Civil War Battles and Strategy

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What is the significance of The Battle of Gettysburg?

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The Battle of Gettysburg, fought in July 1863, was a pivotal moment in the American Civil War, marking the turning point where the Confederacy lost its momentum. General Robert E. Lee's defeat ended his second invasion of the North and dashed Confederate hopes for European recognition. This battle, the largest of the war, involved 160,000 soldiers and resulted in over 50,000 casualties. It shifted the war's dynamic to a Union-favored war of attrition, leading to the South's eventual defeat.

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The signifigance of the Battle of Gettysburg is the fact that it was a watershed moment in the Civil War.  Prior to the battle the southern forces, lead by Robert E. Lee had largely controled the military course of the war.  Lee had invaded the north one other time the previous year resulting in a costly draw.  His second invasion of the north was intended to give relief to the state of Virginia from the constant fighting, and to threaten Washington DC and possibly end the war with a southern victory on northern soil.

     Lee's Army of Northern Virginia was at its strongest point in the war prior to Gettysburg, and he used the strength of his army to carry out a bold plan to carry the war to the north.  General Geroge Gordon Meade defeated Lee at Gettysburg; a defeat that nearly crippled Lee's army. 

    After the...

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battle Lee's army was never able to go on the offensive again, and the Civil War went on to become a war of attrition with the Union bleeding the Confederate states to death.

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The Battle of Gettysburg was the largest and most significant of the war.  Around 160,000 Americans faced each other over a 3 day period.  When it was over, more than 50,000 Americans were dead.  The Confederate army brought 75,000 men to the battle, losing 28,000 soldiers. The Union Army brought 90,000 soldiers to the battle, losing 23,000.

The Battle of Gettysburg, although not the end of the war, is known as the turning point of the Civil War.  It was at this time that the Confederate forces were forced to give up their plan to move the war further north.

The Battle of Gettysburg took place over three days in July 1863.  The war did not end until 1865.

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The Battle of Gettysburg is considered the turning point in the war, and the point at which the outcome was inevitable. General Robert E. Lee had previously invaded the North in hopes of securing recognition from England and France for the Confederacy; but was defeated at the battle of Antietam (Sharpsburg.) He invaded the North again after a successful campaign at Shenandoah in hopes of bringing pressure on Northern politicians to end the war on favorable terms. During the final days of the battle, Confederate Vice President Alexander Stephens approached the lines under a flag of truce, presumably to discuss prisoner exchanges; although there is some speculation he may have also hoped to discuss peace. However, after word of the Union victory, President Abraham Lincoln refused to allow Stephens to cross Union lines.  The battle destroyed any hope of aa Confederate victory, let alone recognition from Europe. Henry Adams, son of John Quincy Adams, commented after the battle:

The disasters of the rebels are unredeemed by even any hope of success. It is now conceded that all idea of intervention is at an end.
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