please tell me about the Battle of Gettsyburg?

Question

why did the battle started

Answer 1

My wife told me one time we had been to Gettysburg more times then Lee, the odd thing I do not give it the same significance, as do many of my peers in the historical community. Until the end of the war the South did understand they had lost and if you example the facts with the loss of non replaceable man power besides political gains by the North the battle had little significance. I for one think the battle of Franklin was the turning point of the war when Hood squandered our Army it allowed the Yankees to concentrate on the Army of Northern Virginia. If legacy is indeed what we are writing on then Pickett Charge and the whole of the battle is irrelevant, The cause of the War has been argued for over 140 years States Rights, Slavery, or as I feel the English hating the Celtics and it will be argued for another 140 years. The battle of Gettysburg was not over shoes as so many people wrongly surmise but an invasion. Lee had invaded Antietam (Sharpsburg) in September of 1862 hoping that a significant win then would get the South recognized by foreign powers and more importantly draw their support. Here at Gettysburg Lee once again tried to get that win. Lee did not make his orders clear on the first day and Ewell lost the day (did he lose the battle)? Many think that if Lee had moved away or got between Washington and the “Yankee” army he could have won. Many more think that if Granny Lee had fought a defensive war that before long the Yankees would have sued for peace. Lee became desperate and over confident in himself and in his men and made mistakes like “Pickett’s Charge”. Like Franklin later on it was a waste of men and materials, One interesting thing is only after the war were Southerners aware that they had lost Following his victory at Chancellorville in May, 1863, General Lee received approval from his government to invade the north. Lee hoped an invasion would fuel the northern peace movement and, at least, disrupt the Union war effort. After the death of Stonewall Jackson, Lee's Army of Northern Virginia, 75,000-strong, had been reorganized into three army corps under Longstreet, Ewell, and A.P. Hill, with a cavalry division under J.E.B. Stuart. On June 3, advance troops of the Confederate army left their camps near Fredericksburg and marched west toward the Shenandoah Valley. The 95,000-strong Federal Army of the Potomac, under General Hooker, was initially uncertain of Lee's intentions. On June 9, Hooker ordered cavalry general Alfred Pleasonton to conduct a reconnaissance with 11,000 men across the Rappahannock River toward Brandy Station. Pleasonton ran into Stuart's cavalry, and the largest cavalry battle of the war ensued. The result was a standoff, but the Federals were now alerted to the Confederate army's movements. By June 13, elements of Ewell's corps appeared before Winchester. On the same day, Hooker with-drew the Army of the Potomac from the Rappahannock and ordered it north. On June 14-15, Ewell attacked the 9,000-strong Federal garrison at Winchester and defeated it, inflicting heavy losses and capturing much valuable war material. After Winchester, Lee's army moved unchecked into the Cumberland Valley of Pennsylvania. On June 25, Lee agreed to Stuart's plan to take three brigades of cavalry across the Potomac cast of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and cut across the rear of the Federal army. Stuart's march encountered frequent delays and detours and an increasingly aggressive Federal cavalry, and was unable to rejoin Lee until July 2.
By June 28, Longstreet and Hill's corps were at Chambersburg. Divisions of Ewell's corps had crossed the mountains to York and Carlisle, and were preparing to move against Harrisburg. However, Lee learned on this day that the Federal army was at Frederick, and that Hooker had been replaced by General Meade. Lee decided to bring his entire army east of the mountains and offer battle. At the same time, Meade moved his army north. By June 30, both armies were converging upon Gettysburg and the battle, which would be the turning point of the war, was set to commence.
JULY 1 1863
After the discovery on June 30 that Gettysburg was occupied by Brigadier General John Buford's division of Federal cavalry, the Confederates on July 1 sent the divisions of Major General Henry Heth and Major General William Pender of Hill's Corps, down the Chambersburg Road to drive Buford away and occupy Gettysburg. The battle began at 5.30 a.m., when shots were exchanged over Marsh Creek. In the face of Buford's resistance, Heth pushed on cautiously until he reached a point about two miles west of Gettysburg. Here he deployed two brigades in line, and pressed ahead; it was nearly 10 a.m. Federal General John F. Reynolds, commanding I Corps, arrived on the field at this point, and determined to engage Herb. He ordered I Corps and Major General Oliver 0. Howard's XI Corps to march to Gettysburg. Soon after 10.30 a.m., I Corps arrived and engaged Heth along McPherson's Ridge. By 11.30 a.m., Heth had been defeated and forced to withdraw to Herr Ridge. Early in the action, Reynolds was killed, and field command devolved upon Howard. A lull now settled over the field as both sides brought up reinforcements. The Federal I Corps deployed to defend the western approaches to Gettysburg, while XI Corps formed up north of the town. Buford's cavalry covered the flanks. Howard left one division in reserve on Cemetery Hill. His strategy was simple: delay the Confederates long enough to enable the rest of the Federal army to concentrate. Lee arrived on the field after noon. He had initially hoped to avoid a general engagement since the strength of the enemy was unknown, and the terrain in the Gettysburg area unfamiliar. However, soon after noon, Rodes's division of Ewell's Corps arrived on Oak Hill and attacked the right of I Corps. At 2 p.m. Heth's division joined the attack on I Corps. At 3 p.m., the battle spread north of the town when Jubal Early's division of Ewell's Corps attacked down the Harrisburg Road and crushed the flank of XI Corps. At about the same time, west of Gettysburg, Pender's division relieved Heth and assaulted I Corps' position along Seminary Ridge. By 4 p.m., both Federal corps were in retreat through Gettysburg to Cemetery Hill. Federal losses numbered slightly over 9,000, including some 3,000 captured, compared with Confederate losses of about 6,500. The day's action had resulted in a Confederate victory, but Federal forces held onto the high ground south of Gettysburg, where their position was soon strengthened by reinforcements.
