not the best situation to be in, countless occurrences developed during the duration of the three short days of the battle. Multiple lives were lost. The outcomes and effects of the battle were detrimental, since so many lives were taken. From the causes, occurrences, and effects, the Battle of Gettysburg remains monumental. As there were many causes that led to the Civil War, there were numerous causes that led to the Battle of Gettysburg. The Battle of Gettysburg became known as one of the most crucial battles of the Civil War, as the war continued. In the summer of 1863, the battle began in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Scavenging and searching for food and supplies, Robert E. Lee, who was the commander of the Confederate army, marched his troops to invade union territory. Dangerously scavenging for food, Lee was abruptly stopped by union forces which held him there till dusk. Ambushed by union troops, Lee faced 88,000 reinforcements led by General George Meade. “Under General George Meade, the army marched northward to intercept Lee, its movements limited by the need to protect Washington” (Compton). The Boggan 2 battle was set. Disagreement between the Union and the Confederates is just one of the causes that led to the Civil War and Gettysburg. Surprisingly, the battle only took place over three short days full of many groundbreaking occurrences. On the first day, both armies were literally, steadily shuffling together with the Confederates outnumbering the Union. Causing the Union soldiers to retreat, General Lee celebrated a great victory. While the victory was short lived, by the second day, the armies from both sides were now at full force. The Union established strong positions. “General Lee surveyed the strong Union line from his position on Seminary Ridge and realized that a weakness might be with the Union flanks” (Battle of Gettysburg). Little Round Top, Peach Orchard, and Cemetery Hill were combats which were so massive that each was like a separate Battle. Both sides took heavy fire and losses, while the Union held their lines. Culp’s Hill was a fight that approximately took place on the early morning of July 3rd. Succeeded in driving off the Confederates by the Union men, Lee retaliated against the Union. Hopeful for a win, Lee ordered General Pickett, who was a brave soul, to attack enemy lines with 12,500 men, in an assault that would become known as Pickett’s Charge. Fighting continued for hours, the Union pushed forward, and Lee retreated back to Virginia. Thankfully the battle only lasted three long horrific days, of diverse occurrences.
After three short days of extremely intense fighting, the Battle of Gettysburg dramatically drew to a close with astonishing outcomes and effects. Unfortunately, Robert E. Lee could no longer stay in enemy territory with his defeated army. “That evening, General Lee

Boggan 3 ordered his troops to retreat to the Potomac River where they would cross back into Virginia” (The Battle of Gettysburg). Crossing into Virginia, the confederates traveled with their wounded preparing for another Union attack. An attack never took place. Disappointed with the Union, Abraham Lincoln expressed his anger, since the triumphant Union did not follow the crushed Confederates on their relentless retreat. In all Gettysburg, which was the deadliest battle of the Civil War, had remarkably 8,000 deaths and 51,000 casualties. Shockingly, there was a surprisingly 569 tons of ammunition fired altogether at Gettysburg. Sadly, every home and church was a hospital and every field and yard was a grave site. Finally, in November of 1863, citizens decided to build a national cemetery for the dead. Inspirationally, when the grave site was opened, Abraham Lincoln gave a famous speech called the “Gettysburg Address”. The Battle of Gettysburg with its outcomes and effects provided a turning point in the Civil War in favor of the Union. Desiring a victory that could end the war, Robert E. Lee attempted and failed to invade the North. His attempted invasion reluctantly led to one of the bloodiest, life-changing battles of the Civil War. Unfortunately, the brutal failure of Pickett’s Charge meant the South had little to no chance or hope of winning the much desired Battle of Gettysburg. Heavy fire and losses, which was costly to both sides, would make a turning point for the Civil War and the North. Throughout history, the Battle of Gettysburg with its 8,000 deaths and 51,000 causalities remains the deadliest battle of the Civil War. “That we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain…” in this great civil war. – Abraham Lincoln.