One of the largest military conflicts in North American history begins on July 1, 1863, when Union and Confederate forces collide at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The epic battle lasted three days and resulted in a retreat to Virginia by Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia.
Two months prior to Gettysburg, Lee had dealt a stunning defeat to the Army of the Potomac at Chancellorsville, Virginia. He then made plans for a Northern invasion in order to relieve pressure on war-weary Virginia and to seize the initiative from the Yankees. His army, numbering about 80,000, began moving on June 3. The Army of the Potomac, commanded by Joseph Hooker and numbering just under 100,000, began moving shortly thereafter, staying between Lee and Washington, D.C. But on June 28, frustrated by the Lincoln administration’s restrictions on his autonomy as commander, Hooker resigned and was replaced by George G. Meade.
Meade took command of the Army of the Potomac as Lee’s army moved into Pennsylvania. On the morning of July 1, advance units of the forces came into contact with one another just outside of Gettysburg. The sound of battle attracted other units, and by noon the conflict was raging. During the first hours of battle, Union General John Reynolds was killed, and the Yankees found that they were outnumbered. The battle lines ran around the northwestern rim of Gettysburg. The Confederates applied pressure all along the Union front, and they slowly drove the Yankees through the town.
By evening, the Federal troops rallied on high ground on the southeastern edge of Gettysburg. As more troops arrived, Meade’s army formed a three-mile long, fishhook-shaped line running from Culp’s Hill on the right flank, along Cemetery Hill and Cemetery Ridge, to the base of Little Round Top. The Confederates held Gettysburg, and stretched along a six-mile arc around the Union position. Lee’s forces would continue to batter each end of the Union position, before launching the infamous Pickett’s Charge against the Union center on July 3.
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Been there several times. The wife and I stayed in the room that A.P. Hill was staying in at the Cashtown Inn when the battle started. The road in front of the Inn was the road the Confederates marched on and the road Lee rode down when he heard the opening shots. Hill was sick in bed and Lee wasn’t happy finding A.P. Hill in bed in his room when he met him outside the inn. Its been many years since we stayed there but it was a great experience. The food there was great! We took many pictures inside and outside the Inn with disposable cameras. We were hoping to catch a ghost in the pictures we took.
We went 2 months ago. It was memorable for everyone, including the adults since neither my husband nor me had never been there before.
The grounds are so quaint and peaceful now.
I can’t imagine the smell after a few days in July.
I did too. It’s an awesome walk into history. I did see the ghost of the lady who had like 15 kids.
The faulty logic of desperation.
“They’re strong on both flanks. They MUST be weak in the middle. Charge the middle!” – R.E. Lee
Lee taught us ALL a lesson that fateful day…
NEVER make decisions out of desperation. It doesn’t end well.