The Battle of Gettysburg

   Following his success against Union General Hooker in Chancellorsville Virginia, Robert E. Lee prepared for an invasion of the Union.  Lee hoped that a summer campaign in the North would influence the 1863 fall  elections and put pressure on Lincoln to ask for a ceasefire or hopefully a truce. The  Confederate Government hoped that if Lee's forces threatened either Philadelphia or Harrisburg Northern citizens would turn against Lincoln and the Republican Party and demand peace. Lee hoped that he would be able to destroy Union supply depots and warehouses in Maryland and Pennsylvania  during the campaign while the majority of the Union army remained behind to protect Washington D.C.
    On June 3, 1863 Robert E. Lee ordered his generals to move the entire Army of Virginia, over 60,000 men towards the Pennsylvania border.  On July 1st, he hears reports that a skirmish has occurred between Confederate and Union calvary units near the small town of Gettysburg.  After hearing false reports of a Union army camped nearby that would overrun the trapped Confederate calvary, Lee ordered his entire army to march to Gettysburg.
      3,000 Union troops fought desperately to hold back the Confederate forces and setup a defense perimeter on McPherson Ridge.  After one day of fighting and aware that reinforcements were miles away in Washington D.C. , the Union forces withdrew to the more easily defendable Cemetery Ridge. Now using Cemetery Ridge, the Union held a clear advantage in the battle. Lee made several attempts to remove Union troops from the ridge but his men could not break through the Union lines.
    More Union troops arrived and helped bolster Union defenses and prepared for a third day of fighting. General Longstreet tried to convince Lee that the battle was lost, and that the Confederate forces should attempt to go around the Union lines and give the appearance that they were planning on attacking Washington D.C.  Lee believed that to head back would be disrespectful to his men who had fought so hard and sacrificed so much.  He ordered one more attack on the Union lines hoping he would finally break through.
     The final Confederate attack is led by General George Pickett.  Pickett's Division numbered 12,500 men and began their assault following a two hour Confederate bombardment of Union lines.  Stretched across 1 mile of open field, Pickett's Division began the slow march in the 80 degree heat towards the Union lines.  Confederates had to march  3/4 of a mile and were easy targets for Union artillery and rifle fire.  Suffering a 50% casualty rate some Confederates were able to break through the Union lined but quickly realized they would not be able to hold the hill and were forced to retreat.
     Watching the failed attack nearby, General Lee looked on in shock.  It became clear that the battle was over.