JULY 2 1863
The success of his army in the fighting on July 1 encouraged Lee to renew the battle on July 2. An early morning reconnaissance of the Federal left revealed that their line did not extend as far south as Little Round Top. Lee directed Longstreet to take two divisions of I Corps and march south until they reached the flank of the Federal forces. They would attack from this point, supported by a division of A.P. Hill's corps - a total force of nearly 20,000 men. While Longstreet carried out the main offensive, Ewell was ordered to conduct a demonstration against the Federal right. However, he was given discretion to mount a full-scale attack should the opportunity present itself. The Federal army was well prepared for Lee's offensive. Six of its seven corps had arrived on the battlefield, and VI Corps was making a thirty-six-mile forced march to reach it. Meade had deployed his army in a fish-hook-shaped formation, with the right on Culp's Hill and Cemetery Hill, the center along Cemetery Ridge, and the left on Little Round Top. Major General Daniel Sickles’s III Corps held the left of the Federal line. Sickles was dissatisfied with his assigned position and in the early afternoon, without orders, he advanced his line nearly half a mile west in order to take advantage of the high open ground around a nearby peach orchard.
Soon after Sickles took up this new position, Longstreet attacked. Third Corps was hard pressed and Meade sent V Corps and part of 11 Corps to reinforce Sickles in the Peach Orchard. Nevertheless, after furious fighting, Longstreet's forces broke through, causing Sickles's entire line to collapse. The Confederates pursued to the base of Little Round Top, but Federal reinforcements, including elements of VI Corps, checked their advance. Farther north, elements of a division of the Confederate III Corps advanced to the slopes of Cemetery Ridge before they too were forced to retire. On the Federal right, Ewell did not attack until evening, after Longstreet's onslaught had subsided. The effort to storm Cemetery Hill was ultimately unsuccessful. Ewell's attacks were also repulsed at Culp's Hill, although a foothold was gained near the base of the hill. The second day's fighting had cost each army some 9,000 casualties. Lee's forces had again gained ground, but had failed to dislodge the Federal army from its strong position.
JULY 3 1863
Lee's confidence was unshaken by the events of July 2. That night, he ordered Longstreet, who had been reinforced by Major General George Pickett's division, to renew his assault on the Federal left. Simultaneously, Ewell, who had also been reinforced, was to storm Culp's Hill. Stuart's cavalry, which had rejoined the army late that day, was ordered to march well east of Gettysburg, and attempt to penetrate to the Federal rear where they might disrupt communications and distract Meade. Meanwhile, Meade had determined to hold his position and await Lee's attack. However, at Culp's Hill he authorized XII Corps to drive Ewell's forces out of the captured Federal trenches at daylight. The Federal effort opened with a concentrated artillery bombardment, which precipitated a tremendous musketry battle.
With Ewell already engaged, Lee rode to Longstreet's headquarters to observe his preparations for the attack on the Federal left. Longstreet misunderstood his orders and was planning instead a movement to turn the Federal left. With the hope of a coordinated attack now lost, Lee was forced to modify his plans. He determined to shift his main attack to the Federal center on Cemetery Ridge. Longstreet was placed in command of the effort. The plan was first to subject the Federal position to bombardment by nearly 140 cannon, then to send Pickett, Pettigrew and half of Trimble's divisions (formerly Heth's and Pender's) - nearly 12,000 men - forward to smash the Federal center.
While Longstreet made his preparations during the morning, Ewell's forces were defeated in their counterattacks on Culp's Hill, and withdrew around 11:00 a.m. At l:00 p.m., Longstreet opened the great bombardment of the Federal line. The Federal army replied with approximately 80 cannon and a giant duel ensued which lasted for nearly two hours. After the bombardment subsided, the infantry went forward. This has subsequently been known throughout history as "Pickett's Charge." Federal artillery, followed by musketry, cut their formations to pieces and inflicted devastating losses. A small Confederate force effected one small penetration of the Federal line, but was overwhelmed. The attack ended in disaster, with nearly 5,600 Confederate casualties. Meanwhile, Federal cavalry under Brigadier General David Gregg east of Gettysburg, Stuart’s cavalry engaged three miles. The cavalry clash was indecisive, but Stuart was neutralized and posed no threat to the Federal rear. Casualties generally included anyone who deserted, was captured, missing, wounded or killed. In essence, if a soldier was not present during muster, he could likely be counted as a casualty.
Casualties
Killed Wounded Missing Total % of Total
Union 3,155 14,530 5,365 23,040 27%
Confederate 2,600-4,500 12,800 5,250 20,650-25,000* 30%-34%



