ABout the Battle
The Union and the Confederates fought a great battle. Both armies’ battle plans backfired, but there was still a winner. Even though the Union won the battle, they suffered major losses.
One reason for the cause of the battle was that General Robert E. Lee gained confidence from a win at Chancellorsville. He also wanted to push the Union away from Richmond, Virginia. A third reason was that Lee thought that if the Union was moving west, then there would not be many troops in the east. President Abraham Lincoln thought that if the Confederates were heading east, there would not be many troops in the west. Robert E. Lee wanted to destroy the essential railroad bridge in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. But they either had old and worn shoes, or none at all. One of their scouts had spotted a shoe factory near Gettysburg. So the army decided to head towards it. Because of that, the Union and Confederates ended up meeting face to face.
The Battle of Picket’s Charge began on July 3, 1863, the last day of the Battle of Gettysburg. The strategy for this battle was to have some troops charge with bayonets and have some troops fire at the enemy with rifles. At the end of the battle, there was a total of around 2,175 soldiers dead. 1, 425 of them were Confederates. The remaining 700 were Union soldiers. The Union had won another great battle.
There were many casualties in the Battle of Gettysburg, 23,231 casualties for the South, and 23,055 for the North. On July 2, 1863, Union General Sickles was wounded because of a cannon ball that had severed his leg. General Reynolds, also Union, was killed on July 1, 1863. Also Generals Weed and Zook (Union) were killed on July 2, 1863.
So as you can see, the Battle of Gettysburg was a great win for the Union. But they lost over twenty-three thousand men, and so did the Confederates. The Union had suffered major losses but somehow won the Civil War. It was a pyrrhic victory.
One reason for the cause of the battle was that General Robert E. Lee gained confidence from a win at Chancellorsville. He also wanted to push the Union away from Richmond, Virginia. A third reason was that Lee thought that if the Union was moving west, then there would not be many troops in the east. President Abraham Lincoln thought that if the Confederates were heading east, there would not be many troops in the west. Robert E. Lee wanted to destroy the essential railroad bridge in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. But they either had old and worn shoes, or none at all. One of their scouts had spotted a shoe factory near Gettysburg. So the army decided to head towards it. Because of that, the Union and Confederates ended up meeting face to face.
The Battle of Picket’s Charge began on July 3, 1863, the last day of the Battle of Gettysburg. The strategy for this battle was to have some troops charge with bayonets and have some troops fire at the enemy with rifles. At the end of the battle, there was a total of around 2,175 soldiers dead. 1, 425 of them were Confederates. The remaining 700 were Union soldiers. The Union had won another great battle.
There were many casualties in the Battle of Gettysburg, 23,231 casualties for the South, and 23,055 for the North. On July 2, 1863, Union General Sickles was wounded because of a cannon ball that had severed his leg. General Reynolds, also Union, was killed on July 1, 1863. Also Generals Weed and Zook (Union) were killed on July 2, 1863.
So as you can see, the Battle of Gettysburg was a great win for the Union. But they lost over twenty-three thousand men, and so did the Confederates. The Union had suffered major losses but somehow won the Civil War. It was a pyrrhic victory.
Union93,921
3,155 killed
14,529 wounded 5,365 missing & captured 23,049 total |
confederate71,699
3,903 killed
18,735 wounded 5,425 missing & captured 28,063 total |
Gallery
Commanders
Fun facts:
The Battle of Picket’s Charge began on July 3, 1863, the last day of the Battle of Gettysburg. The strategy for this battle was to have some troops charge with bayonets and have some troops fire at the enemy with rifles. At the end of the battle, there was a total of around 2,175 soldiers dead. 1, 425 of them were Confederates. The remaining 700 were Union soldiers. The Union had won another great battle.