The South’s Loss at Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg is considered the bloodiest of all battles, but it was the most important battle of the Civil War. The battle spanned three days, with fighting occurring from July 1, 1863, until July 3, 1863. Confederate General Robert E. Lee made the decision to take the offensive side and led an army of 60,000 rebel soldiers to the North. General Lee believed that advantage could be created by taking control of important military posts of the North, but General Lee made some poor choices and due to those mistakes, the South lost the Battle of Gettysburg.
General Lee had headed North in hopes of taking control of Union posts, while Union soldiers were guarding Washington, D.C. and to gain political …show more content…
Other Generals pleaded for the rebel soldiers to retreat and instead press on to Washington, D.C. which would be easily taken because troops had left Washington, D.C undefended when they moved to hold the position at Cemetery Ridge. However, General Lee thought defeating the Union at Gettysburg could end the war once and for all. On July 2, the Confederates made their attack on Cemetery Ridge. Both sides had at less 9,000 casualties and a total of 35,000 from the two days of fighting. On July 3, the fighting continued and the Union forces pushed back the Confederates. General Lee believed his men were on the brink of victory and sent three more divisions to the center of Cemetery Ridge to split the Union into two different units. Approximately 15,000 men marched the three-quarters of a mile across an open field while being shot upon with Union artillery. This attack was later named Pickett’s Charge. After crossing the field, the Confederates were fired on by Union infantry from behind a stone wall. Less than half of the Confederates survived and came back to the opening position, there General Lee told his men that he was sorry for asking the impossible of
The Battle of Gettysburg is considered the bloodiest of all battles, but it was the most important battle of the Civil War. The battle spanned three days, with fighting occurring from July 1, 1863, until July 3, 1863. Confederate General Robert E. Lee made the decision to take the offensive side and led an army of 60,000 rebel soldiers to the North. General Lee believed that advantage could be created by taking control of important military posts of the North, but General Lee made some poor choices and due to those mistakes, the South lost the Battle of Gettysburg.
General Lee had headed North in hopes of taking control of Union posts, while Union soldiers were guarding Washington, D.C. and to gain political …show more content…
Other Generals pleaded for the rebel soldiers to retreat and instead press on to Washington, D.C. which would be easily taken because troops had left Washington, D.C undefended when they moved to hold the position at Cemetery Ridge. However, General Lee thought defeating the Union at Gettysburg could end the war once and for all. On July 2, the Confederates made their attack on Cemetery Ridge. Both sides had at less 9,000 casualties and a total of 35,000 from the two days of fighting. On July 3, the fighting continued and the Union forces pushed back the Confederates. General Lee believed his men were on the brink of victory and sent three more divisions to the center of Cemetery Ridge to split the Union into two different units. Approximately 15,000 men marched the three-quarters of a mile across an open field while being shot upon with Union artillery. This attack was later named Pickett’s Charge. After crossing the field, the Confederates were fired on by Union infantry from behind a stone wall. Less than half of the Confederates survived and came back to the opening position, there General Lee told his men that he was sorry for asking the impossible of