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Battle Of Gettysburg Analysis

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Gettysburg was considered the most important three-day span during the Civil War. General Robert E Lee marched into Pennsylvania in July of 1863 for the second time of the war. The Union forces, under the command of General George Meade, were already at Gettysburg. General Lee believed that invading the North would force the conflict away from Virginia and divert troops from Vicksburg. Invading the North would also take pressure off farms and the breadbasket of the South, the Shenandoah Valley. Any Confederate victories in the North would encourage Lincoln to negotiate a settlement to end the war. It would also gain the attention of France and England, two countries which the Confederacy courted for resources.
Before the battle, Confederate General Henry Heth brought 7,500 troops down from Chambersburg where they encountered minimal Union resistance and …show more content…
The South drove back the initial resistance to Cemetery Hill. Without his best general, Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson, Lee was left at a severe disadvantage. The loss of Jackson was an ironic one. During the Battle of Chancellorsville, Jackson was exploring the territory far beyond confederate lines and on his way back to his position, he was fatally shot by his own men, which lodged a bullet in his right hand and completely shattered his left arm. Lee was then forced to use different generals which drastically affected the outcome of the war. Lee ordered General Richard Ewell, who was more passive than Jackson, to attack Cemetery Hill. General Ewell declined the order from Lee claiming the Federal position was too strong. By dusk, the Union had received adequate time to receive reinforcements which removed their vulnerability. The extra reinforcements allowed them to extend their line to Cemetery Ridge. Three more Union corps arrived over the night further fortifying the Union

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