Battle of Gettysburg by Maggie Rocha

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Battle of Gettysburg

Published on Nov 27, 2015

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By Georgia K, Veronika M, and Maggie R

Took place July 1-3, 1863, in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
Robert E. Lee led his army in his second invasion of the north.
Lee wanted to collect supplies and taking fighting way from Virginia
He hoped that by invading the North he would strengthen the Northern peace supporters and encourage foreign intervention.

General Robert E. Lee: he had many victories in previous battles and participated in the Peninsula Campaign, the Battle of Richmond, and the Second Battle of Bull Run.

George G. Meade: the successor of Major General Joseph Hooker ( a general who was commander of the army at Potomac but who was then replaced due to a defeat). He was still to new to his command since he was appointed only 3 days before the battle. This battle was his greatest victory and mistake.

Brig. Gen. John Buford: commander of the Union cavalry. He gained his greatest fame and made his biggest contribution in this battle

General George Meade replaced General Hooker as the Union General 3 days before the battle.
Meade's army of 92,000 men faced off against Lee's 76,000.
There was not a clear outcome until the final days of the battle.

1st day: cavalry under Gen. Buford slowed Confederate advance until infantry arrived; more confederate reinforcements arrived 2nd Day: Union defended hill south of Gettysburg, Lee launched a heavy assualt on the Union left flank; fierce fighting ; Confederates gained ground; Union defenders held strong positions
3rd Day: fighting resumed at Culp's hill; cavalry battles in east and south; and most importantly a dramtic infantry assault occured on the center of the union line on Cemetary Ridge; Lee's army retreated after lots of firing on them and great losses

On the third day of the battle General George Picket led a cavalry attack against the Union but was defeated by union artillery fire.
This was a great loss for the Confederates and caused Lee to retreat to Virginia with the remainder of his army.
An estimated 51,000 solider from both armies were either missing, captured, wounded, or killed during the battle.

There were 93,921 Union sodiers and 71,699 Confederate soldiers. It was a Union Victory. 51, 112 estimated casualties total
It's the most famous battle of the entire war.