A ••• I f NATIONAI^W^pfFfY MkRK, PA. Scene of the climactic Battle of Gettysburg and the place where President Lincoln made his celebrated Gettysburg Address Of the more than 2,000 land engagements of the sheltered slot of the Shenandoah and Cumber­ hastened to the front. He watched the Federals the Civil War, Gettysburg ranks supreme. Though land Valleys. stream toward the hills south of town and begin Gettysburg did not end the war, nor attain any When Union Gen. Joseph Hooker saw the thin their entrenchments. Though aware that their posi­ major war aim for North or South, it remains the ranks Lee had left behind to screen Richmond, he tion was a strong one, he believed it could be crushed great battle of the war. wanted to strike for the Confederate Capital. But by attacking Culp's Hill or Cemetery Ridge, the Here at Gettysburg on July 1, 2, and 3, 1863, President Lincoln directed him to pursue Lee's army, southerly extension of Cemetery Hill. more men died than in any other battle fought keeping between the Southern host and Washington. before or since on North American soil. Here the During Lee's northward march, his main body y dawn, July 2, Lee's army was poised Confederacy saw its greatest offensive turned of cavalry under Gen. J.E.B. Stuart had swung to before the hook-shaped Union line; he back, saw its splendid army retreat to Virginia the east. Union forces in close pursuit cut Stuart hoped to break it before Meade's entire with no gain to match its valor and terrible sacri­ off, depriving Lee of the "eyes" of his army. Lack­ B force reached the field. His plan of attack called for fices. Here for the first time in the war, the men ing Stuart's reports, Lee did not know until June 28 Gen. James Longstreet to assault the Union left in the Union Army of the Potomac rose up from that the Union army—now commanded by Gen. on Cemetery Ridge. To aid the main attack, Gen. their lines after the battle and cheered, aware George G. Meade—was following him. Then, Richard Ewell's men would advance on Cemetery that they had repulsed the hardest hammering that realizing that a battle was imminent, Lee ordered his and Culp's Hills, at the right of the Union line. Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia could scattered forces to concentrate at Cashtown, 8 miles give them. Here—4 months later—President west of Gettysburg. Delay dogged Confederate preparations, and the Lincoln summed up the meaning of the war, using Two days later, on June 30, Gen. John Buford's morning wore away; with it went Lee's hopes for 269 words that surpass the millions uttered and Union cavalry contacted a Confederate detachment an early attack. written since. near Gettysburg, then occupied McPherson Ridge, Just after noon, Union Gen. Daniel Sickles pushed just west of the town. Thus, groping through the his troops westward from Cemetery Ridge. His new fog of war, the fingertips of the vast armies had line formed a salient with its apex at the Peach chanced to touch at Gettysburg. Now began the Orchard on the Emmitsburg Road. This powerful race to concentrate winning power. intrusion further complicated Lee's attack plan. Meanwhile, the Federal troops of General Han­ Trimble on the left, nearly 15,000 Confederates The remnants of the great charge sullenly re­ • ""W^eneral Lee had led his men north of the Finally, at 4 p.m., Longstreet's batteries broke the T cock's Corps eyed the Confederate line from behind moved forward in magnificent array. Union defend­ treated toward the shelter of their guns. There V^_^ Potomac River once before—in Septem­ silence. Gen. John B. Hood's division struck the I uly 3 broke with the thunder of Union guns the stone wall that marked their position on Ceme­ ers were stunned at sight of the mile-wide column General Lee greeted them, told them to re-form, to ber 1862. He had hoped that a successful cam­ arly on July 1, Buford's pickets opened Union flank at the Round Tops, Devil's Den, and J near Spangler's Spring and Culp's Hill. After tery Ridge. Near an angle in the wall, an umbrella- with its scores of regimental flags. rest, and to prepare defenses against a possible paign on Northern soil might win foreign recog­ fire on the Confederate vanguard ap­ the Wheatfield; close on his left, Lafayette McLaws' %J a furious struggle, the Federals recaptured the shaped copse of trees provided shade for some of Marching in dressed ranks across the open fields, Federal counterattack. nition for the Confederacy and lead to a negotiated proaching from Cashtown. Soon the men charged the Union salient at the Peach Orchard. spring, erasing the threat to