Gettysburg and Vicksburg Pivotal Battles July, 1863

Low Union Morale Crushing defeats at Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville were the lowest points for The United States “If there is a place worse than hell, I am in it…” – Abraham Lincoln Will Lincoln resign? Lincoln strongly considers peace with the south

Lee’s Motive at Gettysburg Dwindling supplies Supplies available in Gettysburg Needed to end the war quickly before the supplies ran out Hope a defeat in their own territory would force the Union to capitulate The Confederate Government had prepared a letter offering peace that was to be delivered to Lincoln after the capture of Washington General Robert E. Lee

The engagement As Lee moved closer to Washington, he was followed by the Army of the Potomac and their new commander, General George Meade. Meade’s cavalry cut off Lee, who was without cavalry assistance of his own, and a battle started just outside the town of Gettysburg

July 1, 1863 Union cavalry, under the command of General John Buford, were greatly outnumbered by Lee’s forces. Were forced to retreat to some hills surrounding the town Kept the Confederates engaged until the main army could arrive. Although this portion of the battle was a Confederate victory, Buford halted the Confederate advance Each side took up positions on hills outside of town that faced each other Cemetery Ridge – Union Army Seminary Ridge – Confederate Army Major General John Buford

An overview of the First day of the Battle of Gettysburg

July 2, 1863 Lee wanted to attack the enemy lines Second-in-command General James Longstreet advised against the attack, preferring a more defensive position An agitated Lee tells Longstreet, “The enemy is there, and I am going to attack him there…” Longstreet is not ready to attack until the early evening, after Meade has had a chance to reinforce himself Lt. General James Longstreet

Little Round Top Left Flank of the Union lines on Cemetery Ridge Left undefended Colonel Joshua Chamberlain of the 20th Maine was ordered to quickly go defend the area Could not retreat, or the army would be flanked Very little ammunition, and no reinforcement Colonel Joshua L. Chamberlain

Battle lines at Little Round Top

Chamberlain Repulsed several Confederate advances up the hill by Alabamans under General John Bell Hood Ran out of ammunition Could not surrender Could not retreat Could not shoot, so…

“Charge!!!” Chamberlain ordered his men to fix bayonets, and ordered a foot charge down the hill at the Hood’s Brigade The Alabamans were so terrified that the surrendered en masse The flank was preserved, and Chamberlain became a legend

Little Round Top

Day 3 – Pickett’s Charge Lee’s plan was to attack the Union center after a barrage of artillery fire He reasoned that the Union force would be weak in the center He believed that the Confederate artillery would keep the Union from organizing a defense He believed the Confederates could not be defeated Lieutenant General James Longstreet strongly opposed such an attack Too great a distance over open ground for a charge Too many obstacles Union had strong defensive positions Longstreet is overruled by Lee Longstreet is ordered to lead the attack Major General George Pickett’s Division Major General Isaac Trimble’s Division Major General Johnston Pettigrew’s Division

This is the battle plan for the charge on the center of the Union Lines. Trimble and Pettigrew are to charge straight ahead, while Pickett is to attack the flank

The charge After a prolonged artillery assault, and trying to avoid having to charge, Longstreet gave the order with a nod 12,000 men made the Charge to the Union lines Less than 50% returned 6555 casualties Union lines were not breached Pickett’s division was destroyed in detail Lost all three brigade commanders (Armistead, Kemper, Garnett) Lost all thirteen regimental commanders Bitter toward Lee for the rest of his life. On General Lee’s request for Pickett to reform his division: “General Lee, I have no division…” The Confederate Army was decimated, and Lee was never able to mount and assault again

Looking out at the field of Pickett’s Charge Confederate dead on the field at Pickett’s Charge

Meanwhile….

Vicksburg One of the last strongholds that control the Mississippi River In Confederate hands If the Union Army could capture Vicksburg, the would control the Mississippi, and could then choke off Confederate supply lines The last phase of Winfield Scott’s Anaconda Plan Very hard to attack Fortress city On a high bluff surrounded by swamps On a bend in the river that would allow shelling of any enemy ships Only one way in

Lieutenant General Ulysses Grant Tried several time to capture Vicksburg Finally waited for the swamps to dry out, and attacked Jackson, Mississippi This lured the Confederates under Lieutenant General John C. Pemberton out of Vicksburg A battle ensued at Champion’s Hill, and, although the Confederates lost, they were able to return to Vicksburg, with Grant hot on their tail Grant finally got his army to Vicksburg

The siege… Grant, having no other option, laid siege to the city of Vicksburg Siege: a tactic in which an enemy is starved to make them surrender 2800 shells a day flying into Vicksburg Citizens dug caves to live in so they would not get hit by flying shells Food became scarce The people of Vicksburg ate horses, dogs, cats, and rats, and even shoe leather

The siege of Vicksburg

The surrender… On July 4, 1863, after a month of constant artillery fire, the Confederates surrendered Grant marched into Vicksburg, and the Union now controlled the Mississippi The Confederacy had been cut in half, which was the original strategy of Winfield Scott in 1861 Vicksburg would not celebrate the Fourth of July until after World War II