Paul Philippoteaux. Gettysburg Cyclorama, 1863.
Fought July 1-3, 1863, the Battle of Gettysburg was the bloodiest battle in Civil War history, with 51,112 total casualties. Confederate General Robert E. Lee invaded the North for the second time at Gettysburg, VA, against the Union Army, led by General George Meade. On July 1st, the attack began as the Confederates drove the Union army south of town to Cemetery Hill, where by the end of the day, there were 15,500 total casualties. July 2 opened with the Union line holding strong positions at Little Round Top, Devils’ Den, and a peach orchard; Confederate command decided to attack the Union where they stood, gaining the peach orchard and Devils’ Den. At the end of the day, casualties numbered 20,000. On July 3, Lee pushed the Confederate army to attack the Union center in what is known as Pickett’s Charge, where a division led by George Pickett was tasked with marching three quarters of a mile across open fields towards Cemetery Ridge. Less than a third of these men survived. Considered the most pivotal engagement of the Civil War, this battle undoubtedly gave Union advantage, leading to the Union Civil War victory.