God Bless You and The Confederacy.

Answer 2

The Battle of Gettysburg was the costliest battle of the American Civil War based on number of casualties. Spanning over three days, from July 1-3, 1863, the Battle resulted in approximately 51,112 individuals being killed, wounded, missing or captured. Despite the fact that the South continued to fight for two more years, it was a decisive victory for the Union. The South's retreat and terrible losses were a turning point in the war. From that point on, the South had to abandon its attempt to take the war North. It was actually an accident that the battle happened. Both sides didnt know that the would run into each other at Gettysburg.

Answer 3

Gettysburg was the final coffin nail for the CSA. Both sides took tremendous losses, but the South had no way to recover their loss of men and material.

The battle, according to most accounts began pretty much as a chance meeting of Union and Confederate forces in the area surrounding Gettysburg PA. As both sides had substantial forces within marching distance, troops accumulated on both sides. Defensive positions were hastily put up, and much of the battle was fought with less than brilliant strategy and tactics on both sides. The rapidly planned battle resulted in strange and haphazard defensive positions on the Union side, and these were repeatedly attacked by frontal assaults by the Confederates which suffered absurd numbers of casualties in these charges.

There are a huge number of theories of the how, who, when, why and aspects of what happened over those three days. Where was Cavalry Gen. J.E.B. Stuart, Gen. Lee's 'eyes' prior to the actual engagement? Was Lee suffering from serious heart ailments and making foolish decisions? Why did regiment after regiment walk into stone defensive positions just being cut down like grass? Why did the Confederate Artillery not realize that the cannon ball fuses were not timed correctly and detonating to late? Just as many questions abound on the Union actions. People spend a lifetime studying this event!!

Good Luck!

Answer 4

This is a HUGE subject, but here are some of the basics:
Battle occurred over three days at the beginning of July 1863 (ended on the 4th of July) and more deaths to Americans occurred in this one battle than in any other battle we have ever fought in any war.
South advancing into the North, under Gen. Robert E. Lee, to attempt to pick up a northern victory and therefore gain the support of European powers. They ended up at Gettysburg almost by accident, while attempting to take control of a shoe factory to gain new shoes for their troops. The Confederate troops ran into a small group of Union troops and then each side was reinforced, and it just kept growing.
North advancing with the South, under Gen. George Meade, take up defensive positions around the small Pennsylvania town of Gettysburg. They control the higher ground, have more troops and better artilery.
Breifly, over the next two days the southern troops attack along their right, attempting to take control of a hill called Little Round Top, but they fail. Also fierce fighting occurs at places known as Devil's Den and the Peach Orchard. The South is making slight gains.
Last day of battle the Confederates line up in one massive assault to the Union center, this attack has become known as Picket's Charge, but were severely defeated and thousands of troops were killed. A few Confederate troops did advance into the Union lines near a small grove of trees and this place is known as the "High Water Mark" of the Confederacy, in other words, it was the best and highest the Confederate nation and military ever advanced. From this point, on July 4th, 1863, it was all down hill.

