The Battle of Gettysburg: Turning Point in the War?

Libbie Meldrim

7th period

The Battle of Gettysburg: Turning point in the War?

It was a violent collision of 150,000 men. For three dreadful days in 1863, 75,000 Confederate troops fought 75,000 Union troops at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The Civil War had already lasted more than two years. General Robert E. Lee was trying to scare the North into giving up the fight and letting the South go its own way. Abraham Lincoln was determined to defeat Lee, end slavery, and reunite country. Many historians call the battle a turning point, a time in the war when the tide shifted in the North's favor. There are at least three reasons for believing this. These reasons have to do with geography, casualties, and morale.

One reason the Battle of Gettysburg was a turning point in the Civil War is because it was the South's deepest push into the North. (DocA) Before the battle, the war would be fought entirely in the South. Lee's confederate army was turned around at Gettysburg never to return. This did not mean the war would come to a quick end. The map shows that much fighting remained to be done, especially in Virginia, Tennessee, and Georgia. (DocA) It was, however, the beginning of the end.

A second reason that Gettysburg was a turning point is that the casualties hurt Lee's army very much. Both armies suffered about the same amount of losses. Total Northern casualties were about 23,000. Southern casualties were between 20,000 and 25,000 (DocB). But two things are important to realize. First, Northern casualties represented 27% of those who fought at Gettysburg. Southern casualties were over 30%. Second, and even more important, the North had a much larger supply of men to replace the casualties than the South did. The North had more than three times as many men in the field overall, and five as many men of military age. (DocB, bottom) Even though casualties were about equal, they hurt the South a lot more.

A third reason that Gettysburg turned the war around had to do with morale. That is, it affected the spirit of the two sides. Robert E Lee was a great general but his letter written August 8, 1863, to Confederate President Jefferson Davis shows a discouraged man. Lee is basically saying that because of Gettysburg, he can't win the war and offers his recognition (Doc C). Three months later Union President Abraham