Battle of Gettysburg

1. Battle of Gettysburg

2. Why did Lee invade the North? • Confident after his victory at Chancellorsville • Needed to relieve the farms of Virginia. • Hoped to force northern politicians to sue for peace.

3. Day 1 • A group of Lee’s troops heard a rumor that there was a warehouse full of shoes in a small town called Gettysburg. • As the Confederates advanced on the town, a cavalry unit, led by General John Buford spotted them. • Buford was reinforced by Reynolds and they held off the Confederate forces to allow the rest of the Union troops to arrive and take a strong defensive position.

4. Day 1 Map

5. Day 2 • Lee planned to attack both ends of the Union line, which would allow Confederate troops to move up from behind the Union troops. • He planned on flanking the left of the Union line at Little Round Top and the right of the Union line at Culp’s Hill.

6. Lee’s Plan for Day 2

7. Day 2 • At the last minute Union troops, notably, the 20th Main regiment, under Colonel Joshua Chamberlain reinforced the left flank of the Union line. • The outnumbered Union troops boldly charged the Confederates and forced them back. • This stopped the Confederates from getting behind the Union line.

8. Day 2 Map

9. Day 3 • Against Longstreet’s wishes, Lee ordered troops to attack the center of the Union line. He figured that since both flanks of the Union line were strong, they must be weakest at their middle. • General George Pickett led his division into battle. Confederate troops had to cross a one-mile field while taking fire from Union troops. • They were destroyed.

10. Day 3 Map

11. Retreat • Lee eventually led his army back into Maryland and Virginia. • Union General Meade did not follow. If he had, he could have wiped out Lee’s army. • Lincoln was angry at Meade and replaced him with General Ulysses S. Grant.