A year later Pres. Lincoln gave his famous Gettysburg Address at the dedication of the cemetery.

Answer 5

The short answer is that it was the biggest and bloodiest battle of the war which lasted from 1861-1865. It happened on a battlefield in Pennsylvania, near the town of Gettysburg, so that's how it got its name. It resulted in a Union victory.

Answer 6

Mae Mae my girl, just read a 3rd year high school US History book. Do this for yourself. Relying on other people will became a habit that in later life will be hard to break. Find out for yourself, by yourself, and become a "self."

Answer 7

Gettysburg is a very important road hub (think crossroads). To move in that part of Pennsylvania one would almost have to take control of that town. Legend has it that confederates in search of shoes (& food) ran into union forces there and the small, meeting engagement skirmish escalated out of control into a major nattle.

Answer 8

Again, I really don't understand why you are asking this question as you were given many links to look at after your question regarding the three major battles of the civil war, however -

On the last day of June 1863 tens of thousands of soldiers were streaming toward Gettysburg, Penn. The only troops in the town were two Union cavalry brigades commanded by Gen. John Buford. They were scouting in advance of their Army of the Potomac, which was streaming steadily north through Maryland in an effort to catch up with Gen. Robert E. Lee's Confederate Army of Northern Virginia.

The Rebels were approaching the area from the north and the west. For a week they had been rampaging through the Pennsylvania countryside seizing livestock, food, and clothes, demanding tribute from prosperous towns heretofore untouched by the ravages of war, and moving to capture the state capital of Harrisburg. A Rebel division, commanded by Gen. Henry Heth, camped four miles west of Gettysburg that night. Heth had learned there was a hidden storage of shoes in the town and told is corps commander, Gen. Ambrose P. Hill: "If there is no objection, General, I will take my division tomorrow and get those shoes."

At about 8:00 the next morning, Heth and his 7,461 men reached the crest of Herr Ridge, about 1.5 miles from Gettysburg, and saw Buford's 2,748 dismounted cavalrymen deployed for battle along Willoughby Run below. Rebel skirmishers moved straight down the hill into a hail of lead delivered by the troopers' rapid-firing breech-loaded carbines and a battery of artillery. The Rebels were stalled but a short time, until reinforcements could arrive to add pressure to the assault.

On Seminary Ridge, 900 yeards east of and parallel to Herr Ridge, was located a Lutheran seminary. Around 9:00 A.M. from atop one of the buildings, Buford was watching his men being pushed back from Willoughby Run when Gen. John Reynolds rode, announced his corps was following him, and asked Buford to hold out until they arrived. "The devel's to pay!" exclaimed Buford. Then he said simply; "I reckon I can."

"Up and down the line," wrote an artillerist on Seminary Ridge northwest of Gettysburg, Pa,., on the afternoon of July 1, 1863, "men reeling and falling . . horses tearing and plunging, mad with wounds or terror' drivers yelling, shells bursting, shot shrieking overhead, howling above our ears or throwing up great clouds of dust where they struck' the musketry crashing on three sides of us' bullets hissing, humming and whistling everywhere. Smoke, dust, splinters, blood, wreck and carnage indescribable."

Two of Gen. Robert E. Lee's three corps had converged on Gettysburg from the west and north. At first the furiously fighting Union troops had stymied the approach of Lee's III Corps from the west. Then Lee's II Corps started arriving on the right of the Union line, and though their advance was savagely disputed, the Rebels gradually began to push the Yankees out of their position. The veteran Confederate II Corps brigade, led by Gen. Stephen D. Ramseur, came up after the two brigades in front of them had been pushed back and applied the pressure that started the Union soldiers' falling back from Oak Ridge. Then Gen. Jubal A. Early's Rebel division of the II Corps arrived on the field, square on the Union flank, causing the Yankees to relinquish their line and to retreat through Gettysburg.

