Gettysburg - Pennsylvania

The Gettysburg, Battle was fought July 1 through July 3, 1863, The Battle of Gettysburg was a absolute engagement in that it arrested the Confederates last major invasion of the North, destroyed their offensive strategy, and forced them to fight a defensive war which their manufacturing (shoe factories, saddles etc.) and transportation facilities were to be destroyed.

The army of the Potomac under the Union general George Gordon Meade, had about 85,000.

The Confederate army, under General Robert E. Lee, had about 75,000. After the Battle of Chancellorsville on May 2, which was an important victory for the Confederates, Lee divided his army into three sections, commanded by three lieutenant generals: James Longstreet, Richard Stoddert Ewell, and Ambrose Powell Hill. Lee then formulated a plan for invading Pennsylvania, hoping to sidetrack another federal offensive in Virginia and planning to fight if he could get the federal army into an open position. He also hoped that the invasion might increase the Norths war awareness and lead the North to recognize the independence of the Confederate States of America. In hunt of this plan, Lee crossed the Blue Ridge Mountains, proceeded up the Shenandoah Valley and crossing Maryland, entered Pennsylvania. Upon learning federal troops were north of the Potomac, Lee decided to concentrate his whole army at Gettysburg.

On June 30, Confederate troops from General Hill's corps, on their way to Gettysburg, noted federal troops that Meade had moved down to intercept the Confederate army. The battle began on July 1 outside of Gettysburg with an encounter between Hill's advance brigades and the federal cavalry division commanded by Major General John Buford, supported by under Major General John Fulton Reynolds. More than 4000 men were taken prisoner by the Confederates, and Federal General John Reynolds was killed in battle. The federals did manage to capture Confederate General Archer, the first Confederate officer to be taken prisoner after Lee assumed command of the Confederate army. The troops led by Ewell did not move in to attack the Union troops but waited for General Longstreet to bring in his troops to reinforce the outnumbered Confederate troops.

On the following day, July 2, Meade formed his forces in the shape of a horseshoe, extending west from Culp's Hill and south along Cemetery Ridge to the