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In the spring of 1863, the Confederacy found itself in a situation that called for action. The Confederate Army of Northern Virginia, commanded by General Robert E. Lee, had defeated the Union forces at Fredericksburg in December of 1862, however December was not the optimal time to give battle. At Chancellorsville in May of 1863, Lee again defeated the Union forces but the situation gave Lee little chance to follow up his victory. First of all, he was without a third of his army, and secondly his army would have had to cross a river in three places to resume the fight.
Lee, therefore, began moving his army north in early June, hoping to draw his enemy to a better battleground and also to find desperately needed supplies in the rich Pennsylvania farmlands, which up until then had not been nearly as damaged by the War as the Virginia farmlands. Lee also reasoned that one or more decisive victories in the North would increase pressure on the United States government to seek a peace agreement with the Confederacy. Thus, Lee and his army moved into Pennsylvania during June and eventually converged in Chambersburg, about 22 miles west of Gettysburg.
Look carefully at the map of Lee's invasion. Where do you think Lee was originally headed?
The Battle of Gettysburg: Day One:
July 1, 1863
NPS
Neither General Lee nor General George Gordon Meade, commander of the Union Army of the Potomac, had anticipated a battle at Gettysburg on July 1. But chance brought the two forces together. This first day's battle was a definite, but indecisive victory for the Confederates. They came with greater numbers initially from the west and the north, pushing the Union forces back through town.
Look closely at the geographic features on the map. After the retreat through the town of Gettysburg, why do you think the Union army chose to reform their battle lines in this position? Would you have chosen the same, or a different position? Support your answer.
The Battle of Gettysburg: Day Two:
July 2, 1863
NPS
The Union troops retreated but regrouped on the high ground south of town-on Culp's Hill, Cemetery Hill, Cemetery Ridge, and Little Round Top-and formed a long defensive line shaped like a fishhook.
On July 2, the Confederates struck both ends of the Union line. They hit hard, first at Little Round Top and then at Culp's Hill and Cemetery Hill; but with high ground and craggy rock formations in their favor, the Union troops held out against these attacks, and the Confederate forces fell back and reformed along Seminary Ridge again.
Measure the approximate length of the Union line of battle, and then the approximate length of the Confederate line of battle. Why is the Union “interior line” becoming a better position than the Confederate “exterior line”?
The Battle of Gettysburg: Day Three:
July 3, 1863
NPS
On July 3, General Lee again attacked the Union forces. But this time Lee struck at the center of the Union line since the fighting on the previous day had demonstrated the strength of the Union flanks or ends. In this massive assault, now popularly known as Pickett's Charge, the Confederates attacked the Union troops on Cemetery Ridge. But the Union Soldiers held once again and pushed the Confederates back to their original position on Seminary Ridge.
The Battle of Gettysburg was over.
Locate Pickett’s Division on the July 3rd map. Trace and measure its route to the center of the Union line. How far across the fields did they have to march before reaching the enemy? What major obstacle did they confront along this route?
