Gettsyburg
During 1863, the Civil War continued to wage on between the two extremely divided factions. In the first two years of the Civil War, neither side had gained any real advantage. Thirty-three conflicts occurred leading up to the Battle of Gettysburg, some major and some minor, but none had the effect that Gettysburg had on the course of the Civil War. This decisive battle occurred during the first three days of July 1863, which changed the course of the Civil War and determined the fate of the United States. Gettysburg was a small market town of 2400 at this time, in southern Pennsylvania, located at a spot where a number of small roads converged. Although neither commander of the armies was prepared for, nor wanted to fight in this region, it proved to be a pivotal point in the Civil War. The Battle of Gettysburg was ultimately the turning point in the Civil War because it put the South on the defensive for the rest of the war and definitively ended in the defeat of the Confederate States. Although the location and timing of the Battle of Gettysburg was almost an accident, the fact that a huge battle took place in Pennsylvania in July 1863 was certainly no accident. General Robert E. Lee, the commander of the Confederate
With Lee and Meade now both on the field by early the following morning, the stage had been set, by a completely uncoordinated and uncontrolled sequence of events, for the biggest battle yet of the Civil War. Pickett never forgave Lee for what happened. " Lee and the Confederates were now on the defensive and would show that they still had plenty of fight and courage in them. The first encounter was between Heth's brigades and two dismounted Federal cavalry brigades under the command of John Buford. This was the spark that set off the battle. However, General Lee had a significant problem, he had no idea where Stuart and the cavalry was; therefore the Federal Army's strategy was unknown. It was during this lull that he advised Pickett, that if he was going to advance do it now because the situation would not improve any further. The terrible slaughter of the second day, as massive as it was, did not match what was to happen on the third. Stuart, (lee's reliable cavalry commander), to watch the movement of the Federal troops and to report any activity back to him. The Federals were routed from their positions and quickly retreated back into Gettysburg. The Corps commander, General Hill, did not believe the Federals could be so near, and raised no objections when Major General Henry Heth, leading one of Hill's divisions, asked if he could use his superior force to collect some shoes. A thrust into Pennsylvania would provide an opportunity to acquire these supplies. General Ewell and his confederate troops had already crossed over the Pennsylvania border and were moving towards Harrisburg, gathering supplies and destroying Union resources along the way. It also symbolized the "high tide of the Confederacy. After a series of delays, a Confederate regiment under Colonel Oates captured the top of Big Round Top.
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