Ø Description of the Battle of Gettysburg
Ø Units in the Battle of Gettysburg
Ø General Information on the Battle of Gettysburg
Ø Location of the Battle of Gettysburg
Ø Total People Lost in the Battle of Gettysburg
Ø How the Battle of Gettysburg Affected the Civil War
Ø Bibliography
Description of the Battle of Gettysburg
Lee's army was threatening the US Capital, Washington, D.C. On their way there, they stumbled into a Union cavalry near the town of Gettysburg. The unplanned battle lasted three days. As the battle kept going, more and more troops joined their side. This battle was thought to be the greatest battle ever fought on American land. Since it was an unplanned battle, they didn't choose this location. They just happened to meet at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. On July 1, 1863, the Confederates attacked the Union from the west and north forcing them to go back to Cemetery Hill. During the night, both sides got reinforcements. On July 2, 1863, the Confederates attacked the Union in many different places. By evening, the Union repulsed the Confederacy and regained the land that the Confederacy had taken over. On July 3, 1863, the Confederates attacked again but were driven out many times. On July 4, 1863, Lee started to head back to the Potomac River near Williamsport. Lee's line of wounded men stretched more than fourteen miles. If you would like to see maps of where the battles took place each different day, July 1-3,1863 go to http://www.civilwarhome.com/gettysburgmap.htm
The Units in the Battle of Gettysburg
The Union Army had many people in their units. They had 77,042 infantry, 7,183 artillery, 13,144 cavalry, 2,550 special troops and had 4,310 reinforcements. The Confederate army also had many people in their units. They had 54,356 infantry, 4,460 artillery, 9,536 cavalry and 6,116 officers. The information listed in the units in the Battle of Gettysburg is from the book listed below which was borrowed from David Peters: Stackpole, General Edward J. They Met At Gettysburg. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania & 1956.
General Information on the Battle of Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg's Campaign lasted from June to August of 1863. The Battle of Gettysburg only lasted from July 1-3, 1863.
The Union's commander was Major General George G. Meade. The Confederate's commander was General Robert E. Lee. The two armies had a total of 158,300 soldiers. The Union had 86,289 soldiers, and the Confederates had 57,054 soldiers.
The information listed above is from the web page http://www2.cr.nps.gov/abpp/battles/pa002.htm
Location of the Battle of Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg took place in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, near a small farm town. Gettysburg is in Adams County. To get to Gettysburg, the soldiers had to travel through the mountains and over a couple rivers. With these obstacles, it was harder for them to get from place to place. The soldiers also had to get everywhere they went by foot. It might have worn them out and made them stressed out, too.
Total People Lost in the Battle of Gettysburg
Many people fell during the Battle of Gettysburg. At the battle the Federal Army had 3,155 dead, 14,529 wounded, 5,363 missing. They had a total of 23,049 lost out of the 85,000-88,000 that they started with. The Confederate Army had 3,903 dead, 18,735 wounded, 5,425 missing. They had a total of 28,063 lost out of the 70,000-75,000 that they started with.
The information list above is from the web page http://www.rockingham.k12.va.us/EMS/Gettysburg/Gettysburg.html
1 This is a picture of some of the soldiers who fought at the Battle of Gettysburg
How the Battle of Gettysburg Affected the Civil War
The Confederacy went far into Union Territory to fight the Battle of Gettysburg. After they lost the battle, they decided that they would never go that far into Union territory again. With the Confederacy not in Union territory, it made the war easier for the Union. Lee was thought to be invincible. After the battle, he wasn't thought to be invincible anymore. When the Confederacy lost at the Battle of Gettysburg, it made them keep fighting for two more years. They didn't want to lose to the Union so soon. It stopped them from ending the war.
With the Union's victory, it gave them the energy and strength they needed to win the war. They kept fighting until they won the Civil War in 1865.
Many people died in the Battle of Gettysburg, more than all of the other battles. There were a total of 51,112 people lost in the Battle of Gettysburg from both sides combined. All of these people risked their lives to save their nation.
Bibliography
· Stackpole, General Edward J. They Met At Gettysburg. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania & 1956.
· http://www2.cr.nps.gov/abpp/battles/pa002.htm
· http://www.civilwarhome.com/Gettyscampaign.htm
· http://www.rockingham.k12.va.us/EMS/Gettysburg/Gettysburg.html
· http://gettysburg.homepage.com
· http://users.1r.net/~duda/overview_page.htm
· "Gettysburg Battlefield," Microsoft® Encarta® Encyclopedia 99. © 1993-1998 Microsoft Corporation.
· 1 http://www.oswego.edu/acad_dept/a_and_s/earth.sci/geo_geochem/geol/gettysburg.html
1 This is a picture of some of the soldiers who fought at the Battle of Gettysburg
With the Union's victory, it gave them the energy and strength they needed to win the war. They kept fighting until they won the Civil War in 1865. Many people died in the Battle of Gettysburg, more than all of the other battles. There were a total of 51,112 people lost in the Battle of Gettysburg from both sides combined. All of these people risked their lives to save their nation.
· http://www2.cr.nps.gov/abpp/battles/pa002.htm
· http://www.civilwarhome.com/Gettyscampaign.htm
· http://www.rockingham.k12.va.us/EMS/Gettysburg/Gettysburg.html
· http://gettysburg.homepage.com
· http://users.1r.net/~duda/overview_page.htm
· "Gettysburg Battlefield," Microsoft® Encarta® Encyclopedia 99. © 1993-1998 Microsoft Corporation.
· 1 http://www.oswego.edu/acad_dept/a_and_s/earth.sci/geo_geochem/geol/gettysburg.html