The Battle of Gettysburg by Aayush Baniya

aayushbaniya — 2024-06-22 00:12:26 UTC

In July of 1863, Robert E. Lee invaded Pennsylvania leading an army of 70,000 from Northern Virginia, meeting with the Union soldiers who were under the command of George G. Meade at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. With over 165,000 soldiers involved, the Battle of Gettysburg, to this day, remains the largest battle fought on the North American continent and many still consider the battle to be the most important battle of the American Civil War.

Photo of Robert E. Lee

aayushbaniya — 2024-06-22 00:15:51 UTC

Robert E. Lee, famous Confederate General, felt that independence for the Confederacy would be gained only with a major victory on Northern soil. He then led his army north.

aayushbaniya — 2024-06-22 00:17:28 UTC

On July 1st, 1863, Lee collided with the Union at Gettysburg, with his main objective being to convince the Union to stop the war.

aayushbaniya — 2024-06-22 00:20:08 UTC

By the end of the first day, the Confederates had failed to take the hills south of Gettysburg. By the second day, both sides had almost their entire army there, yet the Union was able to hold off the Confederates. On day 3, Lee ordered his men to rush to the center of the Union line directly. While the Confederates succeeded in breaking the line, there weren't enough men left to leave a lasting impact. Lee shortly retreated - never setting foot on Northern soil again. The battle marked a clear shift in the momentum between the Union and the Confederacy, with the Confederacy massively less successful after the battle.

There were an estimated 50,000 casualties on both sides of the war

aayushbaniya — 2024-06-22 00:25:14 UTC

We have accounts of Nuns and medical experts who say that shortly after the battle, the city was barred from entry for almost all outsiders (with only those with medical supplies being allowed in). The Nuns stated that there were bodies in a strangely quiet open field. Thousands of horses and mules lying on the floor, and millions of dollars worth of guns lying on the floor. The cities wells were dried up, and most buildings were turned into makeshift hospitals for the soldiers.

Lincoln giving his famous "Gettysburg Address"

aayushbaniya — 2024-06-22 00:28:08 UTC

Later the same year, on November 19th, Abraham Lincoln gave his famous “Gettysburg Address” speech at the Gettysburg National Cemetery in which he identified the nation’s mission, spoke of the war about a new birth of freedom, and defined the essence of democratic government.

Newspaper discussing people preparing for the battle (1863)

aayushbaniya — 2024-06-22 03:27:49 UTC

Map of Gettysburg

aayushbaniya — 2024-06-22 03:29:24 UTC

Gettysburg is located in Pennsylvania, a Northern state. The fact that Gettysburg is in PA is important because it highlights that the North was invaded for this attack.

"Compromise with the South" political cartoon by Thomas Nast (1864)

aayushbaniya — 2024-06-22 03:34:07 UTC

It shows the North compromising with the South, while the Southerner steps on the graves of "union heroes", essentially saying that the war was useless and compromise was a spit in the face of all the soldiers that died.

Dead on the Field of Battle taken by James Gibbs (1863)

aayushbaniya — 2024-06-22 03:38:18 UTC

Over 50,000 soldiers were killed - the town couldn't clean up the bodies fast enough.

Unfinished Confederate Graves at Gettysburg by Timothy H. O'Sullivan (1863)

aayushbaniya — 2024-06-22 03:39:07 UTC

Full documentary of Gettysburg

aayushbaniya — 2024-06-22 03:46:12 UTC

North Carolina (Southern State) skeptical of Union victory at Gettysburg

aayushbaniya — 2024-06-22 03:52:27 UTC