what can you tell me about the battle of Gettysburg?

Question

i am doing an essay on a civil war battle ( if you know any and would like to pitch it to me that would be awesome) this is what i have come up with anyway i need another point for my essay. so if you could help that would be awesome thanks!!

Answer 1

The Gettysburg Battle was an accident of two armies bumping into each other. Lee was invading the north without his eyes (Jeb Stuart's Cavalry) and heard from a spy that the Union army was getting close. His orders were to come together near Cashtown or the crossroads of Gettysburg. At the time, the Army of N. Virginia was spreadout from Harrisburg to south of Chambersburg. He had explicit orders not to engage the enemy until the whole army was in the field.

In the fog of war, however, Heth's Rebel Division moved toward Gettysburg looking for shoes. They ran into a cavalry pickett line under Gen. Buford. Heth brought up his whole division and buford held on until the Union Ist Corp came up.

Both sides brought up their armies piecemeal. On July 1, 1863, the Confederates beat back the Union and took control of Gettysburg and Semetary Ridge. Inexplicably, Gen. Ewell did not follow-up the victory with a charge up Culps Hill and Cemetery Hill. The high ground was therefore left in Union hands and the battle may as well have been decided on the 1st day.

Gen Lee was blamed for not giving specific orders to take the high ground ("if at all practicable" he said). Ewell was no Stonewall Jackson, and it showed.

The second day was almost won by the Rebs, with an assault on the Union left up Little Round top and Devil's Den. Two saviors of the day were Governor Warren who rushed troops to the undefended flank at the last moment and Col Chamberlains famous "fix bayonet" charge that stopped Gen. Hoods Texans from taking the flank. For his day at Little Round Top, (Chamberlain won the Cong. Med. of Honor)

The third day was a total blunder on Lee's part for ordering the sure death of proud Viriginians and North Carolinians, as 12,000 rebs attacked over open ground against entrenched infantry and massed artillery (AKA: Pickett's Charge).

The battle was the South's high water mark in the war, from then on they lost the strategic initiative in the war and were henceforth on the retreat.

The next day was the 4th of July....how ironic.

Answer 2

If you can just read parts of "The Killer Angels" that would help you, watch (rent) the Turner DVD movies on Gettysburg.

Here a few interesting issues: "Civil War" has raged forever on this world. The American Civil War was fought, hard and it was a killing bloodbath. But Americans did not kill civilians, go to many extremes, "honor" actually was present. Oh, yes a few exceptions but I have seen civil war in other countries.

But "points" the Civil War did not solve the problems! Think, write about that! America had to, and still deals with the issue of race, after that war.

Many of the good words, lines in the movies are from the book.
We prayed the same God, we came well from England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Germany and well a few French, the same places.

Most believe, now, some then that slavery would be ended, who knows. The battle represented so many contrasts of men with
very different views. Thanks to media (books, films, music) we are closer.

People back then did not travel and unless well educated did not know much about what was a hundred miles down the road.

But just a few decades after 1865, for some sooner, we all wore the same uniforms again.

Visit a Civil War battlefield sometime.

Good Luck on your essay!

Answer 3

Three day battle. Confederates were headed to Harrisburg to destroy the railroad bridge over the Susquehanna River but then found out that the Union army was trailing them east of the mountains. Jeb Stuart, Confederate cavalry leader, was out of touch with Lee and didn't do a good job of keeping him informed on where the Union army was. John Buford (Union cavalry commander) did a good job holding ground west of Gettysburg on the first day to give time for the Union infantry to come up and get established. Lee tried to attack on the flanks with Ewell on the left (Culps Hill) and Longstreet on the right (Little Round Top) on the second day but the attacks were disjointed and the Union had a huge advantage in terms of terrain. Lee tried a massive attack (Pickett's Charge) on the center of the Union line on the 3rd day that failed miserably. - - - Of course, this is a real brief overview. There have been hundreds of books written on the battle. Perhaps you could pick out a particular part of the battle and focus in on that (Culps Hill, Little Round Top, the first day, a particular unit or commander, etc.).

Jackson's Shenandoah Valley Campaign is my favorite Civil War campaign to read about. That guy was unbelievable.

Answer 4

We won, they lost, Stonewall got killed.

Longstreet should have been listened too, and the invasion should never have happened, but Lee was determined to destroy the Army of the Potomac and threaten the north's major industrial centers, hoping to convince the Federals that there was no point to continuing the war.

Longstreet should figure prominently in any analysis of the Southern Strategy.

Answer 5

The conflict of Gettysburg develop right into a key turning aspect contained in the Civil conflict. right here, take this quote from keep in ideas the Titans: it is the position they fought the conflict of Gettysburg. Fifty thousand adult men died precise right here in this field, struggling with the same strive against that we are nevertheless struggling with between ourselves in the present day. This eco-friendly field precise right here, painted pink, bubblin' with the blood of youthful boys. Smoke and warm lead pouring precise by skill of their bodies. hear to their souls, adult men. I killed my brother with malice in my coronary heart. Hatred destroyed my kin. You hear, and also you're taking a lesson from the useless. If we do not come mutually today in this hallowed floor, we too will be destroyed, a twin of they were. i do not care in case you want one yet another of no longer, yet you'll appreciate one yet another. and perchance... i don't recognize, perchance we will locate the thanks to play this activity like adult men. --coach Boone

Answer 6

Horrendously bloody, barbarically unnecessary.