The Gettysburg Campaign June – July 1863

Lee’s Plan Lee wants to try to help the troops in the west, so he plans to invade Pennsylvania Lee figures if he attacks and threatens or takes Harrisburg and Philadelphia, he will pull troops from the west. Longstreet disagrees and encourages Lee to send troops to the west

Hooker’s Plan When Lee begins to move Hooker wants to attack and capture Richmond Lincoln tells him to pursue Lee and destroy his army Hooker began to move his troops north in pursuit of Lee Hooker resigns and Lincoln replaces him with General George Meade

General George Meade Career Army officer Graduated from West Point in 1831 Fought in Seminole Wars and Mexican War First command was the 2 nd PA Reserves Wounded three times at Seven Days Battle Wounded at Antietam

Lee’s Army Lee reorganized his army from 2 Corps to 3 Corps 1 st Corps commanded by Longstreet 2 nd Corps commanded by Lt. Gen. Richard Ewell 3 rd Corps commanded by Lt. Gen. A.P Hill He also had Stuart’s cavalry division Total of about 75,000

Union Army 7 Corps of Infantry and Artillery 1 Cavalry Corps For a total of 90,000 men

1 st Battle of Campaign Union cavalry under Maj. Gen. Alfred Pleasonton, conducting reconnaissance to determine the location of Lee's army, surprised J.E.B. Stuart with a dawn attack against his camp outside Brandy Station, Virginia, June 9, 1863 Largest Cavalry battle ever on US soil Ends in a draw Union Cavalry beginning to gain respect of the south

Lee’s Orders Lee gave strict orders to his army to minimize any negative impacts on the civilian population. Reimbursed farmers with Confederate money York, PA was ordered to give money in lieu of supplies or be burned Lee sends Stuart out ahead, Stuart has much latitude in his decision making, and is gone for the opening of the battle

June 30, 1863 Confederate Infantry led by General Pettigrew headed towards Gettysburg in search of shoes They spotted a large group of Cavalry which they assumed were militia Pettigrew told General Henry Heth who told his commanding officer, Hill, that he would “get those shoes” first thing in the morning Lee is informed, worried, he orders all armies to converge on Gettysburg

General John Buford Wounded at the 2 nd Battle of Bull Run in the knee On July 1, he would play a significant role in choosing the ground which the Union would defend during the battle

Buford’s Plan Buford realizes that the Union army needs to hold the high ground south of town, Culp’s Hill, Cemetery Hill, and Cemetery Ridge He decides to fight west of town on McPherson Ridge, Herr Ridge, and Seminary Ridge Plan is to buy time for main army to arrive

The First Day Heth attacked at 7:30am with 2 brigades Buford’s men held out until 10:30 Then Reynolds began to arrive, Union forces continued to put up stiff resistance Reynolds is killed by a sharpshooter Confederate reinforcements were arriving faster than Federal reinforcements

General John Reynolds Born in Lancaster, PA Graduated from West Point in the middle of his class Commandant at West Point Loved by his men, well respected by his peers

General John Reynolds

General Abner Doubleday Father fought in the Revolution Replaced Reynolds at Gettysburg For 5 hours he held off a superior force His actions allowed fortifications to be developed

1 st Day Continued General Howard’s XI Corps arrived on the field and was quickly routed by Ewell coming from the North General Hancock, sent ahead by Meade, choose Cemetery Hill to be the rallying point Union troops ran through the town and started to make a stand on the hills south of town

Lee’s Orders Lee told Ewell to take the hill “if practical” Ewell did not take the hill Union forces built fortifications on Culp’s and Cemetery Hills Throughout the night reinforcements arrived for both sides

The Battle Lines The Union lines were in the shape of a fishhook, encompassing Culp’s and Cemetery Hills, and Cemetery Ridge The Union line had many advantages The Confederate Lines were almost five miles long, which caused disadvantages, it encompassed Seminary Ridge, and the town

Day Two Plans The Union Line had one weakness, if it lost a hill, the rest of the line was at a disadvantage, Meade knew this Meade guessed that Lee would attack Culp’s Hill, so he planned for that Lee planned on attacking both flanks, as soon as possible

The Second Day Longstreet was to attack the Union Left Flank It took him all day to get in position This helped the Confederates because Union General Dan Sickles made a questionable move He moved his corps out in front of the Union line creating a salient Meade ordered him to return Before he could Longstreet attacked

Devil’s Den A formidable position of rocks Union forces held it, but could not get a lot of troops there When the fighting began, barrels were almost touching

4 th NY Battery Extreme left of Sickles line Could only get 4 of 6 guns on summit of Devil’s Den Could not get limbers up, so ammo had to be run up by hand

Veterans of 136 th NY

Little Round Top

The Cost to Command the Top General Gouverneur Warren was shot in the neck, but survived Colonel Strong Vincent, Commander of the 83 rd PA Infantry was shot in the thigh and groin and died Colonel Joshua Chamberlain was wounded in the foot

Colonel Strong Vincent’s Monument

Colonel Joshua Chamberlain Ordered Bayonet charge and received Congressional Medal of Honor Was wounded six times, cited for bravery four times, had six horses shot out from beneath him

The Peach Orchard

The point of Sickles’ salient Union artillery and infantry fought valiantly, but were attacked on three sides and forced to withdrawal At the Trostle Farm, Sickles is wounded By dark the Union lines were in disarray

The Wheatfield

Situated between the Peach Orchard and Devil’s Den, 300x400 yards and surrounded by woods The field changed hands several times The casualties were extremely high, Union losses 3,215, Confederate 1,394 Union forces would hold at the end of the day

Councils of War Meade’s advisors met Although suffering heavy casualties, the Union decides to defend the ground Meade pulls General Gibbons aside and tells him the attack will be at the center if it comes Lee feels his army should have dislodged the enemy and that the problem was the plan was not followed Stuart finally arrives and is told to strike the rear of the enemy Longstreet still pushes for a move on the Union left flank

Gettysburg, The Third Day

Lee’s Plan Lee believes the Union army will reinforce both ends of their line, therefore the center will be weak General George Pickett is placed in charge of the attack General Longstreet is not in favor of this attack against a superior enemy in an entrenched position

General George Pickett Graduated last in his class at West Point Arrived late to the battle due to being the last of Longstreet’s division on the march After the attack said “Division, I have no division” to Lee Afterwards, he was very negative of Lee

Pickett’s Charge At 1 pm the artillery barrage began 15,000 Confederate Troops marched across one mile of open field to attack the Union center They suffered 50% casualties, 3 brigade commanders and all regimental commanders were killed or wounded

The Aftermath The Union army did not attack the next day Lee retreated back to Virginia 51,000 men were killed, wounded, or captured Lee believed his men were unbeatable, now reality begins to set in The Union army found a victory