Gettysburg

1
Gettysburg

• A Turning Point

2
Lead Up

• Grant had been victorious in his battles along
  the Mississippi.
• Lee felt confident he could invade the North
  after continuing his defense of Virginia.
• He hoped he could capture a northern city to
  convince Lincoln to seek peace.

3
July 1, 1863

• Union Troops- 90,000
• Confederate Troops- 75,000
• The Union was commanded by General Meade
• After some light skirmishes, the Union took a
  four mile ridge above the town.
• Soon Union reinforcements arrived

4
July 2, 1863

• Lee was confident that he could crush the Union
  lines on the hills over Gettysburg
• He sent a large portion of his troops south to
  attack the group of Union soldiers on the end of
  the ridge
• Through fierce fighting the Union lines held
• A hero of this day was teacher from Maine, named
  Joshua Chamberlain
• He used an unusual move to surprise the
  Confederates
• At the end of the day, the Union still held the
  ridge

5
July 3, 1863

• On the third day, Lee ordered an all-out attack
  at the center of the Union lines
• George Picket, from Virginia, led the charge
• 15,000 Confederates charged over open ground
• Over 60 of the men were killed or wounded

6
July 3, 1863 (cont.)

• Picketts charge marked the northernmost point
  reached by southern troops
• Picket never forgave Lee for the attack
• Lee said it was the biggest mistake he made of
  the war

7
Outcome

• More than 17,500 Union soldiers and 23,000
  Confederate troops were killed or wounded
• Lee lost about a third of his army
• He withdrew into Virginia
• From this point on, Lee would only fight a
  defensive war on southern soil

8
Gettysburg Work

• Read the Section on Gettysburg in your text
  (22.5) and answer the questions in your spiral.
• Add the Battle of Gettysburg to your map.
• With your table partner, chart the positives and
  negatives for each side on the Events Notes
  packet.

9
Watch the Clip

• This video section will discuss Pickets charge.
• Think about how this was a turning point in the
  war.
• Until this point, the Souths strategy was more
  effective. In what ways did the South show
  poorer military leadership?