their right flank. the men. These lucky ones might have preferred battered by Union artillery most of the way, the Lee's supreme effort had failed. The Copse of peace. But the Battle of Antietam halted this inva­ UnioEn cavalry was reinforced by Gen. John F. Rey­ Farther north, R. H. Anderson's division struck the Meanwhile, Lee decided that further attacks hot sun elsewhere had they known that the antici­ attackers now converged upon Meade's center. Trees on Cemetery Ridge became the High Water sion, and the war had continued. nolds' infantry. Meanwhile, jamming the roads Emmitsburg Road. By sundown, the Confederates against the strong Federal flanks were not feasible. pated Confederate attack was to be aimed directly Momentarily the long lines were slowed by the rail Mark where the tide of the Confederacy had "swept Great Southern victories had since been won at which converged like spokes on the hub of Gettys­ had completely shattered the Union salient. To retain the initiative he decided upon a massive at these trees. fence at the Emmitsburg Road, then they rushed to its crest, paused and receded." Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville in Virginia. In burg, dusty columns of both armies pounded toward But to the north, Ewell's attack on Cemetery and frontal assault against Meade's center. A break­ At noon, stillness descended over the battlefield. up the slope of Cemetery Ridge toward the line of It was all over at Gettysburg. Lee's heavy losses the West, however, Union armies were probing deep the sound of the guns. Culp's Hills had bogged down. Though individual through there would cut the Federal army in half Men waited in their positions, and the heat grew fire erupting from the stone wall. precluded further effort by him on this field. And into the Confederacy. The Southern stronghold at Until 1 p.m., the Union troops on McPherson units had been desperately brave, the attack failed and might open the way to that decisive victory the more intense. Meade did not reopen the battle. Vicksburg—key to control of the Mississippi River— Ridge held the attacking Confederates at bay. But for lack of coordination. Spangler's Spring and the Confederacy needed. From front and flank, double canister and rifle was besieged. suddenly the hills and ridges north of town came Union works just north of it were captured after Suddenly at 1 o'clock, 140 Confederate guns in volleys assailed the charging line. They crumbled, Late on the afternoon of July 4, Lee began an His fighting blood up, Lee waved aside Long- If Lee's veterans now launched another offensive alive with charging men. In a concerted attack dark, but the main Union line stood unbroken. Ex­ line from the Peach Orchard to the seminary let re-formed, and again pressed forward. orderly retreat southwest over the Hagerstown Road street's objections to a frontal assault against the across the Potomac, they might relieve the pressure from west and north the powerful Confederate forces cept for the isolated struggle to the north, darkness loose an earth-shaking cannonade. Its objective: Only 150 men led by Gen. Lewis Armistead and through the mountain pass. Followed cautiously strong Union line. Pointing to Cemetery Ridge, he on Vicksburg; they might even win a decisive vic­ smashed into the Union lines. ended the fighting and blotted from view the corpses To prepare the way for the infantry assault against crossed the stone wall, there to be overcome after by Meade, Lee crossed the Potomac safely into exclaimed: "The enemy is there, and I am going tory that would bring peace and independence to that signified the day's work. the Union line on Cemetery Ridge. Federal artillery savage hand-to-hand fighting. Meanwhile, Federal Virginia on the night of July 13. Back through the town fled the men in blue. Many to strike him." the South Out of such hopes was born the Gettys­ units fought heroic rearguard actions to protect their Though partially successful, Lee had lost the race responded with counterbattery fire, and for a time regiments to the right and to the left of The Angle The Army of Northern Virginia had escaped, but burg Campaign. retreating comrades. By 5:30 p.m., the Union rem­ to win a decisive victory while still holding the ad­ Now Lee massed his forces along and in front of the massed guns dueled for supremacy. Finally, wheeled in front of the stone wall and delivered a it had been so cruelly mauled that never again would The Army of Northern Virginia began its march nants were hurriedly entrenching south of Gettys­ vantage of numbers. Throughout July 2, fresh in­ Seminary Ridge.