On Herr Ridge with his III Corps, Lee observed Early's attack and immediately sent the III Corps forward toward the Union troops still holding Seminary Ridge. Simultateously attacked from three sides, the Yankee position became untenable, and the men gave way and flooded down the roads toward Gettysburg. The victorious Rebels pursued, capturing 3,500 prisoners in the town.

Union Gen. Winfield S. Hancock arrived on Cemetery Hill, south of Gettysburg, at 4:30 P.M. and saw below the thousands of Yankees stampeding out of the town and toward him. One of his aides wrote, "Wreck, disaster, disorder, the panic that precedes disorganization, defeat and retreat were everywhere."

"I think this is the strongest position by nature on which to fight a battle that I ever saw," said Union Gen. Winfield Scott Hancock as he surveyed the terrain from his position atop 80-foot high Cemetery Hill on the afternoon of July 1, 1863. The town of Gettysburg, Pa., was just to the north; to the west, across a mile of fertile fields and orchards, he could see Confederate soldiers on Seminary Ridge. Culp's Hill, a 180-foot high wooded, and boulder strewn eminence, was just to his east; stretching for two miles to the south was low Cemetery Ridge. At the end of Cemetery Ridge were two more rock-strewn hills -- Little Round Top and Big Round Top. The natural strength of the high ground was augmented by clear fields of fire, stone walls to offer protected defensive positions, and good roads in the rear for the movement of supplies and troops.

A furious battle had waged all day over the ridges west of Gettysburg between two corps from Gen. Robert E. Lee's invading Confederate Army of Northern Virginia and two corps of Gen. George Meade's Union Army of the Potomac. Late in the afternoon, the Union positions had given way under relentless attacks, and the victorious Rebels had chased the Yankees through the town and onto the high ground to the south. Hancock rallied the fleeing soldiers and set up a defensive line to try to hold his position until Union reinforcements could arrive.

Lee, despite his army's victory, was troubled. He recognized the natural strength of the high ground to which the Union army retreated. Lee sent a message to his II Corps commander Gen. Richard Ewell that it "was only necessary to press those people in order to secure possession of the heights," and urged him to do so "if practicable." Ewell was a capable corps commander, but he was new to the position, having replaced Stonewall Jackson, who had died less than two months before. Ewell did not believe the attack was "practicable." Lee sorely missed Stonewall, a man who surely would have recognized the need to "press those people" and would have done so at once.

"Good," exclaimed Gen. George G. Meade, commander of the Union Army of the Potomac, "That is just like Reynolds, he will hold out to the bitter end." Reynolds was one of the army's ablest generals and commanded the wing of the army advancing toward Gettysburg. He had just notified Meade that he would try to hold the invading Confederate army at that town until the rest of the federal troops could arrive. Reynolds brought his closest division rapidly to the battle being waged on Seminary Ridge, west of Gettysburg. He deployed his men alongside the dismounted cavalrymen who had stalled the Rebel advance for several hours. As Reynolds turned in his saddle to direct an arriving unit into position, a skirmisher's minie ball struck him behind the right ear, and he fell to the ground, smiled, and died.

"There are those damned black-hatted fellows again!" exclaimed a surprised Reb on the right of the Confederate line when he realized there was more than cavalry disuputing his progress up Seminary Ridge. The black-hatted men of the Iron Brigade had a reputation as fierce fighters, and they provided proof all over again on this first day of July 1863. Their unexpected appearance and added firepower caused the Rebs to retreat, and their rapid pursuit netted them 75 prisoneres, including James J. Archer, the first of Lee's generals ever to have been captured.

Those on the left of the Rebel line had made better progress before they too were hit by a devastating fire and forced to seek shelter, many of them finding safety in the deep cut of an unfinished railroad bed. When the federals charged the cut, they captured 250 prisoners and sent the other attackers running to the rear. By 11:00 A.M., the Confederate offense had failed all along the line. For the next couple of hours there was a lull in the firing, then cannonballs started dropping in the Yankee rear, fired by a Confederate force that was approaching the battlefield from the north.

Now go to the link to read about days two and three of the battle plus the aftermath.

http://www.us-civilwar.com/