History: The American Civil War: Battle of Gettysburg

The Battle of Gettysburg takes place over three day starting on July 1st, 1863 and concluding on July 3rd, 1863. This battle resulted in a decisive tactical and strategic defeat for the Confederates. Both armies met at Gettysburg without realizing they had encountered the opposing army. The first day of fighting would see General Reynolds' First and Ninth Corps' reinforce Buford's Calvary fighting General Heth's division who were reinforced by General Hill and General Ewell.   The second day of fighting involved fighting over the Union flanks (Fish Hook) with famous encounters being Devil's Den, Little Round Top, and Cemetery Ridge. The Union would hold out until nightfall repelling the confederate forces under General Longstreet. On the third and final day of fighting  General Lee would attack the center of General Meade's army believing it weakened, this engagement would come to be known as Pickets Charge where over 12,000 confederate soldiers would march across 3/4 of a mile of open ground to attack the Union center under a barrage of musket and artillery fire. They were repulsed with 60 percent casualties, General Lee would withdraw from the battle, and General Meade would not counterattack. The Battle involved a combined 165,620 men on both sides with the Union having 93,921 soldiers and the confederates having 71,699 soldiers. The casualties from the battel were a combined 51,112 with 23,049 Union casualties and 28,063 Confederate casualties.