Approach on Gettysburg • The Confederate Army began moving North in June of 1863. • They were looking for better battleground and supplies. • General Lee was also hoping to win on Northern ground, thereby putting pressure on the North to want a peace agreement. • The Confederate (SOUTHERN) Army approached the town of Gettysburg from an interesting direction. They were North of the town. • The Union (NORTHERN) Army approached the town of Gettysburg from the South.
eJuly 1st 1863 Day 1f • On the first day of the Battle of Gettysburg, fighting happened North and West of town. • The Confederate troops were on HerrRidge and Oak Hill. • The Union troops were lined up along McPherson Ridge. • The Union forces were able to hold their line throughout the morning, but later in the afternoon they were pushed back. • The Union forces had to retreat through the town of Gettysburg. • The winner of the first day of the Battle of Gettysburg was the Confederate Army.
eJuly 2nd 1863 Day 2f • When the Union troops were pushed back through the town as a result of Day 1 of fighting, they discovered high ground south of the town. • They set up their forces in the shape of an upside-down fish-hook. • They started in the south at Little Round Top, stretched north along Cemetery Ridge, around Cemetery Hill, over Culp’s Hill and down to Spangler’s Spring. Major General Sickles moved his men forward into the area of Devil’s Den and the Peach Orchard. • The Confederates lined up along Seminary Ridge and wrapped around the Union forces. • General Lee commands the Confederates to attack the flanks (ends) of the Union Army fishhook. General Longstreet disagrees with this tactic. • The second day of battle was basically a draw (tie).
eJuly 3rd 1863 Day 3f • After a day of attacking the ends of the Union line, Confederate General Lee decides to attack the center of the Union line, predicting that the Union Army would need to reinforce their ends and use troops from the center of the line for that purpose. General Longstreet disagrees with this command given by General Lee. • Beginning at 1:00 that afternoon, the Confederates fire artillery (cannons) at the center of the Union line. After 2 hours, the bombardment stops and General George Pickettthen leads about 15,000 troops more than half a mile in a charge across an open field. • The Union troops have the advantage of the high ground, they hold their position and continue to fire upon the Confederates charging at them. • This charge, known as Pickett’sCharge or Longstreet’s Assault, fails and the Confederate Army begins their retreat out of the North.
eRemindersf • Be here before 6:45 AM • Find your chaperone in the cafeteria (see next page) • Arrange to be picked up by 4:45 PM